Full spectrum lighting, is a great way to extend your day when you are doing arts and crafts.

These lights are quite often bought as desk lamps, but give off the same light as daylight, which is great if you are a night owl, or like to work on your craft after dark.

Depending on where you live, this can happen in September and October, and with the changing seasons, it drastically cuts back on your available daylight hours for creating!

If like me, you tend to be busy with life during the daylight hours, then you are faced with doing your creating after dinner or even later, and its just too hard on the eyes. Or what you think looked great before you went to bed.. had a whole different look the next morning!.. These lights cost a little more, but they are long lasting, and its worth it. They really help with eye strain when you are doing close up work. If you do very fine work, then the combination of good full spectrum lighting and those magnifying glasses you can get for very fine crafts works great, and you are not seeing double when you are finished.

If you are just creating your studio space now, possible look into getting some permanently installed, but if like me, you are taking over the corner of the basement, then at least get a desk lamp or a floor lamp that shines in your work space… Regular overhead fluorescent lights or regular bulb lighting make seem like enough light, but you will see the difference right away with the full spectrum lighting.

Some people, also have trouble with the shorter days, causing all kinds of physical ailments, such as fatigue and depression, these lights are quite often prescribed for this condition called SAD (seasonal affected disorder).. but the benefit to the crafter or hobbyist is great as well, as it mimics daylight and is the closest you are going to get, it keeps your colors crisp, especially if you paint or needlepoint..

Keep these lights in mind when creating your studio, it will extend your daylight hours, great for your crafts, and great for YOU!

[1] full spectrum lighting