Lighting is a crucial element of an interior design as without it there can be no colour, form, shape, texture and even design. It is the first thing we need when we enter in a space. Light is the insubstantial foundation without which, nothing can make sense.
In interior designing, light can reflect the mood of a room and its perceived size. When we walk into a room, a sense of coziness and warmth can surround us because of the lights used in that area and the same welcoming room can make us feel cold, uncomfortable and stressed if the lighting is not done properly. Lights can add depth, drama, softness, warmth, and illusions to a place.
With a proper use of different lighting techniques and types of light like wall lights, down lights, hidden lights, lamps, integrated architectural lights, feature lights etc. We can create different moods and perceptions in the same room. An item of décor like painting, sculpture or furniture can be highlighted magnificently with the help of down lights, accent lights, LED strips and even up lights. What we illuminate and to which level we illuminate it, can define the importance of an element or item in a room.
A curtain would be lighted differently as compared to an occasional table with flower because the table needs to be a highlighted feature in the room while the curtains are a part of ambience created in the room.
Lights used in interior design highly depend on the purpose. It is based on the needs of the space that are to be fulfilled by the light. The entrance of a place can always have a chandelier to centrally illuminate the way with its themed placement and a wall light can be used for the hallway as it can add visual length to the space and illuminate it properly. Similarly, a directional lamp can be used for desks and an over light can be used in kitchen because that’s how the need of the space can be fulfilled. Each space and each task to be performed in a particular space has its own light requirements and understanding these needs and requirements is a must for an interior designer.
Reflects Perceived Space
A room can look big and spacious with balanced use of bright lights and properly arranged elements and décor. Light can make a room welcoming and pleasing because of its reflecting property and varied hues. A dark and small room can be transformed into a fun and cozy space with the help of hanging lights and corner lights along with wall lights. Similarly, a balanced amount of natural light can add warmth to a space and highlight colours if manipulated properly with the help of windows, curtains, sky lights, and décor items as reflecting surfaces.
An influential factor in interior designing is the people and their emotions. A person’s emotional state can be highly affected by the type of light he or she is surrounded with. Experts have proven it through research that people tend to feel happier and relaxed in natural light than in artificial light. Bright light with red hues tends to induce feelings of warmth while dominating harsh lights with bluer hues can induce a sense of anger and coldness.
Places like offices need people to be alert and so bright ambient lights can be used to induce such emotions on the other hand relaxing places like lobby or entrance can have decorative lights with medium intensity to induce calmness.
Without any doubt, lighting is the magical ingredient that can impact the interiors of any house or workplace. To get more insights on interior designing, follow the Trendz Institute of Fashion Technology, one of the leading interior design institutes in Hyderabad.