The role of lighting in interior design

Expertly placed lighting adds another dimension to a space, bringing an interior design project to life. Great lighting creates depth and height, cosy spots, and draws attention to your most impressive areas. It’s all about the balance of light and shade and bringing new energy to an interior. The first, and probably most important aspect to lighting a room is ambient lighting. Ambient lighting provides the foundation and general look and feel to a room.

Interior lighting is one of the most important aspects of any living space; it has the ability to change the mood of a room just as it does the perceived size of a room. Utilising the right type is a tricky task, but it’s crucial that such a task is fulfilled as it works in conjunction with further areas of interior design, such as, colour selections, room size and layout, fabric choices and furniture selection.

Ways lighting can be used

It is only when these elements come together that a room benefits from harmony and effortless fluidity of design. Fundamentally, the illusion of space is defined by light reflecting off of wall surfaces. Certain types help better with this illusion by further illuminating the walls. For instance, wall lighting. However a good plan combines all three forms of lighting to light an area according to function and style. Lightnet lighting is just one of the main brands now in the market.

A great investment to make for any space

Have you walked into a room and noticed that it makes you feel good? Do some rooms have an atmosphere that makes you relax and enjoy the space? When you are decorating your home, don’t forget the impact. Commercial establishments know how to use lighting to its best advantage. Jewellery stores use bright, focused light to accentuate the features of cut gems and decorative gold work. Restaurants use mood lighting, such as dimly lit wall sconces and candles on tables for a romantic setting. This is just another way in which good lighting can make a lasting and good difference.

In good detail – here we have a good look at lighting

Designers combine all three types of light to create an atmosphere within a room. Ambient light, which includes sunlight, should light all areas of the interior evenly. Task lighting is used to illuminate a specific area, such as a reading corner, kitchen preparation area, desk, bathroom vanity or sewing center. Accent lighting is used to set a mood, accentuate an aesthetically pleasing feature or draw attention away from less attractive areas.

As you plan lighting in a room, think through the activities that take place there. Key experts recommend making a floor plan that includes the location of windows, doors and furniture. If you need a lamp for a reading corner, a desk or within a closet, mark the space. As you define the spaces, consider where shadows will fall. If your kitchen work light is directly over the place you work, your shadow will fall on the workspace. In the bathroom, lights on either side of a mirror illumine evenly. A light placed above the mirror may cast shadows.

Overall

Although there are trends in interior design, remember that you have to live in the space you create. Some features, such as floor and window coverings, are easy to change seasonally or as your tastes change. Altering the lighting is also a good way to freshen an interior. Recovering lampshades or painting a drop lamp can change the look of a room. Let your imagination run free to come up with ideas that transform your living space from ho-hum to wow. It may be as simple as flipping a switch.