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Defined by the International Dark Sky Association it is “the inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light.” Light pollution is a by-product of industrial civilization. It has stolen away the dark night skies and the visibility of the Milky Way in highly populated areas. The younger generations living in urbanised spaces might have never seen a sky full of stars.

Although the light bulb invention is considered as one of the most transformative creations to human lives it has caused disruptions to our planet. There are noticeable adverse effects for both humans, animals and plants as the lack of darkness has disharmonised the ecosystem balance and disrupted the day-night pattern. 

What are the different types of light pollution?

There are a variety of light sources and types which are considered as light pollution. The term is generally used when speaking of excess light but it could also mean not enough light or the wrong kind of light for the thriving of natural processes. 

Glare

Glare is excessive brightness which causes loss of visual performance or visual discomfort as the light intensity is too strong for the eyes. Some examples of ways to reduce this discomfort is to have an anti-glare function on your car mirrors or to install blinds at your home. 

Skyglow

This is the light dome which is visible over populated areas. The light that comes from street lights, advertising signs, commercial lights and residential lights left on overnight goes up to the sky and scatters with other molecules and particles and causes the brightening of the night sky also known as skyglow. This hugely interferes with astronomical observations.

Light clutter

Light clutter is caused by incorrect and excessive clustering of lights which may result in confusion, distraction and even lead to accidents. 

Light trespass

This term is used to describe unwanted and inappropriate light. However this could be quite subjective as it’s hard to define exactly when, where and how much light is wanted and needed in a place. An example to illustrate trespass is when the light from street lighting or street sign enters a residential property.

What are the negative effects of light pollution?

Before the invention of artificial lights, the light and day rhythm was solely orchestrated by the illumination of the Sun, Moon and stars. The Earth is now greatly suffering  from light pollution and inhabited areas are glowing in the night. The lack of darkness has caused disbalance in the ecosystems and many disruptions to all living organisms. Research has shown that excess light is correlated to: 

Damaging human health

All living organisms follow 24-hour circadian rhythms which respond mainly to light and dark. As a result of excess brightness or inappropriate light, these processes will get disrupted and hence affect the normal bodily functions of the body. Over time this might lead to severe illnesses or mental health conditions such as depression and insomnia. Furthermore, insomnia itself can be caused by the lack of darkness at night which some people might be sensitive to. Sinse sleep is vitally important for humans, prolonged insomnia can lead to further health risks. 

Rising electricity consumption

Immoderate use of light, especially at night, requires more electricity which is produced by burning fossil fuels. This waste of resources is very costly and adds to air pollution and the increased levels of carbon dioxide. 

Disrupting animal welfare

Light pollution causes huge disruptions to animal life and more drastically to nocturnal animals who are active at night. Preys need darkness to hide and the lack of such may end their life prematurely. Migratory birds and sea turtles use the moonlight for guidance during migration and excessive light can confuse them and hence lose their way and die. Artificial lights also have a negative effect on reproduction, sleep and nourishment in many animal species. 

Disbalancing the ecosystem

The natural processes in the ecosystem are navigated by day-night and any disruptions to this rhythm leads to disbalance and discomfort. It might be hard for some animal species and plants to adapt to these man-made conditions which may cause slower growth and eventually decrease in some populations or total disappearance of certain living organisms. 

What are the solutions to reduce light pollution?

The good news is that light pollution, unlike other earth pollutants, is relatively easy to reduce if humans start to follow some simple practices. This issue needs more coverage and popularity and people need to be better educated and informed about the negative impact and their input to reduce it. 

The different types of light pollution require different actions in order to be decreased but here are some recommendations to tackle the issue.

Use motion sensors and timers

By using motion sensors or timers the lights are on only when they are actually needed. This will have a great positive impact on energy consumption and hence contribute to reducing light pollution. These functions can be installed in residential outdoor lighting, commercial space lighting and even street lights. 

Convert to warm LED lighting 

Installing warm-colour LED light bulbs can reduce illuminance without impacting visibility. These lights also create a more cosy feeling and bring harmony and peace to the surroundings so they are a great choice for residential spaces. The use of brigh or colourful lights, especially blue,increases glare and creates a driving hazard as they adversely affect human eyesight. 

Use cutoff lighting fixtures

This is the best way to inhibit light to be released above the fixture and limit the light output to where it’s needed. This reduces glare and sky glow. These fixtures should be considered for street lights and stadium lighting.  

Switch off unnecessary lighting 

The simplest yet most effective practice to reduce light pollution. If every human remembers to turn off the lights when they are not needed, energy consumption will significantly reduce. Empty office buildings and commercial spaces such as malls, restaurants and amusement parks should also adopt a policy for turning off the lights after closing hours. 

