Lighting is one of the crucial elements in interior decoration that is often overlooked. Proper lighting is essential for creating a good ambiance and enhancing the beauty of the environment, so employing it correctly should be considered a vital aspect from the beginning of interior decorations. The lighting fixtures used in a room not only give it a specific style and character but also elevate the sense of security and comfort. Utilizing proper lighting in the right place can make a home or workplace shine like a diamond. Lighting design in living spaces, much like color choice, room size, material selection, and furniture design, is important, and all these elements together form a complete interior design.
Nothing can give a room an improper and outdated look and a feeling of discomfort as much as incorrect and inadequate lighting can. You can always bring the mood and atmosphere of a room to any desired shape and form with proper lighting. Even if all the items used in the environment are luxurious and expensive, if proper lighting is not implemented, none of them will stand out. In fact, creatively using various lighting techniques turns your home into a beautiful showcase. This practice helps you create a unique balance between style and comfort, functionality. Additionally, not only with artificial light but also with optimal use of natural light, you can enhance the beauty of your home. When designing interior decorations, both natural and artificial light should be considered.
In this article, we aim to explore the impact of lighting in interior architecture. If you also want to gain information about the influence of lighting in interior architecture, stay with us until the end of this article.
Table of Contents
Types of Lighting Techniques in Interior Architecture
Ambient Lighting
The purpose of ambient lighting is to create a diffuse and uniform light level in a room, and this is the first consideration when designing a lighting scheme. Ambient lighting sources are often ceiling lights, although sometimes floor and table lamps can also assist in ambient lighting. Ceiling lighting sources can be a single lighting tool, such as a ceiling light or chandelier, or they can be multiple lights, such as architectural path lighting or recessed lights. These small lights work together to form a primary light source, but the difference lies in their ability to be embedded in different corners and angles of the room to illuminate from all directions.
Ceiling lights often use string lights that are inexpensive and produced in various power ratings. Compact fluorescent lamps have emerged as “green” alternatives that are slightly more expensive but significantly outlast similar string lights. They also have the advantage of being recyclable, while regular lamps are not and pose a perpetual pollution threat.
Fluorescent lamps entered the market in the late 1920s and for a long time were one of the best and most practical lamps in use. However, with the presence of various lamps such as LED lamps, due to the harms and issues they had, they have gradually been phased out of people’s daily lives. These lamps are the same as the energy-saving lamps available on the market.
To familiarize yourself with the types of these lamps and their advantages and disadvantages, it is better to refer to an article on the types of fluorescent lamps. The downside is that fluorescent lamps are known for producing unattractive and unpleasant light, but manufacturers are constantly striving to improve and eliminate this weakness. Ceiling lighting, regardless of the type of lamps, can be entirely customizable and can be very stylish and suitable, so ambient lighting sources should be combined and complemented with other types of lamps to create contrast.
Research has shown that fluorescent light, depending on the distance of the lamp from the body and face, can increase exposure to ultraviolet rays by up to 3%. If the lamp is close, the emitted light and heat can affect skin conditions and worsen the situation for sensitive individuals.
Focused Lighting
Natural light is self-generated and exists in a spectrum of colors and visible rays that we see. The color spectrum includes shorter wavelength lights near ultraviolet on one side and longer wavelength lights near red on the other. These rays, called ultraviolet and infrared respectively, are not visible to us. The full spectrum of light from a natural source is vital and ideal for terrestrial life, both plant and animal. Plants and animals thrive under natural light. Darkness, which affects living organisms adversely, aids in rejuvenation and cellular life repair.
Being exposed to healthy sunlight is highly beneficial for humans as it boosts energy and metabolism, strengthens the immune system, and increases the production of Vitamin D in the body, all of which are essential for the body. On the other hand, prolonged exposure to sunlight has harmful effects on living organisms. Harmful ultraviolet radiation can lead to diseases such as skin cancer and cataracts, while also damaging the skin tissue.
For plants, periods of light and darkness are necessary to balance cellular activity, growth, and repair. Sunlight can also be harmful as we cannot adjust or control it according to our needs. The problem with this type of lighting is its temporary nature, and in many cases, it can only be practically used during the day. For example, the structure and layout of a building should be such that sufficient sunlight enters during the day
Outdoor Lighting
People mostly desire to bring the sense and mood of outdoor life into their indoor living spaces, and for this reason, outdoor lighting follows similar principles to indoor lighting. Ambient, focused, and task lighting can all achieve their goals in an outdoor lighting design.
You can use accent lights to highlight specific features in your yard. Smaller trees make good displays in uplights, and larger trees can reflect light back into the yard. Flower beds benefit from ground lighting, adding drama and beauty to your outdoor space.
