Interior Design Lighting is one of the least understood aspects of interior design, yet natural and
artificial lighting are essential to how a room is perceived. The effects of natural light can be controlled through the use of fabric window
treatments. Modern artificial lighting techniques can inhabit a space as well as give it colour and atmosphere. Through a balance of ambient,
task and accent lighting and a selection of blinds, curtains and shades, interior design lighting can create a mood that works on any
occasion.
Interior Design Lighting Scheme The way that a space or a room is perceived can be influenced and
controlled. A versatile interior design lighting scheme can influence the response to a particular style or
look.
Whether the lighting is natural or artificial, it alters colors, textures and shapes. It can shift attention and
emphasize a particular space or area through the careful balance of different light sources. Interior design lighting is a very
effective tool to highlight the best parts of a room and distract from its weaknesses
Color Color is totally dependent on light. Light shapes the natural
response to particular shades and tones. As light strikes an object, some of the light is absorbed and some is reflected and it
is the reflected rays that determine the colour that the highly selective human eye and brain perceive. When white light shines
through a glass prism, it projects all the colours of the spectrum. Even in its undivided state, it will either have a slightly
blue bias that will characterize the light as being cool or a red bias which will characterize the light as having a warmer
tone.
As different light sources give off different colored white light, it is important to consider this when selecting a lighting scheme that
will determine the atmosphere of a room.
Three Key Elements Interior Design Lighting is based on three key elements. They are ambient lighting for
everyday uses, task lighting for specific activities and accent lighting for highlighting a particular area. All three elements need to be
uniformly balanced, keeping the function and the atmosphere of the room in mind.
General lighting require a consistent light level throughout the space and may use direct sources such as recessed fixtures or
indirect sources such as a small lamp on a table. Task lighting provides particular activities such as a study, bedroom reading, or kitchen work
with concentrated light that preferably does not cast shadow or glare on the area targeted. Accent lighting uses a key light to focus on a
specific area or object such as a work of art. The right illumination can enhance a dreary space or make a room seem larger.
Conclusion For a room to function properly, it needs proper interior design lighting. The interior design
lighting is also an aesthetic choice which sets the mood for the room. Without good lighting even the most stylish room can become dull and
characterless. Lighting is seldom considered to be a contributory factor in the success or failure of a room because our understanding of it is
limited but no design for a room is complete unless it takes into account the placement, the color and the mood of the light.