Lighting In Design
The secret to a successful interior design is lighting! You can do all the right things in a design but if the lighting is bad the design will fall flat. Lighting highlights the best aspects in a design, it sets the mood and it is functional. Think about taking a selfie, you could be looking your absolute best but if the light is hitting you from the wrong angle all your flaws are highlighted, nobody wants that!
There are 3 main categories of lighting in interior design. When used together they create a balanced and functional space. They are: ambient light, task light and accent light. Let’s break that down. General or ambient lighting is the foundation of a lighting plan; it creates the base level of brightness. Think of pot lights or the hated big light. Pro tip: add a dimmer switch to your big light! Floor lamps and table lamps can also fall under this category. Task lighting is light directed at a certain area for a certain reason. Think desk lamp or under cabinet lights in kitchens. Accent light is when light is directed at an object to highlight it. Like artwork lights or spotlighting architectural details or plants. Table lamps and floor lamps can also fall under this category. Honourable mention to natural light, which would be your windows. And second mention to decorative lighting which is when you have a light fixture that is not only providing light but also speaks for itself on an artistic and decorative level.
So we’ve broken down the main categories of lighting you would see in a lighting plan but there is still more to consider, and this one is also coming at you in a group of 3. When selecting a lighting fixture it is important to understand the lighting direction. We have Direct light, indirect light and diffused light. Direct light travels straight from a light source to an object. It is focused, intense and can create sharp shadows and glare. It’s best used for task lighting or spotlighting. Indirect light comes from a source and is reflected off of a surface (like a ceiling or wall). It creates a softer light and works best as general light. Diffused light utilizes a light fixture to scatter the light directly from the source. Think of a frosted glass globe fixture.
Try to remember this the next time your out shopping for a light, or better yet, let Interior Ethos worry about it! Check out our design packages and lets work together on your next home project.
