People don’t usually realize how much the lighting arrangement around them affects their mood and outlook. If you think about it, lighting does more than just let you see. It helps create an ambiance that affects your perception, feelings, and overall experience. Sensory lighting is a special tool that people can use to craft a soothing ambiance.

As an occupational therapist, I’ve learned that recommending even small adjustments to people’s environments can have a profound impact on their happiness and well-being.

Some lamps and lighting fixtures are specially designed to produce illumination that doesn’t overwhelm the senses. In essence, they contribute to the creation of a calming and cozy environment where one can feel at ease.

Simply put, sensory lights are sources of illumination that were specifically created to engage your senses without overwhelming you.

What is Sensory Lighting and How Does It Work?

Sensory lighting refers to specialized lighting fixtures that have been cleverly created to fill spaces with a gentle and calming glow.

To create sensory lights, lighting design elements are intelligently maneuvered.

There are some elements of lighting design that, when adjusted, can lead to different ambiances:
– Type of light: incandescent, compact fluorescent (CFL), halogen, and light-emitting diode (LED).
– Illuminance: the amount of luminous flux per unit area.
– Photometry: perceived brightness to the human eye
– Color Temperature: these denote types of light tones like cool, warm, white, and yellow
– Color Rendering Index: a light source’s ability to depict colors accurately or naturally

Those who design sensory lighting fixtures, in essence, create something that isn’t too heavy on the senses.

Why Should You Care About Sensory Lighting?

The following fascinating benefits of sensory lighting may persuade you to use them:
1. They help balance your sensory system.
2. They help you unwind.
3. They help boost creativity.
4. They improve focus by reducing distractibility.
5. They help regulate your sleep.
6. They promote overall well-being.

Do you have trouble falling asleep? You should care about sensory lighting because it is specially formulated to promote feelings of ease that help your body fall asleep.

Has anyone ever asked you to limit your exposure to blue light before sleep? The reason for this is that blue light is known to enhance attention and reaction times, thereby increasing the likelihood that you will remain alert instead of dozing off.

Everything from the quality, color, and even the type of light source used to illuminate the environment are important.

Can you recall a public space where the lighting was so irritating that you wanted to leave? Perhaps it was bright, harsh, and overhead?

It isn’t just the color of the light that can trouble you and leave you agitated. You can become visually overstimulated and uneasy when exposed to excessively bright lighting. If you can’t unwind at home, there might be an issue with the lighting in your room.

There are times when people are astonished by how little they need to alter their surroundings in order to enjoy better sleep or feel calmer.

As an occupational therapist, I frequently recommend calming sensory lights for children who are visually overstimulated. However, to be very honest, I’ve also found sensory lighting useful in my own life. With a sensory light lamp in my bedroom, I can create the perfect environment for falling asleep and having peaceful dreams.

In addition to aiding in sleep, sensory lighting can be helpful in a variety of other ways.

You can use sensory lighting to foster creativity or create a tranquil environment. Anything from reading to breastfeeding can also become cozier with the right source of radiance.

Special Considerations

Special Considerations for People with Light Sensitivity/ Sensory Processing Difficulties

To make life easier for those with special needs, it is necessary to make adjustments to the surrounding environment.

Occupational therapists are intimately familiar with methods of assisting people of all ages who have physical, sensory, or cognitive issues. As an OT myself, I advocate the use of sensory lighting.

Some people find it especially difficult to tolerate bright lights. These people may experience anxiety or find it difficult to see things around them without straining their eyes.

Light sensitivity is a condition that makes a person more sensitive to the level of light around them. One’s senses may become overstimulated as a result of the source of radiance and its placement.

Light sensitivity can be caused by a number of factors, including traumatic brain injuries, sensory processing difficulties, autism, neurological conditions, eye conditions, and even light triggers.

Some symptoms of light sensitivity include:
– Strain on eyes
– Discomfort in eyes
– Excessive blinking
– Headaches
– Dizziness
– Emotional irregularities like anger and sadness
– Anxiety
– Irritability
– Aggressiveness
– Difficulty concentrating

Think about the fact that 5–16% of all school-aged children have a disorder that affects how they process sensory information. Such kids are particularly prone to irritability and emotional irregularities due to their inability to process sensory information.

Relaxing sensory lighting can also help children with sensory processing difficulties stay cool and collected.

Children with sensory processing difficulties because of conditions like autism are especially vulnerable to light sensitivity. Therefore, sensory lighting can be a great solution to soothe them.

Final Takeaways

Sensory lighting is not only beautiful, but it is also relaxing. It is a specially curated source of radiance that is intended to reduce the sensory load. It can improve your well-being by promoting positive emotions and helping you fall asleep. Sensory lighting is especially important for people with autism and sensory processing disorders because it can help them relax without overwhelming their senses.

References:

“Blue Light Has a Dark Side.” Harvard Health, Harvard Health Publishing, 7 July 2020, www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side#app.

Chellappa, Sarah L. “Individual differences in light sensitivity affect sleep and circadian rhythms.” Sleep vol. 44,2 (2021): zsaa214. doi:10.1093/sleep/zsaa214

Owen, Julia P et al. “Abnormal white matter microstructure in children with sensory processing disorders.” NeuroImage. Clinical vol. 2 844-53. 23 Jun. 2013, doi:10.1016/j.nicl.2013.06.009

Brawley, Elizabeth C. “Enriching lighting design.” NeuroRehabilitation vol. 25,3 (2009): 189-99. doi:10.3233/NRE-2009-0515