Light has interested humans since the dawn of time. Without light, there is no color. In his quest to control light, man has supplemented daylight with an array of artificial devices. What began as tallow candles and gas lamps in the early centuries developed into the myriad of light sources powered by electricity, chemicals or combustion in modern times. While the physical properties of light fixtures contribute to the design of a space, the intangible aspects of the light they emit are far-reaching.
To understand light and how it affects color, one needs to know that color perception is the result of the eye seeing a specific ray of reflected color. The carpet appears red only when the floor absorbs all other colors of the light spectrum, except red, allowing the eye’s sensors to receive the reflected red light.
Lighting mainly determines color. Different types of light bring out different regions of the spectrum: a red carpet viewed under cool fluorescent light with a heavy blue-green spectral distribution will look dull and lifeless, while it will appear warm and vibrant under glowing fixtures. Remote color selections often lead to surprises due to the specific orientation of the project site towards the sun and lighting conditions. To minimize the problem of color variations, it is necessary to view the materials on site, under the expected lighting of the installation.
The concept of lighting design that calls for creating “pools of light” in space is particularly relevant amid our current focus on energy conservation. By highlighting key areas through a mixture of brighter colors and higher light levels in a relatively dark space, the eye is drawn only to areas that are important to a design solution. Another approach, stemming from a more practical point of view, is to create “layers of light”. In this case, the lighting in a space is controlled by separate switches and dimmers so that they can be lit either in sections, separate depending on the task, or entirely. This avoids over-lighting and allows flexible control of lighting. When diffused carefully, one can create a sense of drama, celebration, and rhythm through these lighting techniques.
Darkness, the opposite of light, is an important element in lighting design. Not only do shadows help define a space, but through contrast, they extend the sense of scale and emphasize the sculptural quality of whatever object is lit. When applied carefully, they can be an effective treatment for ill-fitting areas. Alternatively, in the case of room perimeter lighting, the space appears psychologically larger and more relaxing for the occupants.
In addition, a good interior should provide adequate lighting. The amount of light required must be determined in conjunction with the task and the visual acuity of the user. As human vision begins to deteriorate after the age of 40, baby boomers will drive the need for more efficient lighting as they require increasingly brighter environments.
Regardless of the lighting source, the general trend is towards Environmentally friendly lighting Energy efficient and sustainable fixtures. Despite the improvements in Lighting valve Shining Technology, fluorescent and incandescent lamps remain the dominant choices for indoor lighting applications. LEDs are still mainly used in landscape lighting as issues of cost, lamp quality, and color rendering prevented mass adoption. However, it is expected to become an important part of the market in a few years when innovation and demand will result in cheaper and brighter light bulbs with more color options.
Improvements in color rendering of standard cool white fluorescent lamps have led to a wide range of products such as full spectrum, luxury warm white and cool white light bulbs. In addition, electronic ballasts now allow for easy dimming while alleviating lamp flicker problems, making fluorescents a more attractive lighting option. With its efficient light output and low cost, it remains the most economical way to provide uniform light and shade over a long period of time.
On the incandescent front, low voltage tungsten halogen lamps are still popular because they produce brighter, whiter, and more efficient light than traditional incandescent bulbs. The light source built into a halogen lamp makes things like glassware, mirrors, and gemstones sparkle and come alive. Although the light of a halogen lamp gets noticeably warmer when dimmed, the life of the lamp is greatly prolonged, delaying its inevitable trip to a landfill.
Advancements in lighting products have enabled designers to create more dramatic interior designs that respond to the user’s functional needs. A successful design can adjust the quality and quantity of light to meet users’ psychological and physiological needs. In fact, lighting is one of the most powerful elements of interior design. It is the Rosetta Stone that allows our eyes to see and interpret the world around us: without it, a built environment would be devoid of color, contrast, and interest.
