Light

What light is best for sleep?

When it’s time to actually close your eyes for the night, many experts recommend that you sleep in as dark a room as possible. Too much exposure to light before or during sleep – whether coming in from an outdoor streetlight or the sun, your mobile phone or the overhead light you forgot to turn off – can crush your sweet dreams. A pitch dark room may not always be possible, but our blackout curtains and blinds can help in creating snooze-inducing darkness.

Even if you’re fortunate enough to be able to fall asleep just about anywhere, too much light can be negatively impacting your sleep. Both natural and artificial light can influence your circadian rhythm—your body’s 24-hour cycle of activity and rest. If you’re receiving too much light in the hours before and during sleep, your body can stay in an alert state instead of winding down for the day. Because different types of light can also inhibit your body’s natural production of the sleep-related hormone melatonin, you may find yourself still counting sheep long after your head hits the pillow after a too-bright night.