Ever feel happier and more energized to go outside on a bright sunny day, or feel gloomy and want to stay in bed on a cloudy day? It may be more than just the weather affecting your mood. It may be the amount of light.
Many studies have shown that the amount of lighting in a space affects the way people regulate their emotions. Findings have revealed that adequate lighting is associated with feelings of elation and energy, while dark or poor lighting induce feelings of sadness and depression.
When it comes to creating inviting outdoor spaces, careful planning should go into your exterior lighting choices. Theatres and restaurants spend thousands on hiring lighting experts to help create the perfect mood for their space. Lighting can be used to encourage a wide range of emotions—not just happiness or sadness. The style of your outdoor space and the overall mood you’re going for should be carefully considered when choosing your exterior lights.
At Rhino Exteriors, we are more than just your local roofing contractors in Calgary. We are also your local source for high quality exterior lighting. Here are a few things we think you should know about choosing exterior lights to create the perfect mood for your outdoor space:
- Remember that less is more: You don’t want to light up your entire outdoor space. Too much light can be overwhelming to the senses, and it disallows for creating focal points in your yard. Instead, choose your lighting spaces carefully to create an ambience of calm and to highlight certain areas of your outdoor space.
- Consider color temperatures: Color temperature is measured on a Kelvin (K) scale. A color temperature of 3500K and above is usually considered a cooler temperature. As the number goes up from 3500K, you achieve a bluer tone. As you go down from 3500K, the color tone appears to be more amber. For exterior lighting, you’ll want to stay away from cooler temperatures, as they tend to create an unnatural look that creates a mood of uneasiness. Warmer temperatures are better because they create a more relaxing and tranquil mood for your outdoor space.
- Use lighting layers: Lighting layers are areas of high and low lighting. Using layers can help you add drama and emotion to your outdoor space. Lighting layers can be achieved by simply using a dimmer control. You can dim the lights during an outdoor dinner and then turn them up for games or dancing afterwards. You can even obtain controls that will change the lighting levels based on movement or music for some added mood control for your outdoor events.
No matter the style of your outdoor space or the mood you are going for, exterior lighting is key to achieving the perfect ambience. For help in choosing the perfect exterior lights, contact your local roofing contractors in Calgary. The helpful staff at Rhino Exteriors will be more than happy to walk you through some of the lighting options we provide.