With increasing amounts of time being spent indoors, we are almost always in the presence of artificial lights these days. But did you know that they have a direct effect on our health? Vikram Jain, Director, Innovative Lighting Designs Limited (ILDL) takes us through how lighting impacts human health and behaviour, for designing a better space.
Today, we spend most of our time indoors in the presence of a combination of natural and artificial lighting. However, with the growing awareness regarding the positive impacts of natural light on human psychological and biological processes, the trends are now shifting towards artificial lighting that imitates the colour temperature and the look and feel of natural light. With several options to modulate the light intensity and colour, lighting designs are now aiming to achieve a natural look in any space. Light adds definition to spaces, accentuating the textures and highlighting the different hues and layers. While it is a significant benefactor in changing the character of a space, it has immense psychological and biological impacts on its occupants, making its role in spatial design much more critical than merely enabling aesthetic effects.
Lighting also impacts the serotonin and melatonin levels in our body that govern our sleep patterns, moods and behaviour, productivity, cognition and overall well-being. In prolonged dimly-lit spaces, one may feel sad or depressed and not know what’s causing it. As a result, we must have efficient lighting to influence our biological processes positively. Therefore, whether it is a residential or commercial space, employing an ideal lighting scheme is vital to the success of the design of a space. For example, in a residential setting, a good lighting scheme can help create a relaxing environment after a long day of work. On the other hand, in a commercial setting, it can increase productivity and lift the overall mood of the space by using the appropriate colour temperature, brightness, and interesting focal points.
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