Lighting in Interior Designing
Lighting is an essential element in the field of
interior design. Light, like color, can alter psychological and physiological
reactions. Proper lighting can enhance task performance or aesthetics. The quantity and quality of light affect the
apparent size, shape and character of an object. Interior designers can alter the perception
of space in a room, focus attention, set moods, define texture, or create a
specific atmosphere through the appropriate use of light. Additionally, the fixtures that house the
actual light source can be designed to serve as decorative art or sculpture.
Types of Light
A space can be illuminated by natural and /or artificial light. Day light
is the natural light and it enters in a room through windows, doors and
skylights. Depending on the orientation
of these and the time of the day, the season, and the weather, natural light
can have a gentle or harsh effect.
Ø Direct Light- light which shines directly into an object or surface.
Ø Indirect Light- light which is reflected onto an object an
object or surface.
To be able to see comfortably and efficiently,
the eye must receive a certain amount of light from the scene. There are standards of level of illumination
that is required for efficient seeing under various circumstances. To begin to
understand how to use light, designers must be familiar with the basic
terminology and basic principles of the quantity and quality of the light
source.
Definitions.
Lamp- The light bulb itself
is called the lamp. It is the source of light. This term is also used to describe
fluorescent tubes.
Fixture- The physical structure
that holds the lamp and other necessary and decorative accoutrements (such as
the shade, reflector, or lens) is called the fixture.
Lamp holder- the device into which
you plug the lamp.
Shade- that conceals the lamp
from direct view- often intended to be decorative in itself.
Luminaire- the whole thing –
lamp, lamp holder body, shade etc.
Central pendant- a luminaire suspended
from an outlet, fixed to the ceiling.
Down-lighter- a luminaire that the
designed to shine downwards only.
Recessed down-lighter- a down light mounted
within the ceiling cavity.
Up-lighter- a luminaire designed
to shine up-wards only.
Surface-mounted up-lighter- one mounted directly to the floor or track.
Free- standing up-lighter- an up- lighter with a short decorative body.
Lumen: A measure of flow of
light produced by one lamp. Lumens also
determine the efficacy of a lamp. To determine the efficacy of a lamp, divide
the lumens by the watts ( the amount of
energy consumed by the lamp). For
example, suppose a new 75- watt incandescent lamp produces 1,180 lumens; 1,180
lumens divided by 75 watts equals an efficacy rating 15.7. The higher the efficacy rating, the more
efficient the lamp. In practice, to
select the most energy – efficient lamp, select the lamp with the lowest
wattage and the highest lumen.
Foot-candle: The unit of measurement for the amount of
light falling on a surface. One
footcandle is equal to the amount of light falling on one square foot of
surface, one foot away from a candle.
The farther the surface is from the light source, the lower the
foot-candle measurement.
Foot-lambert: The unit of measurement for the amount of
light reflected from a surface.
Generally, this is the amount of light actually seen. For example, a light- colored shiny wall may
reflect 80% or more of the foot-candles; a dark-colored, rough-textured wall
may reflect less than 2% of the foot-candles.
Reflectance values of common colors are;
|
White |
89% |
|
Ivory |
87% |
|
Light gray |
65% |
|
Sky blue |
65% |
|
Intense yellow |
62% |
|
Light green |
56% |
|
Forest green |
22% |
|
Coconut brown |
16% |
|
Black |
2% |
Glare: One of the most common
faults to be seen in lighting systems is glare due to one cause or the
other. The most obvious glare is caused
by the light from the source of light entering he person’s eye directly as well
as the reflected light from the object to be seen. By raising the lamps to ceiling height and by
fitting them with proper shade, the condition for seeing is very much
improved. Another form of glare occurs
when an object contrasts too strongly with its background. For example, in a low and dark or dirty
ceiling the lamps and their diffusing fittings may still contrast too much and
cause eye strain. The same sort of glare
can occur if one has to look at a dark object against a white background.
Functions of Light
Light source can serve three functions to meet
human needs. Any interior should include a combination of these lighting types
in each room.
- Ambient lighting.
- Task lighting is used for specific work like
reading or.
