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Hi Carl, step into any room in your home and take a moment to look up.
Really notice the lighting.
Most people don't think twice about it. But in the homes I've visited—from private residences to luxury spas, to wellness spaces I've designed for brands like Ritz-Carlton and Norwegian Cruise Lines—there's one subtle but consistent thread.
The wrong light changes everything.
its color
It's not just about ambience or aesthetics. It's biological. Your nervous system reads light as information. When it's distorted or harsh, it triggers subtle, continuous corrections in your body—corrections you never consciously register but still pay the price for by evening.
You feel overstimulated. Maybe a little anxious. Drained, even if you've done "nothing."
And you blame the day. But it might actually be your ceiling.
Most residential lighting uses bulbs that flatten color, wash out warm tones, and cast shadows that exaggerate fatigue. You look in the mirror and feel older. Less vibrant. It's not you—it's your Color Rendering Index.
Yes, that's a real thing. CRI (Color Rendering Index) tells you how faithfully a light source reveals color.
Sunlight is a perfect 100.
Standard bulbs? Often 70 or lower.
That 30-point gap? It makes food look grey, skin look tired, and your brain work overtime trying to make sense of the visual noise.
Here's how to test it:
Hold a plain white sheet of paper under your kitchen light.
Then walk it to a window.
If the color shifts, even slightly, your lighting is distorting what your eyes are telling your brain. And your brain doesn't like being lied to.
Thankfully, the solution is simple—and elegant:
Look for bulbs with CRI 90+
Use 2700K to 3000K for living spaces (that's the color temperature—lower is warmer, and your body knows the difference)
Bonus: If available, check for R9 values (these indicate how well reds are rendered, which affects everything from skin tone to mood)
These are small changes. But they create a physiological shift that's disproportionate to the effort. Your home stops buzzing beneath the surface. Your body settles.
And suddenly, what felt like a normal day feels spacious again.
Tomorrow, I'll show you a different kind of invisible stressor—one that doesn't just tire your eyes but steals your energy with every step. But before then, I'd love to know where you are right now in your journey.
What best describes your relationship with your space?
"I'm noticing problems everywhere now that you've pointed them out."
"I've known something felt off but couldn't put my finger on it."
"I'm planning changes already—and I want to get them right."
Your answer will help me share the most useful guidance based on where you are—not where a trend thinks you should be.
P.S. One last thought: high-end salons, luxury hotels, fine restaurants—they all invest in warm, high-CRI lighting because they know how powerful it is.
When working with brands like Dior, we didn't just think about looks.
We thought about light. Because what surrounds you shapes how you feel—even when you don't realize it.
mpelafas, personal communication, November 26, 2025
