LIGHT-THE SOURCE OF LIFE
Most of us do not usually consider the effect of light when decorating our home? Yet, light can be the single most important element in making a colour scheme work. Have you ever focused on how artificial light can affect throughout the day, and how the passing of the seasons affects the way we see colour?
When thinking about the flow of Space, Ambience and Atmosphere in your home, lighting can be one of the most fundamental elements. Brighter lights can make you feel alert and awake, whereas dimmer, softer lights can be relaxing and sleep-inducing.
Remember that, colour is also a huge contributor to your Psychological and Physiological States. The colour of your rooms combined with the colour temperature of your lighting can mean the difference between feeling sluggish and depressed or lively and optimistic.
As we all know lights are divided into two parts i.e., NATURAL & ARTIFICIAL LIGHT.
So here it comes!!
LIGHTS THAT COMES IN
Natural Light keeps the world alive and you should take full advantage of it. Try to maximize the amount of daylight in your home with as many windows and skylights as possible. Make the most strong summer sunlight by using the lightest, most diaphanous curtains at the windows in a bedroom or kitchen, which will let the wonderful light flood in. If an entrance seems very dark, consider a frosted glass door, which will let a diffused light through. Alternatively, use a block of bold colour, such as Geranium Pink, on a single wall to lift the atmosphere of the area. It is often difficult to change The Architectural details of a room, but clever use of Colour and Light can easily make the most of any dark area in your home.
When deciding on a colour scheme for a particular room, you need to consider the natural light that enters into it. Find out how strong the daylight is and spend some time in the room at different times of day, taking note of how the light affects it. For instance, if a room is facing North-East in the Northern Hemisphere, it will receive the least amount of natural light, so always use warming colour in this room to soften the shadows. If a Bathroom has large windows and receives lots of natural light for most of the day, then a palette of cool blues and violets would look pretty, not cold.
Let’s look at some ways you can improve the use of natural light in your home:
- First Understand Where, When, And What Kind Of Light You Are Getting?
Every home has its own character, and this is no less exemplified than in the type of light you receive. It’s worth noting the areas and times that your house seems at its brightest and its darkest, bearing in mind seasonal changes. So understand, from Which points do your windows face? Which areas of your home receive the most light? Do you receive more morning or evening light?
- Allow MORE Light Into Your Home!
Unless your home has wide French windows, low-set furniture all over, and a lot of luck with regards to location, the chances are that it’s a mixture of dark and light spots and that there are some things you could improve with regard to lighting. The most common improvements are lighter curtains or shades, lighter window frames, and the addition of paned doors.
- Open Out Spaces That Receive The Most Light!
Using more reflective surfaces can also reflect rather than diffuse light in a more elegant manner. Textures such as carpets, unvarnished woods, and fabrics tend to kill light off, whereas finished floors, mirrors, and metallic or varnished furnishings accentuate and reflect the light available.
- Using Appropriate Colours!
- Remember that Natural and Artificial light will work together during certain times of day, especially in summer when dusk lasts a long time. Turn on artificial lights even during daylight to see what your colours will look like.
- Paint sheen also affects colour. Glossy finishes will reflect light and change the way the colour looks, whereas flat finishes are less reflective and allow colours to look truer under bright light.
- Light-coloured walls can reflect the colours of bold carpets: A bright blue rug, for instance, can cast a bluish tone on a white wall.
How Sunlight Orientation Affects Natural Light:-
As the amount and angle of the sun change, so will your room colours change.
- NORTH FACING: – North-facing rooms are the darkest in the home with diffuse, shadow-less, and slightly greyish or neutral light most of the day and year. Most painters prefer to use this light because it is more constant than direct sunlight. Everything in the space will appear and feel, cooler on a colour spectrum, so it is important to add warm hues through paint and accents to make the room feel welcoming.
- SOUTH FACING: – South-facing rooms are the brightest in the house, with the daylight being dominant from late morning to mid-afternoon. These spaces, like north-facing rooms, have consistent light all day, but with crisp strong shadows and beams of light. Lots of high-in-the-sky light brings out the best in cool and warm colours. Dark colours will look brighter; lighter colours will virtually glow.
