And then, there were lights.
A key part of any home, it's true that we don't often give our lighting the attention (and credit) it deserves. After all, they don't just help you see in the dark - good lighting can make or break a space's entire mood and feel.
In fact, when it comes to interiors, lighting can be sorted into 5 key types, each addressing a particular purpose in a home. Totally clueless? Don't worry - here, we break down each lighting type to find out how (and where) you can best utilise them in your space.
1. Natural Lighting
Best For: General home illumination.
Interior Designer: X Dimension Design
The only light that you won't have to pay a cent for - sunlight! Granted, it only works in the day, but the soft, comforting glow of natural light can help a space feel more spacious and expansive than artificial lighting. Likewise, natural light adds vibrancy to the colours of your furnishings and surroundings.
Interior Designer: Ark Studio (KL)
The key to having ample light in a space? Of course - more windows! But if building more windows is not allowed or possible in your space (especially condos with shared facades), another way of bringing in more natural light, is the use of lighter hues like white to bounce light off from - or glass partitions to allow light to pass through.
2. Ambient Lighting
Best For: General home illumination, high-traffic areas like living rooms and bedrooms.
Interior Designer: UP Creations
Sometimes, lights don't just serve a practical purpose - they also help to evoke a mood. For instance, the warm lighting used in hotel rooms to create a relaxing, inviting atmosphere? That's ambient lighting done right.
Interior Designer: Gusto Design & Build
In short, ambient lights help to illuminate a place evenly to ensure that a room is comfortable to stay in and navigate around. Nothing harsh or too dim here - a combination of artificial and natural light is used to create the desired effect in ambient lighting, and often, cove lights, recessed lights, hanging pendants or light-sconces are used to achieve the right amount.
Interior Designer: Torch Empire
Note: You don't always have to stick to a particular 'ambient light' in a space! Consider creating multiple lighting scenarios for rooms which serve various purposes (like the bedroom or living room). For instance, you can create a 'cosy lighting' set-up using warmer lights for winding down and a 'normal lighting' set-up using natural/cold lights for practical illumination.
3. Task Lighting
Best For: Functional areas like the study, kitchen, bedside table.
Interior Designer: Yong Studio
These are the lights you'll need to literally help you see when the sky gets dark. Whether it's for reading a book, cooking, helping you scrutinise yourself in the mirror and more, task lights are usually much brighter than ambient lights for visual purposes.
Interior Designer: Gusto Design & Build
That doesn't mean you'll need to install naked bulbs for the best night vision - the great thing about task lighting is that they don't have to be large-scale. Think small table lamps, floor lamps or wall sconces that concentrate light at where it counts, and double as decorative elements in a home.
Interior Designer: The Roof Studio
Where should you place them, you ask? Do a quick runthrough of your everyday habits, and jot down areas which you'll usually require some form of light; some common areas include your bedside table, study table or reading chair.
4. Accent Lighting
Best For: Feature walls, larger built-ins like bed headboards, wardrobes, bay windows.
Interior Designer: Moonlit Inspiration
There are built-ins, and then there are built-ins that are transformed into gorgeous, show-stopping features - thanks to a little accent lighting! That's right, accent lights are simply aesthetic add-ons that help highlight specific areas or direct attention to a space.
Interior Designer: The Roof Studio
Some commonly used lighting fixtures include LED strips, wall-washers or directional spotlights that create extra depth to a space (on top of a room's base ambient lights). Usually, these fixtures are recessed or placed from a distance to create a soft glow that's easier on the eyes.
5. Aesthetic Lighting
Best For: High-traffic, communal areas like the living room or foyer.
Interior Designer: Moonlit Inspiration
Lighting for lighting's sake - think of aesthetic lighting as the cherry on top of your existing, functional lights. The kind to create a show-stopping effect, aesthetic lights are a sight to behold, beautifying a space, accentuating a mood and providing illumination all at once.
Interior Designer: Metrics Global Sdn Bhd
So, what counts as aesthetic lighting? It could be a huge, grand chandelier hanging atop your foyer, a designer pendant piece that's instantly recognisable anywhere, or a custom-made light installation that's uniquely special to your abode.
Get those lights right.
Knowing your lights are one thing; planning and organising them to create a show-stopping space? That's where an interior designer's eye for colours and styling expertise comes in. Whether it's working within your budget or coordinating your lights to develop the perfect mood whilst illuminating your space - let us help! Request for a free quote here, and we'll match you up with 5 interior firms, based on your budget and style. All recommendations made by Qanvast will also be covered under the Guarantee, up to RM50,000*.
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