We realize that there’s no replacement for good old fashioned sunshine, but leaving work today and finding only darkness outside left us with a sinking feeling that the S.A.D. days of winter are right around the corner. So we thought we’d find a few products and ideas that might trick us into believing that sunlit evenings aren’t actually gone for good.
1. The “Reveal” Window by Adam Frank isn’t cheap, but we love the idea: a light source projects the silhouette of a distant tree swaying in the breeze ($450 at risd | works).
2. Artist Mary Temple creates the illusion of sunlight using latex paint in her installation works. We’d love to try a DIY version of her paintings, but we’re not sure our results would measure up. See more of her projects at marytemple.com or Mixed Greens.
3. The Bright Blind by Makoto Hirahara is a simple idea: a light source behind a set of traditional blinds. Even though we find the blinds a bit depressing, we bet someone out there could rig up a swanky DIY alternative.
4. The same Sunprints we made as kids are back big time and a set of leafy prints up on the wall would definitely add some brightness to the dark days ahead.
5. It's not exactly sunshine, but natural spectrum lighting is supposed to have all kinds of mood and skin-enhancing benefits. We like the slightly vintage industrial look of this Natural Spectrum Illuminated Mirror (129.95 at Verilux).
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
My husband and I just purchased a light from Northern Light Technologies after years of complaining about winter darkness. The light is incredible - it's almost creepy how bright it is! We hope it will make the difference this year...
view hurly03's profile
Love the Adam Frank piece. Next time, instead of linking to a post that doesn't include or reference the item you're talking about, could you link directly to the item being described? Thanks so much
view Jeff Flemings's profile
Aside from number 5, most of these won't do anything to beat SAD. Maybe that's not what you intended, but taking vitamin D and getting out during the day would do a lot more to make people miss that hour of sunlight less.
view Melissa A.'s profile
Is it just me, or do the mini-blinds look more 'alien abduction' than 'sunlit window'? It's slightly creepy.
view safarikate's profile
Yay! I'm so glad that sunprints are back! I think I actually mentioned them in a comment a little while ago before I learned that they were trendy again... can I take credit for this trend? :)
They would look awesome framed within the panes of a multi-paned window.
view yiyehtov's profile
I was liking the *bright blinds* until I followed the link and saw that there is no actual WINDOW behind those slats! I agree, kinda creepy.
The Dutch make it through their long dark winters with large windows (washed at least once a week to make them sparkle) and lots of candles.
view mirandabee's profile
It's not the dark evenings that make me SAD - after all, there's always the lights of the city to enjoy during a walk home after work...
...it's waking up in the mornings in the dark that makes me cranky - so I'm relieved that DST is finally over so I can wake up with the sun again.
view bepsf's profile
mary temple has a lovely installation at the museum of arts & design in new york city. it took me some time to locate it in one of the east stairwells - the subtle realness of her work was masterful!
view coquine's profile
I attempted my own Mary Temple in my apartment. Love the results. I took the small amount of wall color I had left over from painting and added white acrylic paint to achieve the faintly lighter "sunlit" color. I highly recommend trying your design on graph paper first. Then using painter's tape on the wall as a guide when you are ready to begin.
view misslinds's profile
I have the Adam Frank REVEAL light. There's a corner in my house that dont get enough sunlight. I throw the light there with a "Ivy" pattern.
view BruinToo's profile