Brightening Your Home: The Power Of Effective Lighting In Interior Design
I feel many underestimate how effective lighting can be when it comes to designing ones own home interior | From the depth of light portrayed to the eye to the visually appealing elements that characterise even the smallest of spaces | Lighting is certainly a key design aspect to consider.
This leads me onto the how lighting has the ability to alter the perception of space, enabling rooms to appear larger, cosier and much more open. In fact, when well-balanced, lighting can ensure a space to feel well-proportioned and comfortable. Examples can include: Up-lighting [the power to make ceilings to be perceived as being much higher than they in fact are], or even Wall Sconces [creating a sense of width even in some of the most narrowest of hallways].
More so, when lighting isn’t having a profound effect on the perception of a space, it brings your attention to the impact it portrays on the mood and ambiance within ones interior. Adjustment of lighting levels allows for the ambience to be tailored within various spaces within a home — and by this I mean, a warm, soft lighting creates a cosy and inviting atmosphere, which can be found to be perfect for living rooms and bedrooms — whilst bright, cool lighting is energizing and therefore found to be more suitable for workspaces and kitchens.
This is the fun | Having the ability to adjust lighting levels to a preference that suits you as an individual | To put your very own twist on your own home atmosphere.
Now, if you’re anything like me, with a huge emphasis on aesthetics, then I cannot stress enough how lighting fixtures contribute to the overall aesthetic appeal of your home. This contribution can range from anything from incorporating elegant chandeliers and modern pendant lights to minimalist lamps and retro/vintage sconces. The best part is YOU decide your aesthetic that enhances the comfort of your very own home.
Lighting Tips — How To Lighten Up Your Home
Now that we have already come to terms with the essence of how effective lighting can be when designing ones home | I feel I should express with you some key tips I have uncovered from interior designers themselves.
Differentiation around your home
Determining which lighting should be used for different areas and functions of your home can be challenging, so I share with you some understanding of how to do so and how to do so effectively. There are three types that you need to consider when determining what lighting to use in which area of your home, all of these to be considered are:
- Ambient Lighting, being the general lighting that fills a room — types including of ceiling fixtures, chandeliers and recessed lights.
- Task Lighting, the type that focuses on specific areas where activities are to take place, activities such as reading or cooking. This type of lighting include of desk lamps, under-cabinet lights and pendant lights over a kitchen island.
- Accent Lighting, used to highlight particular objects or even architectural features, including items such as art, plants or bookshelves. Sources of this type would include spotlights, track lighting and wall-mounted fixtures.
So for some context, downlights would be great for specifics [a piece of art, or a chair], but not for a whole space, by this I mean a living room as this space would require lots of light sources, shadows and a good variety of lamps [task lights should achieve this].
However, when it comes to lampshades, it can be a bit of a mystery. All elements from the size, shape, height, colour and fitting, need to be considered. Even more so, the colour of the lampshade itself is a key consideration as this can impact the light which affects the function and aesthetic.
The Colour Of The Light Itself
Creating plenty of atmosphere can be emphasised by the light itself — you can play around with various types to create the mood you want in your room, and by various lights I mean with the likelihood of LEDs. There is many variations of LEDs, ranging from a warmer light to amber. This is how you can manipulate the mood you are seeking i different rooms and areas of your home. You may have designed the most beautiful feature wall but if the lighting if off, the visual appearance and aesthetic will not look right.
Diversity And Contrast
You will want diversity and contrast to be portrayed by the lights in your home to create characteristic and personality to your interior. You may be thinking how you may be able to do such thing? but I can assure you, integrating a mixture of heights [table lamps, floor lamps and ceiling lighting] all facing different directions to emphasis different features and elements of a room.
Product Inspiration
Lastly, I feel some inspiration is necessary to help get you started with imagining how you desire your aesthetic to look like | See below
