Light is one of the most important aspects of design as it sets the ambience of a place, provided right light fixtures are installed. When done right, lighting can complement the design and architecture to enhance the overall aesthetic of the place. Every room has a different function and thus has different lighting requirements. It depends on the factors like physical environment as the materials or the finishing used. Also, a child’s room would be very different from the room of an elderly person.
Light Layering
A viable method to augment the appearance of any space is to light in layers. Different light sources help balance a room by limiting shadows, while including depth and dimensions. Adding lights in layers can also come handy when the mood of the space needs to be changed according to different occasions. The three basic light layers are:
Ambient lighting
Ambient lighting does its job in creating an environment around the space. It provides an area with a comfortable level of brightness and overall lighting without causing any strain to the eye. Ambient lighting can be achieved, both with natural lights entering through windows and doors and, with ceiling or wall-mount fixtures, chandeliers and lamps.
Task lighting
Just like the name, task lights are the light fixtures that add in performing a specific set of tasks. Be it a reading lamp or lighting suitable for shaving or applying makeup. For example, using diffused lights for kitchen can help avoid glares and hence make work a lot less tedious. Also, by adding fabric shades in rooms, a subtle glow can be achieved for working areas.
Accent lights
These are the lights that highlight the décor of a room and create drama. Accent lighting is used to highlight fixtures, art pieces or specific areas where you would like to draw people’s attention to.
Less wattage, more lights
Better alternative of using high wattage lights is using a greater number of low wattage lights. Doing this guarantees that the same amount of light is produced in the room while ensuring a better spread through the crevices and corners of the designer’s choice.
Choosing the correct shade
Ensure that you choose the correct shade for lamps and pendants to get the desired outcome. White fabric shades will give equal and uniform illumination which is very subtle while the metal shades provide a more focused light.
Right colour temperature
This is one of the most important factors when deciding the lighting of a certain space. Choosing the right colour temperature has a psychological impact on a person. The CCT can vary with functionality and the user group.
(The writer is the founder of DBEL Studio)
