Ever noticed how depressing a wanly lit room seems? Light and colour have more than just a decorative effect. Much more important is the impact they have on our sense of physical and psychological wellbeing.

The yardstick for sense of wellbeing is natural light. It is highly dynamic and changes constantly throughout the day and the year. Sunny or dim, warm or cold, diffuse or producing sharp edged shadows – lighting conditions influence hormone production in the human body. Researchers are currently looking at how light regulates our "biological clock". It defines the day-and-night cycle and makes us feel tired or energetic.

Modern lighting systems – today still predominantly confined to industry – take account of the researchers' findings. They harness daylight, regulate and control artificial lighting precisely as required. The "biological clock" is thus influenced – and our sense of wellbeing enhanced.

Lighting moods for the home

A selection of lighting moods is also very easy to realise in the home. The simplest method in a largish room is to provide a minimum of five to seven different light sources: ceiling and wall luminaires, power track or wire systems for the general lighting, table and standalone luminaires for comfortable mood lighting and directional light for reading and highlighting paintings, pictures or coloured walls.

Maximum convenience is offered by modern lighting systems with intelligent high tech enabling lighting to be regulated by remote control or at the push of a button. Lighting can even be adjusted automatically to take account of the time of day and the amount of available daylight – and thus influence our biological clock. Bright, cool light is provided for an energetic start to the day; warm, reddish light helps us wind down in the evening. Winter blues are thus well and truly banished.