As we race towards winter and the days are getting shorter and darker – we’re here to help you lighten up your interior design! The clocks have changed which means we are seeing it get darker even earlier in the evenings now (albeit ever so slightly lighter in the mornings). It can be tough when you feel like you go to work in the dark and you leave work in the dark – so we’re providing you with some hacks that will get you thinking about prioritising natural light and maximising the benefits.

We all know the end of day light saving (British Summer Time) means that the long dreary winter is fast approaching, but there are things we can do to brighten up the darker days! Our first tip is – no matter how grey it is outside, no matter how tempting it can be to shut the miserable weather out by closing the curtains – get the daylight in! Natural light supports our circadian rhythm which helps us sleep at night. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a real thing and for those of us in the northern hemisphere it’s something worth taking seriously.

Sunlight promotes our body’s production of Vitamin D which will boost our mood but it’s really important we are doing everything we can to keep our circadian rhythm in check, keeping our sleep patterns regular. In the winter in the UK we can have days where there are only a couple of hours of sunlight – there are parts of northern Scotland that get an average of just 64 minutes of sunlight a day! Literally, depressing.

If you are working from home this winter, make it an integral part of your routine to leave the house at lunch time and get outside for a walk. You will not regret it! When it comes to your home set up make sure your desk is as close to a window as possible. It’s also beneficial to use a lightbox or artificial lighting to keep the space as bright as possible.

Use reflections to bounce the light around the room – mirrors and metals are great at enhancing light without you noticing! It’s also worthwhile increasing the amount of light colours within your home. It can be tempting to go over board with the rich and darker tones in winter but it’s worth balancing them out so you are alert in the spaces (like where you work!) where you need to be alert.

Last Thursday was Diwali which is a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists. This aptly timed festival symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness and we think this concept should be embraced and carried with us throughout the winter months.

We take lighting very seriously in our interior design projects – lighting creates mood, sets the tone and purpose of a space promoting working environments or break out areas. Check out some of the lighting solutions we’ve worked with our partners to develop throughout our past projects.