Apartment lighting design: lighting design trends and expert advice
Content:
- Lighting designer: what kind of specialist is he and what does he do
- The influence of lighting on the interior of rooms
- General rules for lighting planning
- Lighting design for individual rooms: useful tips
Lighting is the most important element of the interior, which has been underestimated for a long time. A few years ago, people installed lamps according to the residual principle: the repairs were done, the furniture was arranged, all that remained was to hang the chandelier.
Fortunately, recently the situation with apartment lighting has been changing for the better. Today, many owners understand that lighting design is a whole science, thanks to which you can visually manage space, visually increase the height and area of the room, and give the interior special expressiveness. Specialist lighting designers are responsible for the proper distribution of light flows. However, you can make the room bright and comfortable with the help of light sources yourself, if you use the advice and ideas of designers.
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Lighting designer: what kind of specialist is he and what does he do
A lighting designer is a person who is professionally involved in the design and organization of lighting in the interior of premises, as well as in the exterior. He is well versed in the range of lighting equipment, the characteristics of different lighting devices, their advantages and disadvantages, and the electrical requirements for connecting light sources. When implementing large-scale projects, the lighting designer interacts with other specialists: interior designers, architects, electrical designers.
Ideas and solutions developed by lighting designers help avoid common mistakes:
- Failure to comply with space illumination standards.
- Irrational placement of switches and sockets.
- Illiterate placement of chandeliers, sconces, lampshades and other lighting elements.
- Lack of a plan for linking lighting fixtures to switches.
When developing a lighting concept, a lighting designer takes into account the amount of outside (natural) light, the type and number of fixtures needed to create a harmonious space, the area and location of rooms, and even the climatic features of the area.
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The influence of lighting on the interior of rooms
Properly planned lighting performs several functions. It helps to zone the space (for example, to highlight a work area in the living room), visually enlarges the room, and gives the room coziness. However, each lighting device has its own characteristics, so when selecting basic lighting and additional lighting, you should consider the following points:
- Lamps that are located longitudinally on the walls add height to the space. Ceiling lighting fixtures placed in rows will help achieve the same goal.
- Using indirect light lamps you can visually expand the room. Despite the fact that such lighting sources usually have high power, they are considered safe for vision - the light rays do not hit the eyes, but are scattered along the walls and ceiling.
- Small lampshades, sconces and floor lamps allow you to emphasize individual interior details (for example, highlight a corner with upholstered furniture).
If there is little light in the room, it will look gloomy, and the situation will not be corrected by the most expensive modern renovation. Since natural light, that is, direct rays of the sun, is usually not enough to fully illuminate the apartment, even during the day it is often necessary to use artificial lighting. It is divided into the following types:
- Functional lighting. This type, firstly, includes general background light, which is evenly distributed from one chandelier or several lamps. In cases where it is necessary to direct light fluxes to certain areas, the second option is used - local lighting. Illumination of individual zones allows you to make them as comfortable as possible for relaxation or work.
- Decorative lighting. Beautiful floor lamps, recessed spotlights (spots), multi-colored garlands may not carry a special functional load, but rather perform decorative functions. In small apartments with inexpensive interiors, such lighting design solutions are rare. But in luxurious rooms with exclusive renovations, some theatricality in lighting looks quite appropriate. In addition, decorative lighting will draw attention to original details: sculptures in niches, an accent wall with relief plaster or brickwork.
There are also several other types of lighting in lighting design:
- Overhead lighting. Overhead lighting, used in most Russian apartments, sets the tone and atmosphere of the entire room. Most often, people limit themselves to a chandelier placed in the center of the ceiling - a universal option that allows you not to worry about the result. Depending on the height of the room, you can choose a horizontal or vertical model. If you need to direct light to different corners of the room, you should use a group of lamps, overhead bulbs or spots as a basis.
- Bottom lighting. This type of lighting is often used to illuminate stairs and podiums. For lighting, you can choose a neon tube or LED strip, which are mounted near the baseboard. A walkway made of glass tiles looks great in the hallway and bathroom. Lamps are inserted under the tiles, and when a person steps on the path, they turn on.
- Multi-level lighting. In a spacious apartment, multi-level lighting would be the best option. In this case, it is advisable to select lighting sources of different powers and place them at different heights. This way you can adjust the brightness level and create an intimate atmosphere in the room, because the lower the lamp is located, the more romantic the atmosphere.
Both natural and artificial lighting affect health, mood and biorhythms. Bright, cool color increases a person’s performance during the day, while warm, dim lighting calms people down in the evenings. Taking these factors into account, special systems have even been developed that imitate natural light and regulate its intensity.