- EAST FACING: – East-facing rooms are brightest in the morning, with a light of low altitude and casting long soft shadows. East light is warm and yellowy before noon, then turns bluer later in the day. These are great rooms for reds, oranges and yellows. If the function of the room lends itself to afternoon or evening use, a warm palette will help balance the lack of natural light. A saturated palette is usually preferred.
- WEST FACING: – West-facing rooms have their strongest light in the late afternoon and early evening with a light of a rich gold-orange hue. Evening light in these rooms is beautiful and warm, while scant morning light can produce shadows and make colours look dull.
MOOD CREATING LIGHT
As we all know light and colours are influenced by each other. So, remember that at different times of the year, a room can take on different personalities. Just as in autumn, the leaves start to fall and change their colour, so the house becomes darker, curtains are closed earlier and more artificial lighting is used. You may wish to choose a colour scheme that works as well in daylight as in artificial light, such as warm mauves or coffee colours. Create a cosier look in the dark winter months by simply changing bedsheets and cushions from crisp cotton to brush flannels, velvets or fake fur. Place rugs or sheepskins on any bare flooring and drape soft, richly coloured blankets on the back of the chair and sofas.
Artificial light is a necessary part of our lives. Today there are many types of lighting available and it is a good idea to consider alternatives to overhead lighting since it can be unflattering and harsh. Think about the activity that will take place in the room, and direct the light accordingly.
Artificial lighting should be used to add layers to your space. A warm light (as opposed to a clear light) is the most welcoming option for residential spaces. As well as adding to the overall interior design style of a space, artificial lighting can be used to highlight features, create zones and alter the perceived proportions of a room. Think about where you need what, how you plan to use your space and use a range of lighting effects to create the desired look.
There are five main types of lighting to consider.
- The First is GENERAL LIGHTING, General lighting is the basic foundation of a lighting scheme, providing a uniform glow over an entire room and illuminating a space functionally rather than for aesthetic reasons. The defining characteristic of general lighting is that it’s usually direct and should be controlled by a dimmer switch to account for changes in daylight.
- The second is AMBIENT LIGHTING, which is the general light in a room. The characteristics of both are similar & are important. They’re primarily functional and used to light the complete area. The main difference between the two is in the direction of their light. Ambience lighting is generally used for entertaining- It creates drama.
Ambient Lighting is indirect and therefore softer than General Lighting.
- The Third is TASK LIGHTING, As its name would suggest task lighting is any light source used for a particular task like reading or cooking. By nature, these lights need to have a stronger wattage than most other lighting. Always combine with adequate ambient light, to avoid eye strain caused by the sharp contrast from light to dark areas.
- The Fourth is ACCENT LIGHTING, Similar to task lighting, accent lighting has a particular function and is any lighting that has specifically been included to highlight a particular feature in a room. Spotlights that highlight artwork, sculptures and objects in cabinets or on pedestals are examples of accent lighting which enhance the pieces and prevent them from being lost in an under-illuminated space. Similar to task lighting, because of its nature, accent lighting needs more lumens (the light output) – at least three times as much – and therefore requires a higher wattage.
- Lastly, MOOD LIGHTING is used to create a certain atmosphere, often a soft, romantic or intimating light. It should be kept at a low level-candles are perfect for creating a cosy, gentle mood. Mood lighting is as important to the overall look of a room that general and ambient lighting and space would be bare without it. It makes the room pleasantly inviting by creating pools of light that counteract the shadows caused by general lighting.
CONCLUSION
Although, we can give you some general guidelines for how to light the different rooms in your home, every home is different and requires specialized attention. Take this guide as a starting point, but remember that you will probably need to consult with a professional to get your space exactly how you want it.
These were just some basic tips that we wanted to point out.
Wait…!! This should not really be the end, What do you folks think?
As we are conscious that the chapter of light is not short, So we will be stating more tips in our next blog,
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