Although humans are generally resistant to change, light pollution and its negative impact on the planet is gaining more popularity and more actions are taken to combat this. 

Photo: TMD Landscape Designs

Lighting plays an important role within your home. Not only does it allow you to see better, but it can help to set the mood of a room. Do you want a very bright workspace, or do you want soft lighting for your bedroom? If you want to take more control over the lighting in your home, and get it just the way you want it, there are a few things you can do. Here are just 6 suggestions:

Add More Light Sources

The most obvious solution is to simply add more light sources. If you find that a particular area or room of your home is too dark, then more light is the solution. This could mean something as simple as plugging in a lamp, or installing a new chandelier ceiling fan on the ceiling. The type of lighting you add will depend on the setup of your room, such as where the furniture is and where the outlets are. If you have an ambitious project in mind, you may need the help of an electrician to have the job done right.

Photo: YSE Dusky

Replace the Bulbs

Another simple solution is to replace the bulbs within your current light fixtures. Maybe the bulb you are using now is too dark, or it’s letting off too harsh of a light. Or maybe you want to try something different, and plug in a colored bulb instead. You could even switch to LED lights if your concerned about energy efficiency. There are a lot of different options, and simply changing out the bulbs could be the solution you were looking for. So go out and pick up some different bulbs, and try them out to see which solution you like best.

Install Smart Lights

Sometimes we wish we could control the lighting in our rooms, without actually having to walk over to the switch. Well, with smart lights, now you can. There are now lights that you can install, that once set up, you can control with your smartphone, or through voice assistants like Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home. You could dim the lights while sitting on your couch, or even turn on the lights when you’re about to pull into the driveway. It’s a great convenience that doesn’t take a lot of work to set up, so consider this if convenience is what you are after.

Photo: About Ruth

Change the Windows

The windows in any room play a large role in the light levels. If your windows are facing the wrong way, or don’t have the right blinds, you could have a room that is either too dark or too bright. While there might be limits on what you can do, the options available to you might surprise you. Look into custom window options, and see what sort of changes you could make to your room. Changing up the windows is a larger project than simply changing the bulbs, but if it impacts the room dramatically, and gets it to where you want it, then the cost and time might be worth it.

Put Lights in Unconventional Spots

Your light sources don’t have to be just lamps or overhead lights in the ceiling. There are plenty of other places you could install lights, and doing so would change the look of a room. For instance, you could install lights underneath the cabinets in your kitchen. Or, you could have motion lights underneath your bed that light up when you get up in the middle of the night. Another option is to place lights along the stairs, to make it a little easier to see. Think about where you want there to be light, and chances are there is a way to make it happen.

Photo: DIY Home Art

Don’t Forget Outdoor Lighting

Finally, if you have an outdoor space, you could change the lighting up here as well. Add some string lights to your patio, or hang some lights to nearby trees. As long as you get lights that are safe for outdoors, there are a lot of options available to you. You could transform your outdoor space into a great place to spend time at night, all by adding a few simple lights.

Don’t Overlook Your Lighting Options

When we are changing up a space in our homes, we often forget about the lighting. We assume what we have now is what we have to stick with. This is not the case, and there are a lot of different ways you could change of the lighting. Doing so could provide you with a more functional space, or one with a different feel. The above list is just a start – use your imagination, and you’re sure to find a solution that you love.

Photo: My Lists of Lists

But in order to enjoy every minute of nocturnal time, you need a living space with plenty of artificial lighting. Let’s face it: a lack of light is just downright depressing! After the last rays of natural daylight fade away, you need to know that you can still see what’s going on.

Here are three lighting ideas for brightening your home afterhours so you can seize the night!

Build Layers of Light

Layers are your friend when it comes to properly lighting your home. While it might be tempting to install some recessed ceiling lights or a large overhead fixture and call it a day, that will only wash out everything underneath. You also don’t want to find yourself huddled around a single floor or table lamp every night because it’s the only focused light source in the room.

As Oprah advises, no lighting scheme is complete without these three layers:

–Recessed or ambient lighting: General, top-down lighting that fills a room

–Task lighting: Focused lighting that makes it easier to complete specific activities

–Accent lighting: Adds visual interest by highlighting particular objects or areas

– Industrial lighting: Adds an industrial touch to your dining room, can be purchased via any industrial lighting company

Photo: BrightBoldBeautiful.com

Mix Up Your Fixtures

Question: How do you achieve these well-lit layers? Answer: By switching up the size, shape and type of your lighting fixtures, of course! The key is to create a complementary system of lighting that keeps rooms bright and pleasant, even after dusk.

Ambient lighting can come from a chandelier, ceiling fixture, or recessed lights. Not only can these fixtures make a grand statement in the room, but they are the backbone of any illumination scheme.

