Learn more about how a good lighting design can be essential to your project.
What do you understand by lighting design in interior decoration?
Many people only pay attention to the lighting of a room when they actually need to turn on the light.
But the effective combination of natural and artificial light to illuminate spaces functionally, without deviating from the decoration’s overall concept, is very important for the success of any interior design project.
The lighting design should encompass everything from the sun’s position and how it affects the entry of natural light, to which points in the space need specific artificial lighting for performing certain activities, or to convey the desired feeling.
The importance of lighting in design projects.
The lighting of a space goes far beyond its functional aspect.
Light sources, their type and quality directly influence how we feel in a particular place.
Lighting highlights the strong points of a decor.
Playing with points of warm or cool, direct or indirect light helps to highlight those special points in the environment.
These should also be taken into consideration when defining the color palette to be used. This is because correct lighting planning can enhance the selected colors, highlighting them through the intelligent choice of light temperature.
If you don’t understand these concepts, don’t worry, we’ll discuss them later. But keep in mind that the lighting design adds as much aesthetic value to the project as the furniture or objects chosen for the decoration.
It determines the vibe of the spaces.
“Everything in life is made of light and shadows.” Do you know that saying? It’s the same in interior design, because projects need to balance light and darkness to create the desired atmosphere.
Do you want a cozy space to entertain friends? Or a workspace that facilitates concentration and productivity? For each room, there is an intended feeling to be achieved, and lighting plays a very important role in that.
Therefore, it is essential that the lighting design be carried out in parallel with the interior design, so that there is cohesion in the proposals.
Lighting design can be sustainable and environmentally friendly.
The word “sustainability” frequently appears in decoration and design blogs, but did you know that lighting can also reinforce the sustainable character of your project?
Intelligent use of natural and artificial light sources helps avoid unnecessary electricity consumption, making the project more eco-friendly.
But to do this, you need to better understand the difference between:
- Natural light and artificial light
- Direct light and indirect light
- Either white light or yellowish light.
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Natural light vs. artificial light
Natural light is that which comes from nature. That is, we are talking about sunlight, even at night, when it is reflected by the moon.
The position of the sun is very important for the lighting design of a project. Knowing the orientation of the sunlight, you can work with curtains and blinds to increase or decrease the incidence of natural light in the environment.
Artificial light, on the other hand, is any source of lighting created by humans and originating from some technology.
In the image above, we see natural light coming through the window. However, several points of artificial light provide strategic illumination during the night.
In this project of my own design, natural light illuminates the room during the day through large windows with light-colored curtains.
However, at night, light fixtures scattered throughout the room provide a cozy, warm illumination, in addition to the charming pendant lamp that decorates the space while also casting light on the dining table.
Direct and indirect light
Direct light shines directly onto surfaces. It can highlight decorative elements or illuminate specific areas where natural light doesn’t reach. It is also widely used in spaces that require greater concentration, such as work desks.
However, because it creates shadows with a significant difference between the brightest and darkest points, it can become tiring and should be used judiciously.
To create a softer effect, indirect light is used, which is directed to a surface and then reflected in different directions. Another option is to use diffused light, where a glass or acrylic diffuser softens the light, which spreads without creating very strong shadows.
Note in the project above, designed by us for Casa Cor Rio 2013, how the direct light highlights the paintings, while points of indirect light illuminate the environment.
White or yellowish light?
When we talk about cool or warm light, we are referring to the temperature of the light – that is, the color of the lamp.
White light (cool light) is more stimulating and makes it easier to see objects, and therefore it is perfect for work environments, offices, and residential spaces such as bathrooms, kitchens, and service areas.
Yellow light (warm light), on the other hand, provides the feeling of comfort necessary for relaxing environments and social gatherings, such as the living room and bedrooms.
However, they are not mutually exclusive and can be combined to achieve the desired effect.
Now that you know the importance of lighting design, how about getting started? Come and plan your project with us!