Interior lighting design: light design
The importance of studying light has been understood since interior design became an essential part of an architectural project, and since it was understood that ensuring the final result depends on a project that includes lighting design.
This makes it possible to immediately experience the emotion of visualizing the desired and dreamed-of space.
There could be no emotion without light, because light is the means by which we perceive shapes and volumes, spaces and colors…elements that create the emotions inherent in a home.
Thinking about light in interior lighting projects
Lighting is an element that must be considered and designed if our expectations are “non-trivial”…
…and, quite simply, it’s appropriate to consider that a room lighting plan should include all the necessary (technical) arrangements to allow for the installation of that particular type of fixture, capable of meeting our expectations. The lighting plan effectively becomes an integral part of the architectural and interior design project.
It’s also true that technological advances have enabled possibilities that were unthinkable just a few years ago, when the placement of specific lighting points within various rooms was an automatic process.
Lighting comfort
Comfort defines everything that contributes to making daily life easier and more organized. Lighting comfort is part of this, as is thermal comfort…the quality of materials and the feel they convey, which also impact the various choices made regarding home furnishings.
Specific technical knowledge is essential, because when it comes to lighting, we must address concepts such as illuminance (lux), light intensity (lumen), color temperature (°K), and color rendering index (CRI).
It is therefore always advisable to rely on a technician who is an expert in the field.
How to light your home: helpful tips for choosing the right product
Given the diverse technologies available on the market, we must first identify our specific needs and match them to the different environments the lighting project will serve.
LED Strips: the ultimate in expressiveness in lighting design
Very expensive until a few years ago, LEDs have now become widely used, replacing other technologies such as incandescent bulbs and halogen lamps.
LEDs convert almost all electrical energy into light energy (maximum efficiency).
Today, their low energy consumption is affordable.
The quality of light is uniform across a linearly distributed surface thanks to a technology based on the stimulation of electronic circuits.
Glare can be managed in many ways, for example with opaline screens or by playing with reflected light effects.
They offer great expressive and emotional potential because they can also be applied to mobile or flexible supports, emphasizing the surfaces and materials used in the space.
Furthermore, their compact dimensions allow for recessed spotlights or light beams.
Ceiling spotlights
Ceiling spotlights have seen significant growth in residential applications due to the need for areas with false ceilings (for air conditioning or controlled mechanical ventilation systems), which significantly limits internal height. The classic spotlight has a ring with various finishes that can accommodate different optical filters, or honeycomb filters. The latter, in particular, shields the light source, virtually eliminating glare while ensuring a direct beam of light. Spotlights can also be adjustable, while others, while still recessed, are called fully concealed, allowing only the light source to be perceived. Generally, we have the option of choosing the level of integration of the lighting fixture. It can have its own connotation or identity, or disappear completely to manage the lighting through a study of reflected light.
Suspensions
These elements have their own identity and fit seamlessly into the space as true furnishing elements.
They can be focal points and define a space, provided they are managed thoughtfully and carefully to avoid creating a “constraint” or distracting element.
This category includes chandeliers, pendant spotlights, and even projectors, when combined with suspension tracks, which create a linear distribution.
The height of the light source from the ground must be considered as an issue to address and manage, as directly visible light could create glare.
Floor lamps
The floor lamp is a true furnishing element, where the best industrial designers have always unleashed their creativity. It can become the defining feature of an entire room, or it can have a more understated character and provide a relaxing sensation when designed with soft lighting.
It’s often the go-to solution when, after finishing a project, you realize there are dark areas in your home, as it can fit anywhere.
Wall sconce
They lack the elegance of floor lamps, nor the dramatic impact of pendant lamps.
They can, however, be used to project light onto walls and exploit the reflection of the wall itself to diffuse it.
Wall sconces are a solution often adopted when minimal aesthetic impact is needed.
For example, they are used in corridors and hallways because, when arranged in sequence, they indicate a path, and thus their delicacy becomes their true strength.
Whether classic or modern, this doesn’t mean a sconce can’t have its own distinctive identity. The difference always depends on the shape, size, and material chosen.
The important thing, even in this case, is careful contextualization with the furnishings.
Wall sconces can also better define the spaces in which a piece of furniture is placed, such as above a console table or to the sides of a sofa.
In some cases, the use of a wall light is very common (if not mandatory), such as in bathrooms to illuminate the mirror area, provided that the necessary precautions are taken to avoid glare (frontal light flow must absolutely be avoided).
LED projectors
Since the development of LED technology, spotlights have also been produced in small sizes. This has allowed them to be used (and increasingly so) in homes, thanks in part to their minimalist and somewhat attractive design. The spotlight allows for different orientations and excellent beam management with adjustable lenses. They can be installed individually, on suspended tracks, or even on recessed tracks.
This article was written in collaboration with our collaborator and lighting designer Fabio Megni from Brescia.