Light design is a great way to decorate and customize the space of your bedroom. But do you know it also affects you health? Have you ever wondered what color light is best for sleep?
During 24 hours a day, the human body follows what is called a Circadian Rhythm. This is a series of processes naturally happening. It’s the rhythm the brain follows in order to get up and fall asleep. This was extremely easy centuries ago: the Circadian Rhythm followed the sun, but now our lives are full of artificial sources of light.
How can we use them to lead a healthier and more balanced life? Simply understanding the connection between light and sleep. When searching for the perfect Italian design modern light fixtures for your bedroom, keep some simple rules about color and temperature in mind.
What color light is best for sleep?
You will probably be surprised by the answer: the best color light for helping you sleep is red. Especially an orange-sunset red, warm and rich and extremely calming. This is the perfect nuance to stimulate the Circadian Rhythm, probably because it reminds us of the natural sunset (time to go to bed without artificial lights).
Research studies discovered red to be the best color light to help you sleep, because it increases production of melatonin as well as full darkness. On the other end of the spectrum, blue is the worst. Despite being a calm-inducing color on most occasions, blue is not suitable for lighting a bedroom. In fact it’s quite the opposite: blue lights throw the sleep cycle off and decreases the production of melatonin. That’s why smartphones, tablets and desktop screens, all rich in blue light, should be avoided at night.
Red has been discovered to be helpful in inducing sleep, as well as the individual’s favorite color. Of course, lighting a bedroom only in red would be difficult and confusing for other activities, but you can choose changing-color led light fixtures to help set the mood when it’s time to sleep.
What if you can’t install a colored light in your bedroom?
Even if lighting design has improved a lot in the last decades and colorful lamps are available everywhere, maybe a simpler choice would be best for your bedroom. Modern pendant lights can have a warm or cold light. You should prefer white, bright light for studying and working, while a warmer tone of yellow is best for relaxing while reading a book and preparing for bed.
Temperature is also a crucial factor in a healthier sleep cycle. In order to help creating a peaceful and soothing atmosphere, You should opt for a light color temperature below 3000K; this is the reason why Axolight, beside its standard 3000K offer, provides the possibility to produce its lighting offers in 2700K. You can also choose dimmable led lamps for maximum autonomy in creating the right light.
In this case, Orchid or Float is the right choice. Their touchpad helps you regulate the light intensity and they come in different models (floor lamps, modern and large, table lamps, wall or suspension battery lights), right for every space in your room. Manto is another Axolight solution for the perfect balance of sleep and light. Its three elements are in constant dialogue, where simple geometry meets shapeshifting and dimmable intensity.
How to create the perfect atmosphere for sleeping
After choosing the right color light that helps you sleep, changing the lamps to a lower temperature and exploring the many options of led technology, there are some other things you can do to sleep better.
- Avoid blue screen lights such as those from tv, smartphones, pc or tablets.
- If you can’t do that, use special glasses that protect the eye from the blue part of light.
- Choose acoustic lighting solutions in order to decrease noise.
- If you can’t install a new chandelier, opt for small sized lamps with an orange or yellow light to put on the nightstand.
- Block lights from outside with blackout curtains or a sleep mask.
- When needed, choose an emergency light or a kids’ lamp in bright warm colors.
All these little things will help you sleep better and have a healthier life as a whole. Remember, your interior design choices should make your house beautiful but also comfortable. This is your sanctuary, the place where you can relax and be at ease. You deserve nothing less.
FAQs
Research studies discovered red to be the best color light to help you sleep, because it increases production of melatonin as well as full darkness. On the other end of the spectrum, blue is the worst.
What LED light color is best for sleeping? ›
Red is the answer to the question of what color of light helps you sleep. Red light causes your brain to produce the sleep hormone melatonin, a hormone released into the body from the pineal gland that helps you mentally and physically relax while you drift off to sleep.
What color is best to fall asleep to? ›
Soft, muted colors like gentle blues, greens, and neutrals can be excellent choices as they're less likely to stimulate your brain and more likely to promote a restful environment. Light pinks and lavender can also be soothing, as long as they're soft and not too bright or intense.
