Interior Lighting Design
Lighting is an important aspect of any design scheme as it can affect productivity and the health of the space’s inhabitants. Lighting is also an important consideration due to the need to conserve energy and promote green building and sustainability. Before actualizing any lighting scheme, it’s important to differentiate between types, uses and methods.
Ambient Lighting, Accent Lighting, Task Lighting
Lighting can be defined into three classifications:
Ambient Lighting: Ambient, or generalized lighting, is used to illuminate an entire area. Ambient lighting can come from fixtures such as basic floor or table lamps, fan lamps and alcoves. Generalized lighting can be low wattage or high wattage, depending on the needs of the space.
Task Lighting: Task lighting is utilized to illuminate a specific area for purposes such as reading, reviewing materials, surgical procedures or handiwork. Task lighting can be as simple as a desk lamp or as involved as spotlighting in a hospital. It is important, however, that task lighting be designed in a manner as not to interrupt the line of vision.
Accent Lighting: Accent or decorative lighting is used to draw attention to a certain aspect of a space, such as a painting, wall, shelf or other area. Accent lighting is used to create drama in a space, raising consciousness about a specific facet.
Uplighting, Downlighting, Direct Lighting
The methods of lighting vary, though most types can be categorized into three divisions:
Downlighting: Downlighting requires the fixtures to cast light downwards which can be achieved by overhead lighting or a lighting fixture on a wall. Downlighting is very commonly used in spaces to provide the ambient lighting, but has many issues with its use. Downlighting can commonly cause glare and reflection, leading to visual discomfort. Also, downlighting is not energy-efficient, as fluorescent or incandescent lights are typically used. Examples of downlighting include recessed lights, spotlights and overhead lighting.
Uplighting: Uplighting uses indirect light that is bounced off a surface to illuminate a space. This refraction method lessens glare and reflection. Although it is less common, uplighting is often times more beneficial than downlighting due to increased levels of visual comfort. An example of uplighting is alcove, which can be fluorescent or neon.
Direct Lighting: Direct lighting can be front, side or backlighting. Front lighting makes the object which is illuminated appear flat and without shadows. Side lighting is not commonly utilized because it increases the chances of glare. Backlighting is a form of accent lighting which can be used to illuminate an object and cast decorative shadows.
Forms of Interior Lighting Design
Although using natural light is the most ideal option for spaces, artificial lights still need to be incorporated into a design scheme. In order to still conserve energy and be more sustainable, compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs, can be used. CFLs only use 1/5 to 25% of the energy that incandescent lighting uses. Aside from energy concerns, appropriate lighting also lends its hand to increased productivity and greater efficiency.
Over-illumination is not just aesthetically unpleasing, but harmful to your physiological health, causing headaches, stress and high blood pressure. As part of any space design, lighting is an imperative component to its overall success.
