Egypt Sherrod: TV personality, real estate broker, and interior designer, has learned a thing or two about decorating over her decades in the business – but most recently, she's shed a light on the most important room of all: the bedroom. In this space, our colors, light, and furniture choices have a direct influence on our sleep quality and, consequently, our overall well-being. So why do so many of us get them so wrong?
'What many of us may not realize is that we’re constantly using the wrong type of light bulbs for our bedroom or using one version of light that actually does affect our overall mental health and well-being,' Sherrod says in an exclusive interview with H&G.
'I try to tell folks that you have to have variances of light for day versus night versus if you're reading or if you're reading in bed versus if you're watching television, even your television gives off a light and a light temperature and a frequency it gives off blue light and blue light is a very unhealthy light specifically when you're trying to fall into rem sleep. So if you're falling asleep with your TV every night, but you're not getting a good night's sleep, that could be the reason.'
Sherrod's bedroom lighting advice couldn't come at a better time. The designer recently collaborated with Unisom, an OTC nighttime sleep-aid brand, to advise on how to sleep better as we begin longer nights and busier schedules over the holiday season. Naturally, colors are important, but as Sherrod explains, lighting is arguably even more key.
'The body needs variances of lighting. Sometimes, people use the wrong light bulb and light. They should look into light therapy. Light therapy is a real thing. There's something called seasonal affective disorder that impacts many people who live in states (or parts of the world) where they endure prolonged darkness. It leads to a seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD. Some lights reflect different temperatures of daylight that you can actually buy,' Sherrod explains. 'They're called happy lights for that very reason.'
There's a large selection of these lights available on Amazon, most famously the aptly named 'HappyLight,' which is currently reduced. It features bright light therapy that improves sleep, boosts mood, increases energy, and enhances focus so you feel revitalized throughout the day. As we begin Daylight Saving, there's no better time to make the investment.
Described as 'the easiest light therapy lamp you’ll ever use,' the HappyLight has a simple on/off button, and you’re ready to kickstart your morning. It's effective, safe, and natural light therapy that’s free from glares, flickering, and hotspots – perfect for every bedroom.
This circular light is designed to ease winter blues by creating a comfortable atmosphere to relieve tension, anxiety, and irritability (especially in rainy, cloudy, and other dark indoor environments). It has a 210° adjustable lighting angle to find the most suitable lighting direction for your bedroom.
This sunlight therapy lamp is designed to offer exactly what the name suggests – warmth and happiness similar to what we get from natural sunlight. It's perfect for the daytime or nighttime and has a range of colors, temperatures, and brightness, so you can choose the one that suits your room the best.
'One of the most important mistakes people make when they're decorating is to think about making it beautiful, but not about how good it is for their overall wellbeing,' Sherrod adds.
'This is when we need to be especially conscious of making sure that we're being rested; our bodies have time to adjust so that we can function at a very high capacity, and our body can feel well, imbalanced holistically for me. I am no different. I'm one of those people who keep going, going, going, going, going, but I am learning just how important it is to make sure I'm getting enough sleep, a good quality of sleep.' The key is in the way we light our bedrooms, both in this darker season and beyond.
