A paint expert has released tips on the best shades to brighten up your home and combat SAD symptoms this winter
As the clocks go back and the dark nights creep in, 1 in 20 people in the UK reportedly experience symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The fewer hours of daylight can cause symptoms such as low mood, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping.
For those who experience SAD symptoms, an expert from The Paint Shed has revealed the best colours to use in the home to combat some of these symptoms by brightening up your home.
Michael Rolland, Managing Director at The Paint Shed explains:
“In the winter months, our homes don’t get as much natural light which can lead to rooms painted in darker shades becoming dull and gloomy, which is not ideal for SAD sufferers. To overcome this, consider painting rooms in bright colours which reflect light, to leave your home feeling more open and airy, in turn boosting your overall mood.”
Michael Rolland, Managing Director at The Paint Shed provides tips on how to brighten up your home this winter:
- Choose light colours
“Light colours are known to reflect more light than dark colours and are always recommended when painting smaller rooms as they create a more spacious-looking environment. Lighter colours, such as white, beige, pale grey and other pastel colours, can help to brighten up the room too.”
“That doesn’t mean your room has to be boring; pale yellows, greens and blues can create a bright and calming atmosphere within the home, perfect to boost your mood.”
- Paint your ceiling white
“Over the past few years, we have seen a trend of painting ceilings dark or contrasting colours to the rest of your room. This works well in bigger spaces or rooms which benefit from a cosier feel, but in small or dark rooms this can have the opposite effect. By painting ceilings white you can make the room look taller as well as reflect light further around the space.”
- Add contrasting details
“Painting mouldings such as skirting boards, doorways and windows in contrasting light shades can create dimension in the room without detracting from the brightness. Going one shade lighter with your detailing can trick the eye into thinking the walls are even brighter.”
- Experiment with paint finishes
“Different paint finishes can reflect light in different ways; for example, a glossy paint will reflect more light than a matte paint. Generally, an eggshell finish reflects more light than satin paint, although this can differ between brands”
“Using a mix of finishes within the home can add depth to the space, try painting walls in an eggshell finish and your trim with gloss to add dimension to the room.”
