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Your lighting does more than brighten your home; it can be one of the easiest ways to alter your mood! Soft, warm lights can encourage an evening of relaxation, while bright fluorescent light encourages productivity. The appropriate lighting in your home can lead to your family's improved mental wellbeing. By automating your lighting systems, you can set firmer boundaries that battle the burnout that comes with working from home.
The consistent blue light emitted by your computer and phone screens can increase feelings of anxiety, sluggishness, fatigue, or even melancholy. According to the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, exposure to blue light can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and even cancer. Perhaps your productivity is hurting no matter how many hours you're putting into the workday. Prioritize the long-term health of your family with automated lighting settings.
Home automation technology is not out of your reach. You probably already own some, whether it's a home entertainment system you can control with your mobile device or a voice assistant like Google Home or Amazon Alexa. Your lighting systems can benefit from these solutions as well.
First, determine which rooms you want to equip with smart lighting, and what kind of interactions you want your lighting sets to have. Do you want to dim your lights through a touch screen panel on the wall, change their colors through your mobile device, set an automated "scene" with the touch of a keypad button, or use a voice command to turn them on and off? There are so many ways you can interact with your lighting system!
You can even set your lighting systems to match your daily schedules and regulate your sleep cycles. Set blue lights to switch on at a dim setting at 6 am and slowly increase its brightness as time passes so you can wake to a gentle light. You'll be able to wake up at a more comfortable pace and feel energized before your cup of coffee. When day becomes night, only warm lights fill your home and begin to dim when it's time to start winding down for bed. This will be immensely beneficial for family members suffering from insomnia and help everyone enjoy a deeper sleep.
The most effective thing you can do for your mental health is set boundaries between work and relaxation. If you or your family members are struggling to concentrate on school or work, then lighting may help. Automate a particular time for blue lights to switch on in your work areas to encourage more productivity, whether you need to concentrate on finishing a business report or deep clean your kitchen. At 5 pm, your "scene" can change for the evening to put down your work and spend quality time relaxing with your family. By granting yourself ample time to recharge, you’ll find it easier to focus on your work in its allotted time.
It's easier to sleep well at night when you feel your home is safe and secure. Through automated scenes, your lighting systems can also work as security measures. Set exterior lights to switch on after sunset, so you never have to arrive at a dark and ominous home. When an alarm triggers in your home, every light in the house can turn on. If you want to deter potential break-ins when you're away, you can program lights to turn on and off during the day to trick passersby into believing that your home is occupied.
If you decide to integrate smart lighting more sparingly, we suggest placing them in highly trafficked areas like the living room or kitchen so the whole family can experience the benefits. Your lighting can set the moods of relaxation, fun, and invigorating that everyone can enjoy. Young, old, or disabled members who may struggle to reach traditional light switches will feel empowered by having control of this aspect of the home through voice command or their mobile devices.
If you’re feeling ready to bring automated lighting systems to your home, contact our team of experts at SounDesign today!