Light therapy and light in winter

Get through the dark season with the right lighting

Do you feel tired, down, or low on energy in the winter? The winter blues – triggered by various factors such as lack of light, seasonal changes, and possibly vitamin D deficiencies – affects millions of people, leaving a low mood in winter. A possible positive influence can be achieved through the right lighting in living spaces. While home lighting is not light therapy, it can enhance overall wellbeing and mood, helping to master the dark season with new energy and joy for life.

Note: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.

Why light is especially important in winter

When the days get shorter in winter, many people start their morning in the dark – and it often already gets dusk in the afternoon. It becomes clear at such times how important light is for our daily life.

Daylight as orientation for the daily rhythm

Our daily life is closely connected to the natural alternation of light and dark. Morning daylight signals to the body that the day is starting, while the increasing darkness in the evening supports the transition to rest. However, significantly less natural light is available in winter. Those who drive to work in the dark in the morning and spend a large part of the day indoors may receive particularly little daylight.

Counteract light deficiency in everyday life

Light deficiency is often discussed in everyday life when very little natural light is available during the dark season. Simple habits can help to make better use of available daylight: Opening curtains and blinds as early as possible in the morning, using work or leisure spots near windows, and regularly going outside during the brighter hours – even short walks can make a difference.

What practically helps in everyday life

Particularly indoors, it's beneficial to consciously pay attention to good lighting. An adequately bright and pleasantly tuned environment facilitates reading, working, and orientation, making everyday life during the dark season more pleasant. While well-planned room lighting cannot replace missing daylight in everyday life, it can provide a pleasant atmosphere that lets you forget the gray and dark sky for a while.

Important: Home lighting does not replace light therapy. Normal room lighting and light therapy designed specifically for that purpose have different goals. Those specifically dealing with light therapy should therefore pay attention to appropriate products and their respective usage instructions.

Winter blues and seasonal complaints

The term winter blues is often colloquially used for a general fatigue and low mood that often occurs in the winter. More intense symptoms, such as sleep disturbances and lack of drive, can be signs of winter depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It is a serious illness that requires medical clarification. It is also necessary to seek medical advice for prolonged symptoms of any kind.

Winter blues

An impairment of personal wellbeing and mood, especially in autumn and winter.

(Winter) depression

A serious mental illness that requires medical supervision.

Light therapy – Explanation and Distinction: True light therapy uses light developed specifically for therapeutic purposes. Medical or therapeutic specialist consultation is essential. Light therapy lamps are always marked as medical devices. A bright lamp can make a room noticeably friendlier and more pleasant – but it is not automatically suitable for light therapy. Table, ceiling, and ordinary daylight lamps do not replace a therapeutic light source. Misunderstandings often arise with the term "daylight white." Such a light color can visually resemble natural daylight and be suitable for workplaces or other areas where a cooler, clearer light is desired. However, this does not imply that the lamp is suitable for light therapy.

Practical tips: Design winter light more consciously

The effect of genuine feel-good light – for more energy and relaxation! Our Good-Mood-Lights bring the perfect light atmosphere to everyday life.

Human Centric Lighting

Human Centric Lighting adapts to the biorhythm and promotes sleep and concentration. With smart lamps, HCL is also feasible at home: Light sources with CCT function allow the light color to be individually adjusted via remote control or app – activating daylight white in the morning, relaxing warm white in the evening.

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Cozy Lighting

Cozy Lighting creates a cozy atmosphere in the dark season. With balanced lighting and soft light accents, home becomes a feel-good oasis. Diverse wood tones from bamboo and rattan to cozy fabric shades enable individual light cocooning.

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Dopamin Decor

Happy Lights in Dopamin Decor bring vibrant colors, cheerful patterns, and radiant joy into the home – for good mood, positive feelings, and furnishing that makes you completely happy. Dopamin Decor lamps can also be easily added as floor or table lamps.

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Everyday tips for the dark season

In addition to homely lighting, additional measures in autumn and winter can help to brighten the mood and make everyday life more pleasant. An optimized sleep routine is inseparably part of this. It is vital to ensure regular sleep times that help the body to regenerate and stabilize the day-night rhythm.

Further tips for autumn and winter

Fresh air and regular walks

Meet friends and maintain social contacts

Structure and actively plan your day

Sport and exercise for a better mood

Relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation

Creative activities: Reading, writing or artistic design

Kai Krzyzelewski

Online editor at Lights.co.uk

Expert tip

"Good home lighting should under no circumstances be equated with light therapy, which includes comprehensive medical care. What good lighting can achieve, however, is to help make interior spaces pleasant and functional at any time of day. In the morning and during the day, bright lighting is particularly practical. Where possible, the workplace should be combined with natural daylight. As darkness increases, lighting in the living area can be gradually reduced. Dimmable light offers the advantage of flexibly adjusting the brightness to the respective situation. Even small changes can help make everyday life a little more pleasant during the dark season. However, if symptoms persist, we strongly advise consulting medical help."