How Lighting Design Shapes Well-Being: Expert Tips

Lighting is more than just a functional aspect of interior design; it profoundly influences our mood and even our mental health. Natural light, in particular, plays a pivotal role in regulating our sleep-wake cycle, enhancing mood, and fostering a sense of well-being.

In the context of increased indoor living, especially now that Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends on the last Sunday of October, understanding the impact of lighting on mental health has never been more crucial.

The Role of Natural Light in Mental Health

Natural light isn’t just about brightening a room—it’s essential for our mental and physical well-being. By helping regulate our sleep-wake cycle, daylight promotes healthy sleep, which supports mood, focus, and overall mental clarity. It also boosts productivity and can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, making our minds sharper and our days brighter. Beyond mental health, sunlight helps the body produce vitamin D, which strengthens bones, supports immunity, and even lowers blood pressure. Simple changes, like opening curtains, spending time outdoors, or designing spaces to maximize daylight, can have a big impact on how we feel and function. I became particularly aware of the importance of light when I had to follow light therapy during the darker months before Christmas. The lack of daylight and sunlight affected my mood and energy levels, and the therapy helped me realize how deeply our bodies and minds depend on natural light.

In short, sunlight is a natural, powerful tool that nourishes both mind and body—and inviting more of it into our lives can transform the way we live.

Artificial Lighting and Its Impact

The quality of artificial lighting, including its color temperature, intensity, and placement, plays an important role in shaping our emotional state. Warm lighting can create a cozy and relaxing atmosphere, while cooler lighting can help increase alertness and focus. At the same time, spending too much time under artificial light, especially the blue light emitted by screens, can interfere with sleep patterns and cause eye strain. Striking a balance between artificial and natural light, and paying attention to when and how long we are exposed, can help support both comfort and overall well-being. Try these 5 lighting hacks to transform your home into a cozy and comfortable haven, without relying on central lighting fixtures.

Photo by Christopher Horwood

Designing Homes for Well-Being

Designing homes for well-being involves careful attention to how light interacts with living spaces. Maximizing natural light is a key consideration, which can be achieved by positioning windows to capture sunlight at different times of the day, using mirrors near a window and light-colored walls to reflect light deeper into rooms, and creating open layouts that allow light to flow freely throughout the home. In addition to natural light, a layered lighting approach can enhance comfort and versatility. Combining ambient, task, and accent lighting supports a variety of activities and moods, creating a more dynamic and enjoyable living environment. The color and intensity of light also play an important role. Choosing fixtures with adjustable brightness and color temperatures allows homeowners to customize lighting according to the time of day and the activity at hand, promoting both functionality and overall well-being. The level of domesticity in our homes also has a great effect on our well-being. Comfortable spaces ease stress, enhance creativity, and boost productivity.

Read more about the link between home interior and mental health!

Expert Tips

Annelies Valentijn is a luminary in the world of lighting design. As the founder of Studio Valentijn, she crafts lighting plans that transform spaces—from cozy homes to functional offices—striking a perfect balance between aesthetics and practicality. Through her initiative, De Lichtschool, she goes a step further, inspiring and educating both professionals and enthusiasts in the art and science of light. With a deep passion for how light shapes our environments and experiences, Annelies is redefining the way we think about illumination. We had the chance to speak with Annelies to learn more about her approach to lighting design, and to uncover valuable insights that can inspire anyone looking to create better, more meaningful spaces.

Photo by Lucie Beck

What makes lighting design so special to you? What fascinates you most about working with light?

What fascinates me most about light is that it influences everything, often without people even realizing it. Light defines the atmosphere, the experience, and the comfort of a space. With light, you can create subtlety and calm, as well as tension and contrast. For me, it’s the connecting element between architecture, interior design, and human emotion — and that interplay is what makes it so special.

Are there any designers, styles, or projects that have inspired you in your career?

I’m mainly inspired by designers and brands that use light in an honest, understated way — where simplicity and quality take center stage. I think of the work of Tadao Ando and James Turrell, who show how light itself can become an experience.

Closer to home, I find inspiration in the work of KAAN Architecten, where light is always a subtle part of the architecture. Their use of light is refined, never loud.

I also admire brands like Viabizzuno, Davide Groppi, and David Pompa, because they treat light as a material rather than a product. Discover the 25 most beautiful lighting brands here!

Can you tell us about how you approach a lighting plan at Studio Valentijn? What is your process from concept to realization?