- Accent lighting like a spotlight is used
highlighting certain objects.
Ambient Lighting
Ambient light is used
for general illumination of an area. It is primary source of light for any room
and does not have any recognizable source.
Ambient lighting washes the area in even, shadow less, soft and glare-free
light. This can be provided by an up
lighter or a fixture on the ceiling. The resulting light is
bright enough to comfortably watch television in, but at the same time, soft
enough to make the room look more spacious.
Task Lighting
Task lighting is mainly
functional and is usually the most concentrated, for purposes such as reading,
sewing or inspection of materials. For example, reading poor-quality
reproductions may require task lighting levels up to 1500 lux (150 footcandles), and some inspection
tasks or surgical procedures require even
higher levels. Opaquely shaded table lamps, or lamps with reflector bulbs work
very well.
Accent Lighting
Accent lighting is mainly decorative, intended
to highlight pictures, plants, or other elements of interior design
Lighting for Areas and
Activities
The light outside the
entrance door should be bright enough to illuminate house numbers, door locks
and name plates. The light should be warm, welcoming and bright enough to
illuminate corners, steps or changes in level to prevent people from
tripping. Photographs, paintings,
decorative pieces, etc. can be accentuated by spot lights. Concealed down lighters, lanterns or bulbs of
70-100 watts can be used to achieve the right light intensity.
Foyer & Stairways
Staircases, which are often considered
unimportant, can prove to be fascinating if lit properly because of their many
planes. Staircases should be lit from the top, so there is a shade variation on
the stairs. Also, the top of the stair
should be brighter than its vertical surface. A down lighter at the top of the
staircase can emphasize the edge of each stair, thus help in preventing
accidents. Halogen lamps are recommended for staircases as they burn longer,
and consume less energy.
Corridors
If not lit properly,
corridors often tend to look like dim passages, which are not only
unattractive, but also dangerous. All
the corners and turnings of corridors should be adequately lit, and all
ornamentation like tables, artifacts, paintings, etc. should be highlighted
Dining Rooms
It is often said that presentation is the key to
an enjoyable meal. Food always seems
more sumptuous when enjoyed in a well- designed, well- lit interior. The dining
area requires two basic lighting sources: one for the table, and the other for
the rest of the room. The overall
lighting can be ambient, but the dining table needs an additional lighting
source, like a pendant or a down lighter.
Chandeliers add sparkle, but because of their radiance, to avoid glare,
it is best to fit them with dimmer switches.
Living & Family Rooms
Living and family rooms are used for varied
activities hence, it is essential that the lighting systems are flexible,
functional and aesthetic. It is ideal to
have at least two options for general lighting- one that gives a bright,
festive look, and another, a subtler, sophisticated atmosphere. Up lighters could double as background lights
and with the use of dimmers, can create a subdued, romantic mood while floor
lamps can make for a soft, intimate atmosphere.
Well concealed task lights, spotlights or table lamps could be added for
close work.
The most common lighting
method- a single light on the ceiling often makes the room look gloomy, and
unattractive. Also, most of the
pictures, objects and other bric-a-brac that usually grace the living room get
lost in general lighting. Single light looks good only if the flooring is shiny
enough to reflect the light. With the right lighting, even walls can add to the
aesthetic beauty of the room. The
recommended level of illumination in the living room is 70-80 lux, while for
the dining room it can be slightly lower.
Study
A study is an area where reading activity takes
place. Hence harsh lights, glare and
deep shadows should be avoided. The work
surface, or the desk, needs to be illuminated by a sharp, clean light. A desk lamp along with a flexible floor lamp
is useful. Apart from task lights,
fluorescent lights work well if one is looking for a bright, even light over a
large area. The desk should be placed
against a wall, which serves as a reflector for the ambient light. Contrary to popular practice, desks should be
placed at right angles to the natural light and not directly against a
window. The minimum amount of light
recommended for reading is 200 lux, although it varies with the age of the
person reading. The recommended amount
of light for writing is even higher at 400 lux.
