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When it comes to general interior design, interior lighting design is arguably one of the most crucial aspects. With its ability to improve both functionality and aesthetics alike, lighting design is something you really don’t want to get wrong in your home.
Below, we’ll take a look at just why interior lighting is so critical and throw you a few lighting ideas along the way.
Importance of Interior LightingÂ
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Adequate Lighting
The most important, and perhaps most obvious, reason for indoor lighting is the ability to be able to see. Indoor light fixtures improve the functionality of your space by making everything in it more visible. This is especially important for task-heavy spaces, such as kitchens and bathrooms.
There are three layers of light that should be applied to each room in order to achieve a balanced, well-lit space: ambient, task and accent lights.
Ambient lights refer to the main light source in a space. Usually, ambient lighting is provided by interior ceiling lighting, though interior wall lighting with high lumen counts can also do the job.
Task lighting provides more focused illumination for performing various activities. Grooming, food preparation, homework and reading areas all benefit from task lights. They can come in the form of table lamps, hanging pendant lights, wall sconces and beyond.
Accent lighting adds a little flavour to your overall decor. Its job is to enhance and accentuate certain areas usually reserved for architectural features. It can also provide ambience and mood lighting, creating a more atmospheric feeling in the space.
With all of these combined, you will have a perfectly lit room, ready for tasks and relaxation alike.
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Aesthetic Appeal
Lighting fixtures do far more than just improve functionality. They may also serve as decor in their own right. Trying out various interior lighting ideas makes for the perfect playground for a creative mind. You can tailor the lights to suit the personality and decor scheme of the room itself.
There are many light styles to work with, from ceiling lights to wall lights and everything in between. Chandeliers, pendant lights, wall washing sconces and more can be implemented into a space to give it some functional decor. Plinth lights installed on the kick plates of kitchen cabinets create a soft, indirect glow from the ground up.
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Overall Comfort
There are few things worse than trying to exist in a space without enough light. Whether you are trying to read a novel or chat with some company, clear visibility can make all of the difference.
Visual comfort is achieved in a well-lit interior space. Natural lighting during the day can help keep you alert and your circadian rhythm in check. When it gets darker, you can rely on artificial light.
Artificial light that is warm in colour creates a more relaxing environment during the nighttime. Meanwhile, cooler light temperatures support a more energetic and lively environment, making it ideal for food prep and creative projects.
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Accentuated Design Features
If you have exposed brick in your home, towering pillars in a foyer or even an elegant winding staircase, interior light fixtures will let you make the most of them. Using accent lighting, you can enhance an area of a room that might have otherwise been easy to overlook.
Highlighting design features through accent lighting will direct attention to certain areas and create a focal point. Focal points make your rooms stand out from one another and can really leave an impression on any visiting guests.
Designer lighting and statement lights are solid candidates for this job. Use the lighting itself to bring artistic flair to the space.
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Perception of Space
Modern lighting can be used to transform the feel of any given room. By playing around with placement and colour temperature, you can make a room feel like a whole new place in an instant.
Lights, in general, can affect the way shape, size and even colour in a room is seen. This means that you can use them to make smaller rooms seem larger or make larger rooms feel more cosy and intimate.
When it comes to colour, lighting can enhance the colour scheme itself. Warm-toned lights make warmer colours of yellows, reds and oranges pop out. Conversely, cooler lights bring out the cooler hues in a room, like blues and greens.
Lighting can also be used to highlight textures. Placing a wall washing or wall grazing light on textured surfaces will create little shadows to contrast with the illumination. This makes it easier to see those unique textures.
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Influences the Mood
Lighting has been shown to have an effect on people’s moods and state of mind. Studies have shown that people working in a well-lit space full of natural light (or even artificial light with a natural colour temperature) are more productive and alert.
To the opposite effect, warm, low lighting can make a person feel more relaxed and at ease. By choosing the right colour temperatures for the various interior spaces, you can tailor each room to your specific needs.
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Keeps Circadian Rhythm in Check
The circadian rhythm is a bodily function that is responsible for your sleep cycle. An average circadian clock functions in tandem with sunlight. That is to say, you are more likely to feel awake and alert during the day and to get sleepy after sunset.
In rooms without good lighting, you may throw that rhythm out of sync. By having a well-lit room complete with dimmable lighting, you can wind down and get ready for sleep in a more natural way.
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Reap the Benefits of LED Lighting
LED light bulbs have overtaken traditional light sources in recent years, such as halogen and incandescent lights. Their benefits and advantages are plentiful, and with LED bulbs in your interior lighting design, you can enjoy them for yourself.
Energy efficiency has long been the main selling point of LED bulbs. They use 80 percent less energy than traditional bulbs, putting less of a strain on environmental resources. This, of course, also makes them more eco-friendly, which is another popular perk. Beyond that, less energy consumption can mean lower electricity bills.
LEDs are remarkably versatile and available in a spectrum of colour temperatures and lumen counts. You can easily find the best combination for your needs through LED bulbs.
The lifespan is also exponentially longer. LED bulbs are rated to last tens of thousands of hours, whereas halogen bulbs are only good for 1,000 hours or so. LED bulbs therefore require fewer replacements, which saves you money and effort in the long run.
Interior lights can make or break the look and feel of a room. By understanding the importance of interior lighting, you can make sure you are hitting all of the points to make the most out of the design.
Interior Lighting Ideas
Perfect as accent lighting, the Beam Single 2 Watt Brushed Aluminium LED Wall Light is a stylish way to accent walls and textures. This fixture generates 140 lumens of 3200k warm white light that spreads up and down on the wall behind it. It is fashioned out of high quality brushed aluminium and measures 90 millimeters by 65 millimeters in size.
The perfect task light for a relaxing environment, the LWA544 3 Watt Recessed Bedside LED Reading Light is a luxurious reading light that modernises any bedroom. The fixture generates 120 lumens of 3000k warm white light at a 30 degree beam angle, perfect for reading. You can tilt and twist the light to shine the beam more directly. This light, available in either black or white, is crafted out of top-quality aluminium. The backplate measures 160 millimeters by 58 millimeters and is compact and easy to install anywhere.
The LPL364 5 Watt Hanging LED Pendant Light is a stylish hanging light that can be used for task and ambient light alike. The light shines 400 lumens of 3000k warm white light at a focused 30 degree beam angle and is crafted out of durable aluminium given your choice of a black, white or gold finish. The fixtures measure 148 millimeters in diameter by 200 millimeters high and come with an adjustable 2000-millimeter drop cable.
Provide plenty of ambient lighting with the LDC735 9 Watt Anti Glare Dimmable Recessed LED Downlight. This recessed light is designed to eliminate glare with its bulb set deep within the fixture. A total of 800 lumens of light pool on the surface beneath the fixture, offering an interesting visual effect. It is built to last from premium aluminium with a white finish and black internal ring. Overall, this fixture measures 85 millimeters in diameter.
