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Illuminating Wellness: The Effect of Smart Lighting Design on Health and Your Circadian Rhythm

Writer's picture: SmartstartSmartstart

Updated: Oct 11, 2024


Smart lighting in bedroom


In a world where technology has infiltrated almost every aspect of our fast paced lives, the significance of smart lighting design should not be underestimated. Beyond its energy efficiency and aesthetic appeal, we want to explore how smart lighting has a big impact on your health and well-being, particularly in regulating your circadian rhythm.


What is Your Circadian Rhythm


Your body operates on a natural, internal clock known as the circadian rhythm, which regulates various physiological processes throughout your 24 hour day. One of the key processes is your sleep-wake cycle, which is tied closely to your production of the hormone melatonin. 


Essentially, your brain produces melatonin in response to darkness, and this vital hormone is responsible for keeping your 24 hour clock in check. Exposure to light during the day will signal your brain to release cortisol, which naturally prepares your body to wake up, as well as regulate your stress response, metabolism and also maintain your sleep-wake cycle.


This power team of hormones play a big role in your health and maintaining the right balance is important. 



Smart lighting in kitchen


The Role of Smart Lighting


Besides being a beautiful and versatile home design tool, smart lighting can be used to mimic natural light to provide an adaptable, ever changing lighting environment throughout your day. These lights can also let you adjust the colour and brightness, replicating the natural progression of sunlight from cool tones in the day, to warmer tones at night.


You can also trigger your lights to turn on or off at sunrise and sunset, which further enhances their ability to improve your wellness.  


Lighting Throughout the Day


Morning exposure to bright, cool-toned light helps to kickstart your day by suppressing melatonin production and increasing cortisol, boosting alertness, and improving your mood. Smart lighting can simulate this effect, promoting a more natural wake-up experience compared to traditional alarm clocks. Have you ever woken up in a really dark room and struggled to start your day?


Maintaining this bright and cool light can enhance productivity and concentration too. Smart lights can even be programmed to fit in with your daily schedule by keeping a well-lit environment when you need it most. By correctly managing your cortisol levels, lights can positively impact your work performance and overall cognitive function.


As you move through the day, warmer and dimmer lights are preferable as they signal your body that it's time to wind down. Smart lights allow you to  transition smoothly into night mode, to help you relax and facilitate your body's preparation for sleep.



Smart lights evening interior and exterior


Sleep Regularity Makes a Difference 


You might not want to hear this, but your body performs better, stays more alert, and feels better when you wake up and go to bed at the same time every day (even at the weekend). Waking up feeling rested can transform your day and will have an impact on your performance, diet and overall physical and mental health. 


Being exposed to bright, blue-rich light in the evening can disrupt melatonin production, which will make it harder for you to fall asleep. Equally, insufficient light in the morning will make it really difficult to wake up. Both have an impact on your circadian rhythm and have health implications we’re only just starting to understand. 


Smart lights can be used to schedule your day with preset scenes that are triggered at just the right times. This can help to wake you up in the morning, but also wind you down at night so you are ready for bed when the time comes. 


Is it worth it?


Adding smart lights to your home or workplace offers more than energy savings and convenience; they directly influence your health and circadian rhythm in the same way the sun does. By embracing technology that matches your natural biological processes, you can create an environment that supports well-being, enhances productivity, and contributes to your overall quality of life. 


As we continue to advance in the era of smart living, optimising our lighting choices will become ever more important in the quest to live better lives. By understanding your body’s requirements, you can improve your physical and mental health by making a few simple changes that will vastly impact your daily life. 


If you would like to know more, please visit:



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