Designing with Light

A well-planned lighting design is the most fundamental design element of any home. Beautiful lighting can make even the simplest spaces appear welcoming and interesting. Poor lighting can make an expensive, beautiful home feel uncomfortable and unattractive. So what’s the key to achieving a flattering ambience while still having enough light see what you are doing?

Think layers. Layered clothing may come and go from fashion trends but layered lighting is definitely, always in. Washing a room with layers of light creates dynamic, visually intriguing spaces while avoiding eye strain and saving on energy bills.

Ambient
The first layer to consider is ambient light. This layer provides the general illumination in a room. Ambient light should never feel harsh but should flood the space with balanced light.

Light colored reflective surfaces enhance the ambient light in this kitchen

Light colored reflective surfaces enhance the ambient light in this kitchen.

Accent
While ambient lighting can be bland, the accent layer creates visual style and makes a room more interesting. Accent lights are targeted to particular objects in a room, enhancing architectural features or highlighting decorative objects. The accent layer creates shadows and adds depth.

Task
Task lighting is the most intense light layer in the room, intended to provide enough light for tasks like reading and cooking.

Dramatic accent lights and well-placed task lights create a bedroom with flair.

A soft ambient glow, dramatic accent lights, and well-placed task lights create a bedroom with flair.

Bulbs are an important consideration in your light design. People generally work better in a cooler white light during the day but prefer a warmer incandescent at night. This is measured in a degrees Kelvin.

The higher the degrees Kelvin, the cooler and brighter the light.

The higher the degrees Kelvin, the cooler and brighter the light.

The ability of a light source to realistically display color is measured by the color rendering index (CRI). A light source with a high CRI will display bright, crisp colors while a low CRI displays murky colors.

CRIchart

Remember to incorporate dimmers and multiple switches into your lighting plan. They provide flexibility, allow you to create different moods, and save energy.

How do you present your home in the best light?

Dreamy Design

Did you know that designers work to incorporate the latest advances in healthier living when designing spaces for their clients?  I’m always reading up on the latest ways to incorporate not only environmentally conscious elements, but healthier choices as well.  For instance, here are some ways to incorporate design elements for healthier sleep:

1.  Lighting:  Bedroom lighting should tend towards the warmer (red) end of the color spectrum.  Lighting that tends toward the blue end of the spectrum disrupts the formation of melatonin, a hormone that helps us regulate our sleep and waking patterns.  For instance, if you have a digital clock in your room, switch to one with red LED’s as opposed to blue or green.

2.  Sound:  The addition of sound-reducing materials like carpeting or rugs, window treatments to block light and sound, and solid-core doors help those who are easily disturbed by ambient noise fall asleep and stay asleep.

3. Waves:  The electro-magnetic kind.  The stuff that’s emitted from all of our electronic gear, including cordless phones, cell phones, computers, TV’s,  etc.  Believe it or not, these electro-magnetic waves can be disruptive to good sleep.  Try to keep EMF devices out of the bedroom, or at the very least, far away from you.  I know, this sounds a little “woo-woo”, but there are studies that suggest it’s healthier to keep electronics out of the bedroom.  (Apologies to my nephew Corey, who owns an A-V company and advocates for a TV in every room!)

These are just a few ways to design with health in mind.  In future posts, I’ll explore more ways of enhancing health through design choices!