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Task lighting is good for all the detail-oriented things you may want to do at night, from writing a letter to studying or putting together a puzzle. You’ll want to include hanging pendant lights and portable lamps (both floor and desk) around your home to create stations perfect for tackling your favorite hobbies.

Accent lighting is the cherry on top, adding lots of pizazz to a room—and even capturing the class of your favorite art gallery or museum. When people are wondering where to look, accent lighting draws their attention. You may want to highlight family photos, a piece of art, your glassware collection or your favorite houseplant. Track lighting helps drum up visual interest and take your overall lighting scheme to the next level; just make sure that your focal point gets three times as much light as the general light around it for maximum contrast. As mentioned, accent lighting is perfect for art gallery lighting because it will produce a soft glow that will accent the work without skewing the color palette.

Don’t Forget the Dark Corners

Every home has a few corners that look innocent by day but turn into shadowy voids by night. If you find yourself scared to venture out into the dark in-between spaces of your home, it’s time to shine some light on the situation.

Put a chic vintage table lamp on that hallway dresser so you don’t return to a pitch-black home. Add a few tasteful nightlights on the way to the bathroom. Install under-cabinet lighting in your kitchen. Instead of merely avoiding these patches of darkness and staying in your warm little island of light, brighten them up with a few new fixtures for an overall boost of coziness.

Photo: CasaVogue

Next time you’re burning the midnight oil you’ll be mighty glad you took the time to illuminate your living space. This way, you can appreciate the colors, textures, furniture and trinkets just as much by night as by day. If you are looking for stylish furniture collections, shop here!

The night is nothing to be afraid of; it’s a beautiful time if you embrace it with the right light fixtures.

There are so many little things that are needed for a party, BBQ, or any special occasion, and sometimes it can be overwhelming. Setting that perfect table is one of the things many people have trouble with, but don’t fret! We’ve got 10 tips on how to set the perfect table for that special occasion, stress not included!

1. Table Runner

You don’t have to use a conventional table runner to decorate your table. Try using a pretty scarf, or you can stitch doilies together for a vintage look. Use your imagination, and the sky is the limit!

2. Napkin Rings

If you would like your silverware to look a little more organized, try using some napkin rings. You can buy your own, or get creative and make your own! We’re loving these simple print-out napkin rings that can be assembled in minutes.

3. Centerpiece

A gorgeous centerpiece is the highlight of any beautifully set table. Be it flowers, succulents, or candles. These lanterns and pink flowers look gorgeous on this table. Look for simple lanterns at the dollar store that can be spray painted, and decorated any way you wish!

4. Place Cards

If you have a seating arrangement, placing the names of your guests on cute place cards can help everyone stay organized. An easy way to keep your seating plan organized is printing out names in a fancy font on card stock and placing it with your silverware. If you’re feeling creative, these message in a bottle place cards are just too cute to pass up!

5. Lighting

For lighting, there are many options to choose from. For a rustic look, hang mason jars with tea candles inside. For a more casual party, paper lanterns are a popular choice, and they come in any color. What we’re loving these days is outdoor chandeliers that add a touch of elegance and romance to any party or get-together. Scour thrift shops for chandeliers and give them a new coat of paint to freshen them up. Hang the chandelier above the center of your table, or add two or three in a row for even more light.

6. Chair Covers

To save money, you can rent chairs and cover them with a unique slipcover to fit your party or get-together theme. Once you’ve outfitted the chair with a slipcover, decorate it by wrapping the back of the chair with a large bow, or even a small bouquet of flowers.

7. Charger Plates

Charger plates are a great way to dress up your table and they act as a base for food-bearing bowls and dishes. Since they’re not meant to be eaten off of, you can decorate them any way you wish to fit the theme of your table. These faux mercury glass charger plates would fit any elegant or winter-themed party.

8. Party Favors

Although optional, party favors add a little extra surprise for your guests. Place them in the middle of each plate, as a little thank you to your guests for coming. You can place candy inside cute packaging, or even a small succulent in a mini pot can be a delightful gift. We love the small paper bags at this western-themed party. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones!

9. Glassware

From fancy wineglasses to simple mason jars, your glassware reflects the theme and feel of your party. If you’re looking for a more elegant look with your glassware, large frosted wineglasses will do the trick. For a casual party, try mason jars and straws in the color of your theme.

10. Elevate Your Food and Drinks

To add interest to your table, place your drinks and food on cake stands and tiers. For extra serving space, place them on a bar cart or small table close to your main dining table. This is also a great way to store extra napkins and silverware within reach of your guests, and without crowding your dining table.

Photos: The Graphics Fairy, My Big Day Company, Ashley Ann, Etsy, Sheila Zeller, Style Me Pretty, Tip Junkie, Rustic Wedding Chic, Tidbits and Twine, Mid West Living.