Kitchens
The most important feature in kitchen lighting
in task lighting. A central light is not
a very good idea because work areas are usually around the edges of the room,
and central lighting would cause too many shadows. Essentially, work surfaces like the sink and
counter tops should be lit with directional sources that illuminate them rather
than the person working.
Fluorescent tubes should be installed under wall
cupboards or shelves to direct light to the work areas. Two watts of electricity for
every linear foot of counter is recommended. If incandescent lighting is
preferred, bulbs with white glass or plastic diffusers that spread the light
can be used. Also, natural light can be
harnessed by placing windows above the sink and other work areas.
Bedrooms
The best way to light a
bedroom is by having more than one light sources instead of a single central
light which may cause unnatural shadows. The range could vary in intensity from
a strong, task light for dressing or working, to a soft, subdued light for
reading. Generally, lighting for the bedroom can be dimmer than that of the
living room or the kitchen. The shade
should be deep enough to prevent glare, and its bottom should be at eye level,
so it’s easy to read whilst in a reclining position. Also, the shade should be
of a neutral colour, not too dark or too light, and should be in accordance
with the décor of the room. One thing to remember is that there should always
be two sets of switches: one by the door, and another by the bed. It is
extremely tedious to have to get out of bed to switch off the lights right
before one is dropping off to sleep.
Bathrooms
The bathroom needs
soothing and functional lighting, as here one wants to relax as well as
performs grooming chores, which require ample light. Low voltage halogen lighters work well in
bathrooms as they cause the porcelain and polished surfaces to sparkle. The most important lighting in the bathroom
is near the mirror. Ideally, the light
should be at the height of the face. For
bathrooms with large mirrors, fixtures on either side of the mirror provide
ample light, but one should avoid using fluorescents that shed blue light
because they give an unnatural look.
Children’s Rooms
The most important
consideration for lighting children’s rooms is safety. The room should be brightly lit so toddlers
do not stumble in the dark. Safety
shields covering wall sockets are essential, as children have a habit of
sticking their fingers and objects into exposed sockets. Also all flexes need to be covered, so that
children don’t trip. Light switches
should be at a low level for easy access.
A low voltage bulb, or a night light can be left on so that children who
are scaled of the dark, or in a hurry to get the bathroom at night, can find
their way around.
Energy Conservation
One of the simplest and
quickest ways for a household to become more energy efficient is to adopt CFLs
as the main lamp source. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) use less power to
supply the same amount of light as an incandescent lamp. Due to the ability to
reduce electric consumption, many organizations have undertaken measures to
encourage the adoption of CFLs. Some electric utilities and local governments
have subsidized CFLs or provided them free to customers as a means of reducing
electric demand. For a given light output, CFLs use between one fifth and one
quarter of the power of an equivalent incandescent lamp.
Interior Accessories
Accessories are added elements that have various effects to the original
element. The small items that add
utility and comfort in a room…vases, plants, throw pillows and pictures.
Functional accessories: Lamps, ashtrays, waste baskets
Decorative accessories: Pictures, sculpture, collections
Once the layout, furniture, lighting, artwork,
electronics, accessories, paint and other elements have been established,
accessories are then used to finalize the design. Ceramics (Vases), Mirrors,
Art and Pictures, Sculptures, Clocks and Candles and Indoor plants
Role of Accessories:
Ø Emphasize focal point
Ø Give the room balance
Ø Emphasize the foreground
or background
Ø Orchestrate colors,
patterns, textures
Ø Act as a personal
expression
Mirrors and its
Applications in Interior Design
A mirror is flat or curved surface usually produced of glass that has
a reflective coating applied to it.
To reflect light: Mirrors brighten a room, and
therefore are placed near lamps or light fixtures or in places where they’ll
reflect natural light.
Ø They also improve the
inside lighting of a room. For instance, a room that’s painted in a dark color
may seem smaller as well as feel oppressive. Adding mirrors to a number of
walls can counteract the darkness and o boost
the color of wall space.
Ø The best method to
improve a room’s lighting without needing more electricity would be to place
mirrors reverse windows. The mirrors may reflect natural sunlight streaming
with the windows and brighten the entire room. Some homeowners actually report
a cost savings in energy costs simply by reflecting the free light in the sun.
