7 lighting tricks to create atmosphere
When thinking about the flow of space, ambience and atmosphere in your home, lighting can be one of the most fundamental elements. Brighter lights can make you feel alert and awake, where as dimmer, softer lights can be relaxing and sleep-inducing.
- Make a lighting plan: If you’re starting from scratch or redecorating a room, create a mini brief or lighting plan that tackles the essentials. Think about what activities take place in each room (eating, relaxing, working). Consider style, scale, output and even colour temperature of lights before you go rushing into design decisions. Early planning makes for less headaches and rushed last minute decisions.
- Layer your lighting: Take a layered approach to lighting with different light sources across different levels to create ambience and interest in a room. Use lighting to make the most of a room’s size and shape –up-lighting makes a room feel larger, low hung pendants will create an illusion of height and clusters of lighting make large rooms seem cozier.
- Make sure the lighting is helpful: Consider what tasks you may be undertaking in each room where lighting can affect or aid you. Cooking requires more concentrated lighting, therefore a combination of bright downlights and recess lighting, in cabinets and above stove tops, is useful. For reading, flexible and directional lighting aimed away from you is better. Dimmers will quickly become your new best friend, providing an energy efficient and effective way to quickly change the atmosphere and warmth of a room.
- Choose the fixture carefully: You should consider the following:
- How bright do you need your space to be.
- What atmosphere are you trying to achieve (color temperature, e.g. lower temp is more similar to candlelight, while higher temps are more akin to a blue sky outside)
- Should energy efficiency be considered (for more frequently used lights)
- Are you trying to make a design or focal statement (with scale, shape or colors)?
- Use spotlights to highlight your favorites: Use lighting to focus on a feature wall, architectural element or key possession. Wall mounted lights symmetrically arranged on either side of a statement mirror above the mantelpiece of a fireplace will add warmth, sophistication and elegance to a room.
- Light the way at night: Midnight bathroom breaks are made worse with harsh lighting that causes temporary blindness upon flicking a switch. Invest in directional floor level lighting in hallways, staircases and the bathroom to create subtle warmth and a guide.
- Less is more: Keep theme, color schemes and material finishes consistent throughout the home, especially when it comes to lighting. Too many different styles in a sordid array throughout the home can be confusing on the eye and will cause uneasiness. Neutral, lighter tones will open up a space and make it appear larger, while darker hues add a touch of luxury and coziness. Keep it simple and consistent.
