Many studies suggest that lighting affects human emotions and mood.  Sunlight or the lack thereof had an effect in the production of your hormones.  Enough light could make you happier and energetic while poor and inadequate indoor light can make you feel tired and lethargic.

Other studies show that a person suffering from depression can have a better mood if exposed to bright light for a number of hours, while the same goes when you let in enough sunlight by keeping the windows, blinds or curtains open.  Thus, the quality and intensity of light can affect you psychologically and physiologically.

So, whether you are planning for the decoration or redecoration of a new home or business, it will be beneficial to know how you can use lighting to create a happy mood.  Remember that happy people are productive people.

Components of Lighting and Its Effects

Lightings can be used to create a theme or mood in your home, office, restaurants, clubs and many others.  You just need to know how to manipulate the light’s intensity, direction, color and its size.

Intensity of Light. The intensity of light (how strong or dim the light is) can affect your mood.  The higher intensity can make you cheerful and alert and this basically the reason why most offices use strong lights.  On the other hand, lower intensity of light like those in the spas or other places for relaxation use lower intensity.  Dimmer lights create an ambience of restfulness and intimacy.

Color of Light Affects Moods. How often that you hear ‘he is seeing red’, ‘green with envy’ or ‘feeling blue’?  Many times, right?  The reason behind this is that the association of colors to emotions and moods has been in practice ever since.  Thus, when you light a candle, its warm yellow and dim glow creates a romantic atmosphere, it makes you feel relaxed.  However, when you use red, green and other festive colors in a dance club, you create a feeling of excitement and energy.

Frequency of Light. The frequency of light or how often it pulsed also creates mood.  Like in suspense and horror films, the use of pulsating red or yellow light can heighten your excitement.  It can get your attention just like when you see the pulsating red light in an ambulance car.

Focused and Diffuse Lighting. Have you seen a movie wherein a detective was trying to extract some information from a suspected criminal?  The reason for this is that focused or harsh light can make a person feel nervous and restless.  The use of an overhead bright light focused directly on the suspect creates the same effect.  However, a dimmer light like the one produced in a lampshade can make you feel relaxed.

So, knowing how you can manipulate the components of light will help you use lighting to set a happy mood.