Do blue LED lights help you sleep? ›
Light therapy, and blue light in particular. View Source , can help realign the body's circadian rhythms and improve sleep. Inversely, exposure to blue light in the hours leading up to bedtime can hinder sleep. Blue light suppresses the body's release of melatonin.
Is purple light good for sleep? ›
The worst colors for sleep are: Blue light: Suppresses melatonin production and pushes back your circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep. Green light and violet light: May disrupt sleep, but more research is needed. Any light at night: Can keep you up and be harmful to your health.
What color wakes you up? ›
'Bright shades of yellow and orange are great for helping wake you up in the morning because they are both attention-grabbing, cheerful, and energizing colors that stimulate the brain and make us feel more alert,' explains Vanessa Osorio, a sleep expert and sleep health content specialist at Sleepopolis.
Do red LED lights help you sleep? ›
In fact, it may actually improve your sleep. While more research is needed, the current evidence seems to indicate that red light at night doesn't disturb sleep. If you want to try red light for better sleep, choose products that emit red light wavelengths instead of bulbs that are simply tinted red.
What color helps humans sleep? ›
Warm hues of red, orange, and yellow are better for preparing the mind and body for sleep. In fact, some experts recommend switching to warm lights. View Source rather than cold blue lights in the home after the sun goes down.
What color light relaxes you? ›
Red light is by far the best calming light color for sleep. Choosing a red light as a nightlight ensures that you don't disrupt your circadian rhythm. So switching to a red light a few hours before going to bed will surely help you fall asleep easier.
What color code is best for sleep? ›
Light bulbs with a yellow or red hue and are best for bedside lamps. Blue light, on the other hand, is the worst for sleep. Blue light from LED light bulbs and electronic devices disrupts melatonin production because your eyes are more sensitive to blue light.
They found that green light produced rapid sleep onset — between 1 and 3 minutes while blue and violet delayed sleep. When the mice were exposed to violet light, it took them 5-10 minutes to fall asleep. With blue light, the onset of sleep took between 16 and 19 minutes.
What color helps you stay awake? ›
The colour cyan - between green and blue - is a hidden factor in encouraging or preventing sleep, according to biologists. University of Manchester researchers say higher levels of cyan keep people awake, while reducing cyan is associated with helping sleep.
What color light is best for a bedroom? ›
A bedroom requires soft, relaxing lighting. Choose LED or CFL bulbs with a color temperature of 2,700 – 3,000 K (warm white) and a brightness level between 1,000 – 2,000 lumens.
What is the most calming color for sleep? ›
Blue promotes a feeling of calmness and serenity. It can also be linked to feelings of trust, stability, and dependability. One study by Travelodge found that households that have blue bedrooms received the best night's sleep compared to any other color.
What is the best LED color for sleep? ›
Research studies discovered red to be the best color light to help you sleep, because it increases production of melatonin as well as full darkness. On the other end of the spectrum, blue is the worst.
Which color light is good for eyes? ›
Studies have shown that warm white or soft white lights in the 2700K-3000K (Kelvin) range can help reduce eye strain and improve sleep quality, making them the perfect choice for cozy reading nooks and bedroom study sessions.
What LED color is best for your eyes? ›
Studies have shown that warm white or soft white lights in the 2700K-3000K (Kelvin) range can help reduce eye strain and improve sleep quality, making them the perfect choice for cozy reading nooks and bedroom study sessions.
What color LED lights help with anxiety? ›
Blue light therapy is the most effective for anxiety and other mood disorders. This treatment aims to correct both physiological and psychological imbalances. When the body is stressed, blue light can effectively calm it. Blue light has the most energy of any color in the electromagnetic spectrum.
What is the best color light for reading in bed? ›
In conclusion, warm lighting is the best light color for reading and studying at night. If you have traditional lights, you can use a warm yellow bulb. If you have LED lights that change colors, you may find that the best LED light color for reading at night is a deep orange or red.
