Wickes Talks Overhead Lighting and Sleep

• Interiors expert Professor Deborah Sugg Ryan reveals the 100-year-old historical flaw behind UK home lighting
• Wickes partners with design expert to share three affordable DIY lighting hacks from just £3.75

From viral TikTok memes to everyday household debates, the 'big light' has become a familiar talking point in British homes. As the clocks go back and darker evenings draw in, harsh overhead lighting is doing more than just ruining the ambience. According to interiors expert and Professor of Design History, Deborah Sugg Ryan, it can actively disrupt sleep cycles as well as trigger the winter blues.

To help homeowners brighten darker days and boost winter wellbeing, home improvement retailer Wickes has partnered with Deborah to reveal the historical origins of Britain’s central ceiling pendant and share affordable DIY alternatives from just £3.75.

Professor Deborah Sugg Ryan says: “The single pendant light dominating British living rooms is a 1920s cost-saving compromise we never managed to shake. When UK homes were first wired, steep copper and installation costs meant homes were wired with just one central fixture per room to mimic the placement of old gas pendants.

A century later, we’re still living with that compromise. Bright overhead lighting can feel harsh in the evening, while softer, layered lighting can create a more relaxing environment. Homes should follow the circadian clock: crisp, cool daylight to start the day, and low-level amber warmth as the sun goes down.”

To combat dark winter evenings and boost wellbeing at home, Wickes and Deborah Sugg Ryan have shared three affordable, expert-approved hacks to transform interior lighting this autumn:

1) The invisible glow coving trick

Rather than leaving bare ceiling bulbs exposed, Deborah recommends creating diffused, architectural lighting that washes down the walls.

• The Hack :“Run a flexible smart strip along the inside of decorative ceiling coving or atop picture rails. Facing the light upward allows the ceiling to act as a giant natural diffuser, eliminating harsh glare while bathing the room in soft, ambient light.”
  
  
• Get the Look: The Calex Smart 2m LED Striplight (£20) can be set to voice-controlled scenes via Alexa or Google Home, shifting from a soft warm glow during dinner to an ambient cinema setting while watching TV.

2. Low-level eye-line layering

Bring the light source down to table and floor height after 6PM to mimic natural sunset tones.

• The Hack: “Scatter low-wattage, warm light points across three distinct heights: low (table lamps), mid (floor lamps), and perimeter (wall or shelf uplighting). This adds architectural depth which can trigger the brain to release melatonin for deeper sleep.”
  
  
• Get the Look: Master eye-line layering with the Eglo Romanazzina Contemporary Caged Tripod Floor Lamp (£98), fitted with the Wickes Dimmable Opal LED Candle Warm White Light Bulb (£3.75) or Calex Smart LED Candle Dimmable Light Bulb (£9) for instant, atmospheric dimming at the touch of a button.

3. The double-duty window hack

Lighting isn’t just about bulbs; it’s also about harnessing daylight while trapping heat. 

• The Hack: “With windows responsible for up to 18% of domestic heat loss, thermal blackout blinds offer an easy, two-in-one fix: open them wide during peak daylight to flood the room with natural sun, then shut them at dusk to trap heat and block chilly drafts.”
  
  
• Get the Look: The Velux DSL Solar White Blackout Blind (£165) gives precise control over natural winter daylight while helping insulate loft conversions and bedrooms against plummeting night-time temperatures.

“You don’t need an expensive architectural setup to fix your home's lighting,” concludes Deborah. “By understanding how light affects our physiology and turning off the central light in favour of low-level, warm layers, you can completely reset your mood and make homes a cosy sanctuary this winter.”

For more information and products, visit wickes.co.uk.

Source : Wickes

Image : Wickes

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