Color and lighting in the new healthy domestic landscape

In the last 200 years, a radical transformation of society has taken place, the Industrial Revolution. People’s activities have been transformed with mass migration from the countryside to urban centers and the development of industrialized societies. In a few generations, humans shifted from a life spent working in the countryside open air to one mainly in closed environments, with little natural light and subjected to artificial light. Observing this radical change in living environments that took place over a few generations, in this chapter, we address the complex question of the physiological effects of light and color in interiors on the health of human beings, which have been scientifically proven in the last twenty years. Besides, the risks and benefits to health arising from non-image- forming (NIF) effects of light are highlighted, and the limitations of light and color design in indoor environments compared to outdoor environments. Even though extensive neurophysiological research has demonstrated the importance of proper NIF management for human health, this is virtually absent in the design practice. Concerning these physiological effects, we also introduce the application implications that this scientific innovation is starting to have on the design methodology of residential interior design, in the delicate balance between natural light, artificial lighting, and colors.