Light

I’m writing this post in my bed, a small Jo Malone candle flickering away beside me. I can’t help but feel calm, relaxed, content. But why? Why does this tiny ember of light have such an effect? Why does it create such a feeling?

Light seems like the most complex of the elements to me. Is it something I appreciate? Of course, just refer to the above, or the numerous “lighting inspo” posts on my Instagram page. Is it something I understood entirely before doing my research? One hundred percent not!

I grew up in a house where there was one central light in a room and it was either on or off. Sure, there was the occasional desk or bedside lamp, but that was mainly because “it’s bad for your eyes to read in a poorly light room”, or so my parents said. If only they could see me now, candle light ablaze…

Anyway, this might give some indication of why, up until now, I’ve not been very well versed in this subject, so bear with me.

The Science

Allow me to take you back in time to your GCSE physics class, where you probably learnt that light is a form of electromagnetic energy and that visible light forms part of the electromagnetic spectrum – you know, along with radio waves and x-rays. You might also remember that within this part of the spectrum, there are different colours of light, each with their own wavelength.

Different types of light emit different colours. For example, natural light at midday is close to white light, whereas artificial light is within the violet to red part of the spectrum. And different artificial lights focus on different parts between violet and red. For instance, Interior Dezine states that “low-pressure sodium lamps emit their light in the narrow part of the spectrum that gives an intense orange yellow light and therefore distorts the [colour] of all non-yellow objects.”

Why does all this matter? Well, our eyes respond differently to different colours, which means that certain types of light work better in certain environments or areas of the home. They also work to create different effects or moods. From this, we can start to see that getting the lighting right in interior is about balancing science with design.

The Different Types of Light

There are three main types of lighting – general or ambient, task and accent. Chances are, you’ve already seen them before but might not have known their name or their significance. That was certainly the case for me, so here’s a quick run through.

General/ Ambient Lighting

General lighting, as the name suggests, is for overall illumination. It should be at a comfortable level of brightness, should be soft and should cover a wide area, as Hatch Design says.

 You can use up-lighting (light pointing towards the ceiling) or down-lighting (you guessed it, light cast down from the ceiling) but it shouldn’t be focused in a particular direction. Quite the opposite, it should reduce contrast within the room.

Basically, it’s the fundamental one – kind of like the central light that I grew up with.

Task Lighting

 Task lighting is quite simply for when more intense light is needed in a small, specific area to get a task done – for example, task lighting might be needed at a particular place in your bathroom where you put your makeup on.

Accent Lighting

Accent lighting adds drama and accentuates particular parts of a room, like a painting or an architectural feature. According to The Interior Studio, to be most effective, accent lighting needs to be at least three times that of the general light surrounding it.

The quality of the light is also important. Accent lighting needs to create contrast, but not glare; it needs to attract interest, but not overload the senses; and colour must be considered.

Similar to accent lighting, there also decorative lighting, which is described as “any light source that is intended primarily to look nice in itself” – like a statement lamp. Where the source of the light is on par with the light it emits. Here, fixtures and fittings come into play – they can be design elements in themselves.

Artificial Light vs. Natural Light

And what about natural light? At a time when people are finally becoming conscious of their energy consumption, it seems surprising that so many online articles talk about artificial light - you really have to search for information on natural light. I wonder why. Is it because it changes so much throughout the day and from day to day, making it difficult to create something constant? Is it much harder to manipulate? Are we so devoid of it in our tiny spaces in the UK - where summer seems to last for two weeks and winter lasts a lifetime - that we must fake it?

Regardless of the reasons why this devoid of information exists, I gained some handy tips from Real Homes, amongst other sources.

• Think of your orientation – If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, rooms used most in the daytime should be placed against South-facing walls (the sun rises in the East and sets in the West, meaning the South side will benefit from the most hours of sunlight). In contrast, “service spaces” like bathrooms can be placed to the North, as light in this direction appears cold due to it’s blue tone.

• Avoid heavy materials around windows - Unsurprisingly, these block out light. Instead, opt for more lightweight fabrics, such as drapes, use sheer or light coloured materials, or consider shutters and wide slat blinds.

• Up your mirror game – It’s not just about actual mirrors, metallic fabrics and mirrored furniture and fittings also bounce off natural light.

• Correct your colour – Be aware that warmer colours can absorb light, whereas paler colours reflect or bounce it around. Top tip - consider painting your ceiling a lighter shade than your walls to maximise the feeling of space.

Layering Light

So why are artificial and natural light important? Well, they come together to create atmosphere – they give you all the feels. Different colours of light, different types and placement of light, different levels of brightness, different directions and so on, come together to create a particular mood. Light can be functional, practical or decorative; layering allows you to emphasise different aspects for different purposes, allowing a sense of fluidity.

With all this information, what are the takeaway tips? What should we know?

The main thing is that lighting should be considered before you start decorating a room. Perhaps create a floor plan – what is the main purpose of the room, what features should be highlighted, are there any architectural elements that are going to pose a challenge, what colour or style do you want to achieve? In creating a plan, you can also work out where sockets should be located.

In a similar vein, you could also consider different switches, with particular lights on particular circuits. The wise people at Pookey even suggest having a central control device for switching or dimming: “in many systems, you can preset ‘scenes’ that can be activated at the push of a button”. This links back to our discussions on layering and emphasising differing aspects for different purposes. It also gives a small nod to sustainability – the means of controlling through a central system, often remotely.

Still want more? Try Pookey’s handy guide for choosing a bulb – it’s a good one.