uplifting interiors
Living Etc UK|February 2023
IN DEEP MID-WINTER WE ALL COULD USE A PICK-ME-UP IS LIGHT THE WAY? DESIGNERS DEFINITELY THINK SO
Hugh Metcalf
uplifting interiors

There’s no doubt that the winter season can be depressing. Dark mornings, dark evenings and grey skies can lead to what’s known as seasonal affective disorder (or SAD) – a type of depression that hits during the winter months. When it strikes, our homes can feel less comforting, with even usually bright spaces looking flat and white walls dulling to a sallow grey, sucking the energy out of the room.

‘For architects, natural light is always the most important consideration in any space,’ architect Matthew Wood, founder of MW Architects tells us. ‘It is the lifeblood of a space, constantly changing and moving and pouring energy deep into a room. Without light the space is lifeless. So, of course, there is a synergy between natural light and how a space in our home feels. A lifeless space will feel draining, whereas a dynamic space will be enriching.’

That natural light has such an effect on us probably isn’t new news, and is why current architectural trends revolve around vast expanses of glass, cleverly positioned to make the most of the daylight that is on offer. ‘Raising window heads or lowering floors both increase the area that light can reach,’ Matthew says. ‘Skylights are, of course, very effective, but can be a bit of a broad-brush. Plus, it isn’t necessarily a case of more is better.’

‘For me, it is less about brightness, and more about keeping a connection to daylight,’ explains architect Kieran Hawkins, director of Cairn Architects. ‘Even when overcast, the light from the sun gives us all kinds of information about the time of day and environment, maintaining a largely subconscious connection to diurnal rhythms.’

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM LIVING ETC UKView all
modern extensions
Living Etc UK

modern extensions

WITH STRIKING USE OF COLOUR, MATERIALS AND SHAPE, THE LATEST DESIGNS ADD SO MUCH MORE THAN AN EXTRA ROOM

time-read
1 min  |
August 2024
think like a pro
Living Etc UK

think like a pro

It's not just interior designers who are skilled at picking the perfect palette architects are in on the act, too, and Richard Parr knows just how to get the ideal shade

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
colour decoded
Living Etc UK

colour decoded

As with all successful schemes, there's much more going on beneath the surface of this space than first appears -Livingete's colour expert Amy Moorea Wong reveals all

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
enduring style
Living Etc UK

enduring style

B&B Italia has pioneered modern Italian furniture design since 1966 - but its latest collection feels as fresh as ever

time-read
1 min  |
August 2024
TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED
Living Etc UK

TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED

Seventeenth-century origins meet vibrant contemporary design in a cleverly reimagined Amsterdam canal house

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
ROCK OF AGES
Living Etc UK

ROCK OF AGES

The owners of a Menorcan home have made a stylish yet sustainable retreat using the island's signature stone

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
FORCE OF NATURE
Living Etc UK

FORCE OF NATURE

An unexpected flood into what was already a dark basement flat prompted a new vision, full of light, natural materials and foliage

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
TOP OF THE WORLD
Living Etc UK

TOP OF THE WORLD

High above the busy streets of Bangkok, two talented designers have created a tranquil retreat that nods to chic 1970s style and makes the most of the views

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
A PLACE IN THE SUN
Living Etc UK

A PLACE IN THE SUN

An apartment within a former luxury hotel celebrates - and updates - the style of France's Côte d'Azur

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
OUTSIDE IN
Living Etc UK

OUTSIDE IN

The design of this modernist bungalow in South Africa was dictated by the trees on the plot and the desire for an indoor-outdoor flow

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024