Goals of Lighting Design in Interior Architecture
Interior lighting design has goals that can be summarized as follows: safety, improving the space for daily activities, enhancing the environment for advertising, emphasizing and focusing on a specific sculpture or artwork, as well as enhancing the beauty and attractiveness of the interior environment.
In studio architecture, there are principles and goals for lighting design, including: creating contrast between an object and its surrounding environment, adjusting the angle of light beams, selecting suitable lights and lamps, positioning projectors, adjusting and modifying the brightness and background lighting, and providing maintenance factors.
The Importance of Lighting Design in Architecture and Interior Decoration
In interior architecture and interior decoration design, lighting plays the most crucial role. Just as architecture and interior design are important, architectural and interior lighting design is equally significant. Proper and principled execution of architectural and interior lighting design is essential. Lighting design in architecture has a significant impact on showcasing the building environment, both in smaller and larger spaces. Implementing lighting on walls and room corners makes the center of the room brighter and gives the impression of a larger space. However, using only one light source in a specific area can reduce visibility and make the main size of the room appear smaller.
Professional principles of lighting design in interior architecture dictate that there should be a balance between lighting, space, and the function of the rooms. The most important application of lighting design in architecture is enhancing the beauty of the building space. This means that besides providing illumination in the building, lighting design is also used to beautify the building space. By utilizing lighting sources, visual appeal is created in the space, forming a unique appearance, which in itself demonstrates the importance and role of lighting design in architectural structures. Lighting design and light sources play a significant role in highlighting the architectural intricacies, the roles and sculptures of corridors, ceilings, and even the external facade of the building, enhancing the beauty of the building to the fullest.
The Role of Interior Architectural Lighting in a Home
Interior architectural lighting plays a special and unique role in each different part of a home. Below, the specific role of interior architectural lighting in each part of the house is mentioned:
Dining Room
Lighting in the dining room Lighting control can transform the dining room space, create a sense of calm, and provide a more inviting atmosphere. General lighting, whose intensity can be adjusted using a dimmer switch, can create a suitable environment for any occasion. Additionally, for general illumination, a chandelier or ceiling light should be used over the dining table.
Kitchen
While natural light is preferred in the kitchen, artificial lighting can be beneficial during the day. Note that direct sunlight into the kitchen is not ideal. Avoid relying solely on ceiling lights in the center of the kitchen; instead, use under-cabinet lights as well. Professional kitchen lighting design addresses these issues and often predicts suitable lighting under wall cabinets, above the stove, and inside cabinets. When working in the kitchen, the eyes constantly scan the surroundings, and reducing lighting contrast is effective in creating a sense of calm. Glass cabinet shelves can also be illuminated using various lighting techniques. By installing small lights at the bottom of cabinet shelves, the kitchen can be brightened. If the cabinet shelves are glass, one lamp at the top and one at the bottom of the cabinet can achieve this.
Ceiling lighting in the kitchen is a crucial aspect of lighting design that requires careful consideration to create a beautiful and functional lighting scheme. We have discussed various types of kitchen ceiling lighting in detail in an article.
Master Bedroom
Understanding the implications of proper and principled lighting design in a bedroom is not easy, and determining whether the bedroom lighting is suitable and principled is also challenging. The consequences of inadequate bedroom lighting include headaches after sleep, irritability, and poor sleep quality. The benefits of proper bedroom lighting include a sense of security and tranquility. By creating a flexible lighting scheme suitable for all hours of the day, a pleasant atmosphere can be provided in your rooms at all times. A feature of lighting design is that adjusting the room’s brightness with a single switch is easy and can help establish a specific mood in the room.
Ceiling and general lighting in the master bedroom is suitable and makes cleaning the room easier, but it is better for the main light to be at a low height and localized. In fact, the makeup table, wardrobes, bedside table, and the wall behind the television need light. Using floor lamps, sconces, and bedside lamps is the best choice for bedroom lighting.
Children’s Bedroom
One of the most important considerations when choosing a child’s bedroom is the lighting situation. It is best for the child’s bedroom to be located in the southeast part of the house. This is because the life-giving energy during sunrise is beneficial for the child’s health. Using more lights for rooms that are normally dark seems necessary. Remember that having sufficient light in your child’s study room is essential so they are not uncomfortable when doing their homework. Small or large light has no distinction between study and non-study areas; it is a vital element.
Bathroom and Toilets
Bathroom and toilet lighting is straightforward and can be achieved simply by installing a ceiling light, and its importance is relatively low. Additionally, using wall lights next to the mirror is essential in addition to ceiling lights that illuminate the space. It is important to note that using fluorescent lights can alter some colors and present an unrealistic image of yourself in the mirror.
For interior decoration lighting, it is not necessary to know everything about lighting or spend a lot of money to make rooms look light and cheerful. You should understand the basics of interior decoration lighting principles, which are the fundamental principles of practical and decorative lighting and how to seek help for planning and purchasing lighting.
