Research has shown that coloured lighting can have a positive influence on behaviour and people’s ability to concentrate. In partnership with independent colour institute Colour comfort, DYDELL presents ‘Tailored lighting’ which offers dynamic lighting clienting customised to suit a changing clientele and area functionality.
Research has shown that coloured light is a “frequency” which just like radio waves and infrared light, gives energy . Every colour has another frequency which means that it has a different effect on our behaviour. The influence of colour is very subtle. Adding a touch of yellow or warm red to white light can already achieve goals.
– Isaac Newton –
Colour is a part of the light. If a prism is held in a beam of light, different colours appear. Our white (day)light is a balance of all colours. Also, the colours of the rainbow originate from white light. We all know that plants grow on water and light. To be more precise, plants grow on the colours of daylight. We call this growth light. In greenhouses growth light is already used very successfully to promote the growth of plants and thus save energy by using only the desired colour of the light. For example, a plant is most sensitive to the colour red and orange and it is the least sensitive to the colour green. Red light therefore gives energy and allows plants to grow.
Different frequencies of light are meanwhile successfully applied in the medical world, such as X-rays, Photo Dynamic Therapy for treating cancer and blue light for new-born babies with jaundice. The medical world has been experimenting for some time now with colour and light to treat depression. Colours are therefore used therapeutically in combination with other treatments to improve the energy balance and thus the well-being and mood of human beings.
Isaac Newton proved back in 1665 that light can be divided into 6 basic colours. Each colour has its own specific effect. Colour can produce a physical and psychological response.
In the human body, a kind of program runs every day. This “internal clock” determines sleep and wake phases, as well as heart rate, blood pressure, and mood – a rhythm of biological processes. Scientific research has shown that the right light at the right time of the day can have a positive influence and support the well-being and behavior of people. The hormones cortisol and melatonin play an important role in this. When light is lacking because a person is relatively indoors, the body’s biological clock can be disrupted and as a result chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances or depression can occur.
Ambient colour is perceived through our eyes. When we perceive a colour, light/colour enters through our eyes and reaches the hypothalamus, the brain of our brains. This small organ is responsible for our hormone levels and our endocrine system. It affects our metabolism, body temperature, autonomic nervous system, behavioural pattern, sleep patterns and our sexual and reproductive functions. Colour is a frequency, or a so-called energy, and there are different ways of using colour to achieve harmony and balance.
Short-wave light like violet has a different energy than longwave light like red. The effect within a colour group is also very nuanced. Bright red activates the senses that can lead to fast impulsive decisions. As a result, bright red is a suitable colour for casinos, but it is not a good colour for a fancy restaurant where extensive dining takes place. Warm red, on the other hand, creates a suitable ambiance where you can enjoy a meal in peace and quiet.
The effect of a colour is very nuanced. The colour (temperature) of the light in a space must be in harmony with its function. Whether it concerns a conference room, bar, shop or a waiting room of a healthcare institution, it is necessary to create a balance between the ambient colour and the function of the space in order to allow people to work better and to promote the desired behaviour.
The influence of light and the input of ambient colour is a hot subject. A lot of research is being done into the use of light on work and learning performance, dimension and well-being of people. Research has led to colour and coloured light being used successfully in various situations.
Setting up or prescribing atmospheres is an art. Which ambiance or ambient colour is suitable in which situation? DYDELL has a unique cooperation with an independent colour institute: Colour Comfort. Colour therapist Thelma van der Werff advises DYDELL and prescribes atmospheres that can be applied in specific situations such as in shops, waiting rooms, elderly care etc.
Thelma has also written an interesting article about how airlines use “colour” to positively influence the behaviour of passengers.
Infirmity of old age unfortunately also means that sight decreases as age increases. Both the lens and the cornea of older people become darker and more yellow and the pupils become smaller. In addition to the fact that the eyesight deteriorates, it has become clear that the reduced incidence of light on the retina during the daytime has an adverse effect on the maintenance of the sleep-wake rhythm. Over time, the regulation of the 24-hour rhythm of the human body deteriorates, especially in seniors with dementia. A shortage of light stimuli disrupts the biological clock, i.e. the 24-hour rhythm of older people which causes them to disorientate more quickly, and proper lighting ensures “better vision” and good control of the biological clock.
– Thelma van der Werff –
School performance depends on various aspects. Lighting is a very important aspect regarding the school environment. Appropriate school lighting is crucial to support the visual skills as well as the cognitive functioning of the children (Mott et al 2012). Applying the correct lighting at the right time is beneficial for the alertness and by supporting the sleep-wake rhythm it will enhance school performance.
Would you like to experience what light can do for your offices? Please contact us to make an obligation-free appointment, so that we can let you experience it for yourself. A pleasant ambiance starts with the right light source.