{"id":3682,"date":"2026-06-15T18:05:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T18:05:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lightingnewsnow.com\/?p=3682"},"modified":"2026-06-15T19:24:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T19:24:11","slug":"americans-want-to-feel-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lightingnewsnow.com\/?p=3682","title":{"rendered":"Americans Want to Feel Better"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Surveys show Americans are feeling unhappy, pessimistic and unhealthy. Upgrading their lighting is one affordable remedy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Julie A. Palm<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite a reputation for can-do optimism, by and large, Americans aren\u2019t feeling particularly happy, hopeful or healthy these days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this year, the World Happiness Report<\/a> published its 2026 rankings of countries based on self-reported well-being: The United States ranked 23rd<\/sup>, up one place from 2025 \u2014 but last year marked the country\u2019s lowest place ever on the list. America peaked at No. 11 more than one decade ago in 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report \u2013 admittedly a subjective measure \u2013 gauges happiness based on gross domestic product per capita, life expectancy, social support, freedom to make individual life choices, generosity of the country\u2019s general population and perceptions of corruption. Who was No. 1 on the happiness list this year? Finland, which has claimed the top spot for nine consecutive years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another dismaying measure: U.S. consumer sentiment rebounded slightly in June, but only after falling to a record low in May. And the June reading remains below the April measure, as Americans continue to be worried about persistent high inflation and its impact on their wallets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And we continue to struggle with our health. A Pew study released in the spring found that Americans know that getting a good night\u2019s sleep, managing stress and eating well are key to good health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut there are large gaps \u2013 34 to 44 percentage points \u2013 between the share who say they are highly important and those who say they are doing extremely, or very well, at them. For example, 77% say getting enough sleep is highly important \u2014 but only 33% do really well at getting enough,\u201d Pew says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Craving wellness<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe it\u2019s not surprising that U.S. homeowners are looking for ways to feel better at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A recent emerging trends<\/a> report from Houzz shows that \u201cthe home as a sanctuary is no longer just a concept, it\u2019s an active design priority.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Searches for the term \u201cwellness room\u201d are up 164% over last year, Houzz notes, while searches for the word \u201ccalming\u201d jumped 139%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houzz is also seeing significantly increased interest in the terms \u201cbiophilic design\u201d (up 112%), \u201cspa\u201d (up 68%) and \u201chome gym\u201d (46%), as well as \u201csensory room\u201d (up 43%) and \u201cyoga room\u201d (up 20%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The results, Houzz notes, \u201cshow that wellness is being thought of holistically, from physical fitness to mental well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specialized rooms like gyms and yoga rooms can require specialized lighting \u2014 and very different lighting in the case of those two rooms. Gyms: probably generous overhead lighting, some task lighting and maybe brighter bulbs. Yoga or sensory rooms: softer lighting, definitely dimmable, and I\u2019m imagining a lot of atmospheric sconces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But lighting is an important part of wellness throughout the home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLighting is probably the No. 1 thing,\u201d when talking about turning a home into a space that promotes well-being,\u201d Erica McLain, founder of Dallas-based McLain by Design Interiors<\/a>, told me when I talked to her for an article<\/a> in our sister publication, Design News Now<\/em>, last month. \u201cI always start with lighting temperature,\u201d she said. From a practical health standpoint, McLain is big on subtle hallway, bathroom and even kitchen lighting (such as along the cabinet toe kick) that gently and safely illuminates spaces at night without requiring people to turn on brighter lights as they move around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Ballentine, principal designer for Atlanta-based Domicilio Interiors<\/a>, takes a \u201cwhole house\u201d approach to wellness. In early discussions with prospect clients, he gives them a self-audit, encouraging them to assess their homes in terms of four categories: sound (\u201cthe subtle saboteur\u201d), light (\u201cyour circadian whisperer\u201d), biophilia (\u201cthe nervous system reset\u201d) and visual cortex (\u201ccluster = cortisol\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When designing homes, Ballentine strives to control natural light, especially in bedrooms, by using systems that lower and raise window shades. \u201cWe try to include circadian lighting as much as possible, just to support the natural cycles that our body goes through during the day,\u201d he told me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Programmable lighting systems that create moods at certain times are nice for those who can afford them; dimmable fixtures are a good solution for those on tighter budgets. \u201cYou have to be able to control the lighting,\u201d McLain told me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the basic placement and types of lighting fixtures throughout the home are also key for wellness, whether that\u2019s mental, physical or emotional. McLain builds on the idea that every room should have three layers of lighting: ambient (general), task (functional) and accent (decorative). It\u2019s a basic design principle for a reason: Those layers allow people to adjust light for various uses and moods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, I\u2019d add, upgrading lighting is easier for many people than renovating to create a spa bathroom or add a home gym.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are things in design, like wellness rooms and that sort that can improve health,\u201d Ballentine explained. \u201cBut in general, there are studies showing that applying (biophilia, lighting and other) principles (throughout the home) reduces stress and anxiety. It improves mood and well-being. It supports better sleep and enhances focus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, as those recent happiness, consumer sentiment and health surveys find, we could all use more of those things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related articles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How New Fabrics Will Influence Lighting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 Trends Shaping Lighting Design<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Surveys show Americans are feeling unhappy, pessimistic and unhealthy. Upgrading their lighting is one affordable remedy. By Julie A. Palm Despite a reputation for can-do optimism, by and large, Americans aren\u2019t feeling particularly happy, hopeful or healthy these days. Earlier this year, the World Happiness Report published its 2026 rankings of countries based on self-reported…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3685,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":2,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,391],"tags":[1000,1130,1127,1128,807],"class_list":["post-3682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-featured","tag-circadian-rhythm","tag-erica-mclain","tag-happiness","tag-john-ballentine","tag-wellness"],"yoast_head":"\nAmericans Want to Feel Better - Lighting News Now<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Americans are feeling unhappy, pessimistic and unhealthy. 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