Ø Use a large, full-length
mirror in entrance ways to instantly give a person a sense of increased space
when they enter.
To Increase Space A wall of
a mirror or mirrors in a small space, such as a bedroom or dining room or
hallway that is really squashed opens it up and creates a sense of flow and
increased area.
To create warmth: Placing a mirror on a
mantle can make the fireplace area, which can often feel cramped and dark, more
inviting.
For an artistic effect: This can be achieved by
hanging a series of mirrors on a wall. They can be the same or vary in size and
shape. They can be arranged in symmetrical or asymmetrical patterns depending
on the tone of the room. Each of the separate mirrors reflects a slightly
different perspective, so there is experience of a burst of color and shapes
wherever the mirrors are placed.
Accessorize using
decorative mirrors. You can use simple frames, add mosaic tiles to the border, or use
other materials to make a mirror fit the room’s theme.
Vanity Mirrors in
Bathrooms
Since full-length vanity mirrors are standard,
embellishments and thoughtful staging can be applied to make the bathrooms
stand out.
In designing:
ü Group small mirrors
together in different shapes and sizes to create an interesting feature on a
wall but also bring light to the room.
ü Glue mirrored tiles to
your kitchen cabinet doors so reflect the whole room to create a mosaic look in
your kitchen.
ü Fit a mirror behind your
stove, this is traditionally a rather dark area in your kitchen so add a mirror
to bounce any available light around the room. This will also give you more
light for when you’re cooking a meal.
ü Place a big mirror
beside your dining room table, this adds to the mood of a dining room and keeps
it light and bright.
Sculptures in the
Interiors
Sculpture is the branch
of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions and one of the plastic
arts. Durable sculptural processes originally sed carving (the removal of
material) and modelling (the addition of material, as clay) but since
modernism, shifts in sculptural process led to an almost complete freedom of
materials and process.
Materials used in Sculptures like metals especially
bronze, stone, Wood, Bone, Precious materials such as gold, silver, jade, and
ivory are often used for small luxury works, terracotta and other ceramics,
wax, Stained glass
Types of sculpture
Sculpture in the round-
free-standing sculpture that is meant to be viewed on all sides, and is
surrounded entirely by space.
Free-standing sculpture, such as statues, not attached (except possibly
at the base) to any other surface Apart from their obvious decorative
qualities, sculptures are used as expressive pieces. They may be used to
express one’s culture, religion, beliefs, ambitions and likes
Paintings, Art and Pictures
ü Paintings or any artwork
makes a living space more pleasant and intriguing.
ü They often well with
other colors, shapes and textures you choose to put in a certain area. They are
included in an interior precisely because they are complementary to almost any
room.
ü Inside a house, in
particular, the normal entryways and hallways often are the new display
location for paintings, photos or any artwork like sculptures.
ü A beautiful large
abstract painting can spark some interesting conversation with your guests in
your office or living area.
ü In the bathroom,
attention to the naturally high humidity is important.
ü A well-protected piece
of abstract wall art or whimsy and color that will make the room come alive can
therefore be used.
ü Displaying a lot of
small, framed art can be a fun way to add interest to a bathroom, especially in
small spaces. Frame works on paper behind acrylic or plexiglass (a transparent
acrylic plastic often used in place of glass), which can hinder condensation build
up. Painting behind a bed inspired by nature and can be used to fill up empty
corners, hallways and walls for a lively feel.
ü Indoor Plants: They are a quick decorating tool. They have an air-purifying
quality that can absorb and strip toxins like formaldehyde from materials in
the home like carpets. Some like the aloe have medicinal value. Different
plants require different care and lighting conditions. Enough research should
therefore be made before purchasing any new plant.
Clocks and Candles
ü Clocks are used on walls
for time as well as to accessorize the walls.
ü Candles on the other
hand provide more lighting, enhance the mood and can produce a good scent in
the atmosphere of a room.
Clocks on shelf with indoor plants, pictures and
candles. The combination can create an
interesting effect.