uplifting interiors

IN DEEP MID-WINTER WE ALL COULD USE A PICK-ME-UP IS LIGHT THE WAY? DESIGNERS DEFINITELY THINK SO

- Hugh Metcalf

There’s no doubt that the winter season can be depressing. Dark mornings, dark evenings and grey skies can lead to what’s known as seasonal affective disorder (or SAD) – a type of depression that hits during the winter months. When it strikes, our homes can feel less comforting, with even usually bright spaces looking flat and white walls dulling to a sallow grey, sucking the energy out of the room.

‘For architects, natural light is always the most important consideration in any space,’ architect Matthew Wood, founder of MW Architects tells us. ‘It is the lifeblood of a space, constantly changing and moving and pouring energy deep into a room. Without light the space is lifeless. So, of course, there is a synergy between natural light and how a space in our home feels. A lifeless space will feel draining, whereas a dynamic space will be enriching.’

That natural light has such an effect on us probably isn’t new news, and is why current architectural trends revolve around vast expanses of glass, cleverly positioned to make the most of the daylight that is on offer. ‘Raising window heads or lowering floors both increase the area that light can reach,’ Matthew says. ‘Skylights are, of course, very effective, but can be a bit of a broad-brush. Plus, it isn’t necessarily a case of more is better.’

‘For me, it is less about brightness, and more about keeping a connection to daylight,’ explains architect Kieran Hawkins, director of Cairn Architects. ‘Even when overcast, the light from the sun gives us all kinds of information about the time of day and environment, maintaining a largely subconscious connection to diurnal rhythms.’