Today we have a collaborated post, hope you all enjoy 🙂
Let there be light.
Throughout history, people have always been fascinated by light. Some of the most iconic monuments in the world were born from the obsession of countless civilizations about light.
Stonehenge, in the UK, has been deliberately oriented to catch the summer solstice sunrise between the open arms of the horseshoe-shaped arrangement. The Coricancha in Peru was built on the orders of the Inca emperor and dedicated to the sun god. Its walls used to be covered in gold, which made this particular sun temple shine like the real thing during the summer solstice.
Travellers to Mexico can enjoy the mesmerizing Mayan architecture by visiting some of the most famous sun pyramids. El Castillo was built to cast the shadow of a snake during the spring and autumn equinoxes.
And if you still need convincing about the role of light in human culture, you only need to tune in to any archeologist adventure movie. There is always a scene where the hero needs to open a door by using direct sunlight.
We live in a world of light. It’s easy to understand why. Sunlight is detrimental to the growth of fruit and vegetables, so for our ancestors, there could be no life without the sun. Throughout history, civilizations have tried to please the sun, treating the star like a divinity who would take its power back at the first frustration. Temples, sculptures, and other architectural displays serve a purpose; showing their appreciation of light. Nowadays, we seem to have lost our way and forgotten about the importance of light. Maybe it’s time to make light your priority at home. After all, nobody wants to live in the dark!
Let more natural light in
Did you know that when it comes to window-related search terms, the preferred keyword phrase for homeowners is not about letting light in, but keeping it out? Indeed, blackout curtains, thermal curtains, and curtains that keep the cold air out are some of the most popular search terms, according to Google and Bing. Why don’t we want to let more natural light inside our home? The answer is simple: Many households struggle with insulation problems and therefore, are trying to take back control over their indoor comfort. There is no easy solution unless you invest in quality windows and doors replacement, you won’t be able to keep your home fresh in summer and warm in winter. The first step of bringing more light into your household is to make sure that you can make things as comfortable as possible for everyone.
Change your light fixtures
There is more than just natural light in your home. You also need to look after your lighting arrangements, from light bulbs to installations. It doesn’t take much to transform your energy consumption for a start. LED light bulbs are a popular and effective option to cut down costs. Additionally, smart light bulbs can adjust their brightness throughout the day. After all, nobody enjoys a light shock when getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. A programmable smart system can make sure your light changes throughout the day and stays pleasant. But don’t just replace your light bulbs, when you can give your light fixture a trendy revamp. Old fixtures can feel tired and creates a dark atmosphere, regardless of the bulb.
Help your body get back to a natural cycle
When you can summon light at the touch of a switch, you can trick your mind into believing night is day. Indeed, your brain reacts to the lights around you, whether natural or artificial. Therefore, sleeping in a dark bedroom can make it especially challenging to wake up feeling refreshed. Light-blocking curtains can mess up with your sleep, forcing your brain to believe that it”s too early to get up. Additionally, a bedroom without blackout curtains can remain light until the middle of the night in summer, which is just as problematic. Your brain doesn’t know it’s night time, and therefore you can’t sleep. The ideal solution to help your brain to relax is to combine blackout curtains with a wake-up light alarm clock that can simulate sunrise. Your mind feels refreshed in the morning because the light activates the natural sleep cycles.
Change your habits
You can trick your brain into waking up in the morning using light. However, not everything you do with light is going to benefit your brain. Indeed, if you create an environment where you are exposed to a lot of artificial light during night time, you can dramatically affect your circadian rhythms. The circadian rhythms, or chronobiological clocks, have been relying on the sun, the stars and moon to develop sleeping routines for millennia. The introduction of artificial light in our lives is relatively new, but it has already shown negative consequences. When your circadian rhythms go haywire, your body can get sick, from metabolism issues to obesity disorders. While modern lifestyles don’t let you take full control of your sleeping times, you can help your brain to stick to its cycle by keeping the house lights dim at night and reducing the use of electronics before bedtime.
Understand the dangers of a light-bathed office
Don’t be fooled into believing you need to surround yourself natural sunlight to stay happy and healthy. Indeed, everybody knows the direct sunlight exposure is a major cause of skin cancer. You wouldn’t consider going outside without adequate sunscreen protection. However, when it comes to your interior, skin protection is rarely part of the routine. Most glass windows can’t filter harmful UV rays out. Therefore, if you sit by the window at work, you need to make sure your skin is protected.
It’s a safe environment for your houseplants
Last but not least, light creates a positive environment that sustains life. There is no plant without sunlight. But the principle also applies to your houseplants. Creating a space that is bathed in light gives your potted greens room to grow and bloom. And, believe it or not, but you need houseplants in your home. They purify the air, reduce stress, and lift your mood.
Bringing more light into your home is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, light is nourishing in many ways to your plants and yourself. But on the other hand, if you don’t manage it carefully, light could damage affect your health significantly. Let there be light, yes, but let there be light savviness too!