|
The
right lighting can set a mood, improve productivity and
contribute to people’s sense of well-being. It can transform
unappealing spaces into desirable ones. Bright rooms give a
positive and optimistic feeling, while darker rooms are more
intimate and romantic. Research had proven that light can make
big difference in how we feel.
Good
lighting design will not make you frustrated in the kitchen when
you are not able to see what you are doing, and it will stop the
arguments in the bedroom over whose turn it is to get up to
switch out the light. Instead, you should be able to transform a
room from a bright, vibrant living space to the setting for a
romantic dinner for two.
Natural
lighting is the light from the sun that comes through windows
and doors. Direct sunlight is a healthy source of light, but the
brightness and intensity is very variable. The time of the day,
the season or the weather all influence natural sunlight. To
control the quantity of natural light, different types of glass
or curtains can be used. Diffusion and reflection are great ways
to control this free light source. A good idea is to find the
wall that received direct light form the sun and paint it in a
bright color. The reflected light creates an ambiance in the
room. The surface of the wall can control the diffusion of the
light; rough surfaces have different effects than smooth
surfaces.
Artificial
lighting can be any kind of lamp. This light source can be
controlled in every aspect; intensity, color, and the area of
spreading. To get the desired effects in a room, the best idea
is to use a combination of different types of artificial
lighting. Ambience lighting is to lighten the whole room and
give a certain ‘mood’ to the space. Accent lighting is used
to illuminate certain aspects or details of the interior
decoration, as sculptures, pictures or display shelves.
Lighting
could be functional or aesthetic. Functionally, the lighting
needs to be correct for the intended purpose. A great example of
functional lighting is task lighting: lamps for reading, lights
over the sink or over the mirror in the bathroom. Task lighting
should always be glare free to make the task easier without
straining the eyes. Aesthetically, the lighting gives an
ambiance to the space. For creating an ambience, environment
lights are used in ceiling corners or along the sides of the
room. The intensity and color of the lights are important for
the ambiance. For ‘mood’ lighting, it is very important that
the source of the light is hidden.
With
a few lighting design ideas, you can change the visible
appearance of a room and make it look larger or smaller. Rooms
with high ceilings can get a cozier radiance by using lighting
that is lower than the ceiling. The light should not escape
beyond the height of the source. Use a lampshade that directs
the light downwards. The other way around, by using upwards
lighting pointed at the ceiling, rooms appear to be higher.
Standing
lamps and table lamps work great for specific purposes and
lighten up only an area of the room. A lamp should be placed
behind a reader’s shoulder. Lamps are also perfect to brighten
up dark corners in rooms. And of course, decorative lampshades
on corner end tables and bedside tables enhance the ambiance and
bring attention to a specific area of the room. The style of the
fixtures will add to your interior decoration, whether turned on
or off.
Lighting
is just as important in interior design as the colors or the
style of furniture and accessories. Your entire work in
decoration can be ruined at once by poor lighting. But carefully
planned lighting will greatly enhance the best details in your
design.
By:
Michael Oims
|
Interior-Tip.com