General rules for lighting planning
Like creating a general interior, lighting planning requires a competent professional approach. To arrange lighting that will please the eye, create comfort and have a beneficial effect on well-being, you need to take into account several general rules:
- Before planning lighting, you need to think about how furniture and other interior items will be arranged. The next step will be to analyze the results obtained. The owners should look at which areas require sources of artificial light, and which are normally illuminated from the window. You should also pay attention to the presence of large objects that block daylight (mobile partitions, cabinets). Having studied all the details, you can draw up a detailed plan for the electrical layout.
- Three characteristics are responsible for the comfort and quality of lighting: color rendering index, power and shade. Manufacturers denote the first indicator by the abbreviation CRI or Ra. Preference should be given to the indicator “100” - such lighting reproduces natural daylight as realistically as possible. But in any case, the color rendering index must be at least 70, otherwise the color palette of the room will be distorted. The shade of the luminous flux, measured in Kelvin, can be warm, cold and neutral - the latter option is considered a win-win for any room. As for the lighting power, you should choose bright bulbs for overhead lighting, and dimmed bulbs are sufficient for decorative and local lighting.
- To regulate the brightness of lighting, you can purchase dimmers - special devices that connect to an outlet. But you need to take into account that some types of light bulbs (for example, 220 V LED models) are not dimmable.
- Another important characteristic is the coverage area of the lamp. When planning lighting, it is advisable to take into account not only the criteria listed above, but also the radius of the device’s glow. If you are choosing a lampshade for a bathroom or storage room, you should not pay extra money for a model with a large coverage area.
- When planning the space of a room, you should retain as much natural light as possible. Thus, lighting designers do not recommend placing shelving and cabinets perpendicular to the walls. It is also advisable to avoid solid partitions - it will be more useful for lighting if their place is taken by light translucent structures. Small design tricks will also help you create the perfect lighting: glass doors, mirrors, glossy surfaces, a light palette of shades.
Finally, it is worth remembering that lighting fixtures not only carry a functional load - they are also decorative elements, a decoration of the room. Therefore, chandeliers, floor lamps and other types of lighting equipment must fit into the overall design and correspond to the area of the room.
For example, lighting of small rooms can be decorated using openwork metal lamps, wooden sconces or light sources with glass shades. A spacious room with a high ceiling can easily be decorated with a luxurious ceiling lamp on a long suspension.
Lighting design for individual rooms: useful tips
In the process of arranging lighting, you need to take into account the purpose of the room. Here are some tips to help you avoid mistakes.
Lighting in the bedroom
Since coziness and comfort are especially important for the bedroom, it is better to use soft, enveloping light as the main lighting. Sconces with warm light or hidden LED spots will help create a comfortable environment.
An excellent solution would be to use lower lighting - decorative lighting around the perimeter of the bed, a floor lamp with a closed shade. The “starry sky” ceiling lighting system is also an effective design solution. And, of course, a bedroom can’t do without a nice table lamp, where it’s so nice to read a book before bed.
Lighting in the kitchen
Organizing proper lighting in the kitchen is important for both the housewife and all household members. The best option necessary for the convenience of cooking and eating is general overhead lighting plus illumination of the work surface. The main lamp does not have to be placed in the center of the ceiling: you can move it towards the table, providing bright lighting for the dining area.
To make the kitchen look cozy, you should additionally use decorative lighting. Such lighting can pass, for example, along the base of a kitchen unit. But we must take into account that decorative lighting should not intersect with task lighting.
Lighting in the living room
The living room is usually divided into several functional areas, and each of them should have a local lighting source. Decorative lighting is also very appropriate in the living room (for example, an LED bouquet of flowers on the table), the main thing is not to overdo it with the decor.
Lighting in the hallway
Bulky appliances are not needed in hallways deprived of sunlight. Instead, it is better to install spotlights on the ceiling, and the wall near the mirror or console table can be decorated with sconces. LED lighting for the wardrobe will help you achieve ideal hallway lighting.
Lighting in the nursery
An excellent option for lighting individual areas of the nursery are lamps of funny shapes that delight children. But the quality of lighting is especially important. You will have to give up bright flickering devices that tire your eyes. It is best to place a directional source that is safe for vision near the desk, and a night light with diffused soft light in the sleeping area.
Lighting in the office
The lighting of the office should make it possible to distinguish between two zones: for work and for rest. Overhead lighting does not play a special role here; it is more advisable to focus on a bright table lamp with a folding leg and several built-in lamps. The illumination of any large object: a fireplace, an aquarium will add special charm to the austere atmosphere.
And, of course, don’t forget about bathroom lighting. For example, you can install a jacuzzi or shower with chromotherapy function in the bathroom. When a person takes water procedures, premium sanitary ware illuminates the water in different colors and has a therapeutic effect. Such smart devices are not cheap, but benefits and positive emotions are guaranteed.
So interior lighting design is not just a tribute to fashion. Well-planned lighting can literally transform a room. Purchasing original lamps, which are presented in the assortment of the Garda Decor store, will help achieve this goal. Exclusive lighting fixtures created by talented designers are the best choice for people who know a lot about luxury and beauty.
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