Light is the thread that turns interior design into a whole cloth. It creates and changes mood, highlights color, brings out shape and form, and creates the illusion of space where there is none. And when the sun goes down, artificial light becomes even more important to the home or office and its occupants. Great interior light design brings the day into the night and makes the location a welcoming place to be. Let’s look at the importance of artificial lighting in interior design and why you can never have enough of it.
Creates the Mood
Advances in artificial light mean that a single LED light bulb can be tuned to a specific color to give a room warmth, wash it in a pure white, or imitate natural daylight. This technology is perhaps one of the best things about artificial lighting in interior design: the ability to design light to bring out colors, remove shadows, and set the tone in a given space when paired with the right fixture. People’s moods are at their best when the room is lit with a light spectrum that fits the color design and furniture selection in the room.
Enhance the Use of a Room
Every room in a commercial or residential space has a purpose. Sometimes it’s a single function such as a kitchen, other times its multi-function like a family room or a meeting space. The types of artificial light in interior design for these uses are varied, but they all fulfill a need to brighten or highlight the purpose of a room and draw people in for that use.
Think of a living room with overhead lighting and lamps by the furniture. People who use the space are able to see their devices, books, or TVs with clarity, and they come into that room for that purpose. For example, an office with clean overhead lighting requires additional light fixtures closer to the occupants to perform their assigned tasks. This is appropriately called “task” lighting.
Give Depth to a Small Space
This is one of the most important uses of artificial lighting in interior design: creating the illusion that the room is bigger than it really is. It’s not always possible to increase the size of the room through physical means, but good interior lighting can make it feel like the space has volume. Overhead lighting that aims towards the back of the room and floor-level fixtures that project light without physical bulk serve to push the walls back and lift the ceiling.
Increase Comfort Levels
People tend to avoid rooms that are dark and shadowy or are not fully utilizing the entire space, but they will engage in a room that’s appropriately lit. Part of the reason people don’t like dark rooms is psychological: shadows trigger an instinct that there’s something hiding in there. It’s subtle and most people wouldn’t be able to identify the exact reason why they won’t enter a dark room. Strategic use of artificial light in a room with low levels of illumination creates an environment of comfort and warmth. In turn, people use, relax, and enjoy the space more readily.
Artificial lighting in interior design is an important aspect of completing an overall design. But it also affects how people feel about and interact with the space. Light up the room and let the user adjust the fixtures as they see fit. When light sources are properly placed, users will figure out how to use them on their own.
Choose Perla Lichi Design for Your Interior Lighting
Ready to enhance your interior lighting? Let the team from Perla Lichi Design craft the perfect lighting set-up for your home. Whether it’s palatial-style illumination or practical-yet-stylish home office lights, at Perla Lichi, we have it all. Contact us today at (954) 726-0899 for a free consultation!