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Influences of lighting on a home's design and the inhabitant's experience

Lighting design is one of the many elements at the disposal of interior designers. People usually overlook the possibilities of lighting to enhance an environment. It can express your individuality and transform your house into a home. The effectiveness of other interior components, such as wall covering, flooring, and furnishings, will be diminished without adequate lighting. Good lighting is essential to maximise the aesthetics and efficiency of an abode.




Many different types of lights can be used in interior design. Each light has its unique shape, size, usage, price, and identity. Before we get into the details, let's understand the fundamentals. Lights can be generally classified into two categories: natural and artificial. Sunlight is considered natural light and is entirely unpredictable. Artificial lights are versatile in terms of design, intensity, colour, and, most significantly, controllability. 


Interior decorative lights can be classified into four varieties - 


Ambient Lighting 

Ambient lighting is often referred to as general lighting. Ambient lighting is intended to ensure that illumination is distributed evenly across all surfaces of the space. This type of illumination allows for easy mobility around space and is suitable for everyday tasks. Recessed ceiling lights, track lights, wall lights, cove lights, or a combination of some of the above can be configured to create ambient light.


Task Lighting 

Task lights aid in the completion of specific tasks. Task lights are more specific to a particular area and provide sufficient illumination for that task. An example of a task light is an under-cabinet light in a kitchen. These lights are useful for chores such as cutting and cleaning. A task light can also be a desk lamp or a nightstand.


Accent Lighting 

Accent lights give a unique flair to interior lighting as they are designed to enlighten particular spaces or objects. It is commonly used to draw attention to a statement object, such as an artwork or a precious artefact.


Mood lighting

Mood lighting is installed to make the environment more appealing and to decorate a favourite nook. Mood lighting can improve one's mood after a long day by easing stress and promoting contentment. Colour-changing lights, led strips, fairy lights, and other similar products can be used to set the ambience by spreading positive sentiments through a wonderful light pattern.


Ways in which lighting can transform a space 


Colour 

The colour of light, or Kelvin, is a key element when deciding on the style you want to accomplish. The warmer the light colour, the lower the Kelvin, and the cooler the light colour, the higher the Kelvin. Light with a lower Kelvin value is preferable when the notion is to produce a warmer ambience. A cooler Kelvin is recommended when establishing a more brightly illuminated setting. Choose lights with a lower Kelvin value for use in houses. Lights having a higher Kelvin rating are more suited to the workplace. In addition, use a blend of different light colours based on the design's theme.


Intensity 

The intensity of light is just as significant as its colour. The intensity of the light should vary based on the amount of coverage required. Too much intensity results in a place that appears overly bright and unwelcoming. This also puts strain on the eyes. The environment will appear dark and dreary if the intensity is too low.


Glare 

Maintaining occupant comfort requires controlling glare. This holds for both domestic and commercial settings. Light glare is not only unpleasant, but it also strains the eyes. This could irritate and result in a bad experience.


Coherence 

Interior designers take multiple factors into account when dealing with lights in addition to brightness. What is desired is a uniform distribution of brightness across all surfaces. When planning interior lighting, dark spots and shadows must be avoided. Additionally, well-lit areas are necessary for connecting one space to another.

To summarise, the lighting in your home is just as vital as the construction. Lighting options for homes are diverse and intriguing. It must be assured to create a lighting plan in the interiors throughout the design stage since this provides versatility and the best outcomes. No matter how creative your decor is, it will not succeed if the lighting is inadequate. It does make a difference in influencing the design of a home and how you perceive it. 

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Guest column by Ar. Manish Dikshit, Founding Partner and Principal Architect, Aum Architects

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