Lighting in Interior Design

When you come home after a long day of work, all you want to do is go home to a place that is both aesthetically pleasing and cozy, right? What is the most important part of a room? Some may say the furniture or the art displays, but I would disagree and say that good lighting makes the biggest difference.

The lighting in a room determines the impression the room leaves and how the size of the space is perceived. The use of lighting can add to or subtract from the overall colors of a room or a selected area. Darker colors tend to make a room feel smaller and more cramped, while lighter colors do the opposite. Good lighting can create the illusion of space by making light reflect off the surfaces of the walls.

Many lighting designers like to think of lighting purposes in "layers". The first layer, "visual task", is whether or not there is sufficient and comfortable lighting to adequately perform a task. The second layer, "general lighting or ambient lighting" refers to the kind of mood it sets and how well someone can navigate around the room. The third layer is "visual interest", which is how well the light enhances an area or an item of interest. While all layers may be important, certain layers drive the design solution depending on the situation.

Lighting can shape the psychological responses and behaviors of people. You can make a stronger statement by having the lighting express the same impressions as the other elements in the room (i.e. furniture, artwork, wall color, etc.)

If you want to give off a pleasant vibe, use more wall lighting instead of ceiling lighting. Go for a non-uniform distribution of brightness in space. A space can appear more public with a more uniform distribution of light cast overhead. A room can seem more spacious with an even distribution of light cast on the walls and uniform lighting cast on all surfaces. To feel more relaxed, use non-uniform distribution of wall lighting and lower light levels. And finally, to make everything appear more visually clear, provide more lighting to the area where the activity/task takes place and its peripherals.

Our picture lights and barn lights are the perfect selection for your lighting needs. With bulbs that last 50,000+ hours and dimmable features, you can choose how you want to feel when you come back home.