Lighting in Interior Design

Lighting is an integral part of interior design. The right lighting can set the tone of a room and create the right ambience. When the right lighting is realized a room can become both stylish and functional. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Colour Management Think of the surfaces in your room that you would like to enhance, this can be achieved with the correct lighting. Light colour walls can make the space feel larger and open, whereas darker colours can leave the same space feeling tight and cramped. The illusion of space is defined by the light reflected off the walls. Some types of lighting help with further increasing the illumination along walls.

Directional Lighting Lighting in a space provides illumination for an entire room or it highlights very specific elements. Track lighting can be hung from the ceiling and it is a good positional light that will soften the wall colors. Down lighting has a soft downward glow that creates vertical beams of light which illuminates floors and not the walls. Accent lighting is lights hung on walls and ceilings, which provide ambient illumination for art or other architectural features in your space. In both cases, this can affect how light or dark a colored section can appear.

Functionality Lighting has to be functional otherwise it is a waste of electricity i.e. money. Chandeliers are not only good focal pieces but because of the central placement provide excellent illumination for your space. Chandeliers can be used in dining rooms entryways and foyers to name a few. Wall lights add visual length and size to entryways or corridors, as well as light the way. Lamps can be used for ambient lighting as well as task specific lighting example a work area

Space When a room is not well lit the space can feel uninviting. This can be compounded by furniture layout and placement. Natural lighting is always the preferred source of light as shows off colours better and adds to the visual space in a room when bounced off reflective surfaces. Sky lights, large windows and sheer curtains are all things to consider to increase natural light in a room.