Lighting is one of the most underestimated parts of the interior design of our homes and workspaces. Lighting is not just important for us to see what we’re doing, it also affects our mood, emotions, and general wellbeing. While our daylight hours here in Darwin are longer than in other parts of Australia, good and adaptable indoor lighting is vital to every interior design project. Being switched on when considering interior lighting design is all about understanding your space and how that space needs to work for you.
The way we use our homes now means that we carry out multiple tasks throughout different areas of our homes, instead of using one dedicated space for a particular task we make our interiors work harder – we can just as easily work on the sofa as at a desk and our lighting needs to work too.
What can I tell you about lighting design to give you a basic understanding of some of the concepts behind why and how I am able to create beautiful light-filled and light-sensitive living spaces?
Finding the right light fixtures
Don’t exert too much energy and time on finding the fixture that *looks* right, instead focus on what it is that you’re lighting, how the light lands, and what effect it has on the space around it.
What to avoid
Glare! When seated you should not be blinded by the glare of a globe that’s unshielded by a shade or angled to create ambiance. Natural lighting aspects and glare also need to be considered.
Strobing is a big problem for Darwin homeowners because we love our ceiling fans! A ‘strobe light effect’ occurs when your lights are placed too close to your ceiling fan. The good news is that it is easily preventable with some planning (and definitely not a reason to avoid ceiling fans).
Lighting up and highlighting
Use lighting to highlight different areas of a room or to light up and feature some of your favourite objects.
Avoid lighting fatigue
Think about what it’s like being in a conference room or large office where all lighting is at the same level and there are no shadows. This is what we call ‘lighting fatigue’ and it can be quite draining on mind and spirit, not to mention our eyes!
Clever lighting for bathrooms and kitchens
Direct the light where it’s needed most. In the bathroom (or makeup table) you want lighting that frames your face and fills in the shadows. In the kitchen you need to direct light to your benchtops and working areas.
What lighting inspires me?
Nature’s lighting! Sunsets and sunrises, and the light on water touched by natural elements and weather events.
Lighting as a science
Light has both psychological and physiological affects on our emotions and can make us healthier, happier, and sleep better (or not sleep!). Studies have also been conducted on rats and other mammals that show the effect light has on melatonin, which determines the body’s output of the neurotransmitter serotonin hat affects our moods, behaviours, appetites, sleep patterns, memory functions, and desires. Getting your lighting right is SO important!
“The Kelvin definition is “the SI base unit of thermodynamic temperature, equal in magnitude to the degree Celsius.” Scientific jargon aside, Kelvin is used in lighting to measure the colour temperature of a particular light bulb. And in short, the higher the Kelvin rating (expressed in K), the whiter the light will be.” (lumens.com)
Getting the colour temperature right all starts with selecting the right bulb. You can see on the Kelvin temperature colour scale how you can identify the approximate hue certain bulbs will provide and how we can determine which fixture is right for each room.
My 5 pro tips?
- Make a lighting plan – consider style, scale, output, and colour temperature.
- Layer your lighting with different light sources and levels.
- Choose your bulbs carefully!
- Less is generally more.
- Consult a professional.
Whether you want to get a good night’s sleep or to improve your relationships and productivity at home, an interior lighting change may just be the solution. In order to implement an effective lighting strategy for your home, you will need a professional that fully understands electrical systems and lighting design. Besides the technical knowledge required, the person installing your lighting should also be concerned with mood, aesthetics, safety, and enjoyment.
Lighting design is not a given in the remit of all interior design professionals – but for me it’s an integral part of the service that I provide to my clients because I know just how important it is to the beautiful designs we create for your homes. We work so hard to create spaces that you love to come home to, we want you to enjoy those spaces in all lights and seasons!
You’ll find a complete list of my packages HERE to find out more about how JM Interiors can help you create a home that you’ll love returning to each day – I can work with you on-site or remotely; distance is no barrier! If you’re still unsure about what you need from an interior designer … jump in and book a DISCOVERY CALL and we can work out which is the best way to get your tropical-inspired interior design project started.
And of course don’t forget to do our FUN QUIZ to work out your personal tropical interior design style!