For me, a good lighting plan always starts with understanding: what atmosphere, function, or emotion should a space evoke? From that feeling, I gradually built the lighting concept step by step — first in zones and layers (ambient, accent, and mood lighting) — and only then translated it into fixtures.

I always design from the interior outwards, not from the technical side. Light exists to enhance the interior, not the other way around. Everything eventually comes together in a clear lighting plan and a detailed fixture layout, so that the installer knows exactly what goes where.

How do you ensure that a lighting plan is both functional and aesthetically pleasing? Can you provide an example of a project where this approach was particularly effective?

The balance between function and aesthetics lies in subtlety. I often use indirect lighting to create functional brightness without exposing the light source.

In a recent bathroom project, we applied this beautifully: functional lighting by the mirror, soft diffuse light from a niche, and a subtle uplight for atmosphere. The result is a space that feels warm and balanced, yet remains practical — exactly the combination I value most.

Can you explain how specific elements of lighting design (for example, color temperature, intensity, or dynamic lighting) contribute to well-being and mood? Light has a direct impact on our sleep-wake cycle and mood. Light that’s too cool can be tiring, while light that’s too warm can make you feel sluggish when you want to be active.

By carefully adjusting color temperature and intensity, you can mimic the natural rhythm of daylight — activating in the morning, calming in the evening. Dynamic lighting that shifts gently throughout the day can even help improve sleep quality and overall energy levels.

Array lamp by Vibia

Do you have personal experiences or anecdotes where you’ve seen a well-designed lighting plan improve someone’s well-being?

Yes, quite often. I remember a family whose living room always felt dark and gloomy. After the new lighting was installed, the client told me they “literally felt more like being at home.” Moments like that stay with me — when light doesn’t just change a space, but also people’s mood.

What key skills or insights do you aim to teach your students in the courses at De Lichtschool?

I want interior designers to learn how to see in light, rather than only in furniture or color. To understand how light affects materials, atmosphere, and perception.

I also focus on the practical side: how to build a solid lighting plan, how to combine different lighting layers, and how to communicate about lighting with clients. My goal is for them to confidently create lighting plans that are both professional and achievable.

How do you see the role of lighting design evolving, for example with the rise of smart lighting or sustainable solutions?

Lighting design is increasingly becoming an integral part of interior design. Smart systems make it possible to adapt light dynamically to mood or activity, while sustainability encourages conscious choices in quality and longevity.

I believe the future lies in less, but better light — with greater attention to atmosphere, efficiency, and the human experience.

Light by Kinkfab x Lohas. Each piece is carefully crafted to bring texture, warmth, and timeless elegance to any space.

Are there new technologies in lighting design that you are excited about and hope to integrate into your work or De Lichtschool?

I’m very interested in developments around Human Centric Lighting and Loxone — systems that let light truly adapt to the user.

At De Lichtschool, I’m dedicating more and more attention to these topics, as I see that designers increasingly want to help their clients with comfort, energy, and wellbeing — not just aesthetics.

You’ve worked as a lighting designer for many years and share your expertise through De Lichtschool. What distinguishes your vision or approach from others in the field?

What sets me apart is that I don’t see light as a separate component of the interior, but as a fundamental design element that should be considered from the very beginning.

Many projects only address lighting at the end — as a finishing touch — but that misses the opportunity to shape space and emotion through light. Our strength lies in translating complex lighting technology into clear, aesthetic solutions that align with both the design and the user. I combine the technical precision of lighting design with the sensitivity of interior design. That’s the bridge I aim to build with De Lichtschool as well: teaching interior designers to create lighting plans with both confidence and craftsmanship — plans that truly make a difference.

Read more on how a beautiful surrounding does wonders to your mental health

Annelies’ passion for light goes far beyond design. It is about creating spaces that feel right, that nurture and inspire. Her work shows how light can transform not only interiors but also the way we experience daily life. It is a reminder that lighting does not have to be technical or complicated to make a difference. By simply paying more attention to the light in our own homes, noticing how it shifts through the day and makes us feel, we can create spaces that truly reflect who we are and how we want to live.

---

Cake is a lifestyle brand offering unique homewares and accessories that celebrate culture and individuality. Founder Laurine Brugman designs products that withstand trends and fads - creating timeless pieces that you’ll treasure forever.

We’re passionate about preserving traditional crafts and passing on a little bit of love with our hand-made items. All of our items are produced in limited runs to eliminate waste and ensure quality.