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You need to be aware of several things when designing and creating the ultimate interior design that will reflect your style and yield a place you would be proud to call home. One crucial element is lighting, and here we’ll discuss how lighting affects the mood, look, and feel of the space.

Before we go into detail, we need to emphasize that lighting is vital in the overall design choices as it directly affects how your space comes together. Experienced designers like the Beyond Beige team know this, so they initially plan the lighting and make different decisions based on the lighting plan. Even the best color scheme and otherwise impeccable design elements could go to waste if you get the lighting wrong. Here are some of the key ways how lighting affects interior design.

Lighting Changes How Colors Appear (are Viewed)

Per fundamental physics, lighting is color, so the lighting you choose in interior design profoundly impacts the room’s colors. Basically, the more light hits a colored surface, the more vibrant the color looks, but too much light makes the color oversaturated and unpleasant to look at.

When putting together the basic layout, you need to balance the natural light or aim for neutral artificial light so the colors you use in the other elements will be presented accurately. Plan to add dimmed lights to make the space more subdued, especially at night. But beware that too little light can adversely affect the space and even be dangerous to use (think of unlit hallways).

Lighting Makes the Space Feel Bigger or Smaller

Lighting can create the illusion of a smaller or larger space; brighter lighting makes the space feel larger and vice versa. Where possible, you should aim to use as much natural light as possible. It would be best to consider adding reflective elements and using full-spectrum artificial lighting where natural light is not an option.

Where you place your lights is also vital, as you can create different effects with various lighting placements. Using a prominent central light fixture makes a space feel spacious, but sometimes using wall sconces can have a more creative effect.

Lighting Affects Functionality of Space

All spaces should be functional and aesthetically pleasing. Because the initial purpose of lighting is illuminating the space, you should aim to make a perfect lighting scheme that will have the added effect of making the space elegant and beautiful.

Please note that the lighting you use is directly linked to the room you are decorating – a bedroom can have more mood lighting, while a kitchen should be well lit and inviting. The same goes for every room in the house, as each has different lighting needs per its utilization.

The Beyond Beige team of interior designers are experts in utilizing natural and artificial light and combining the best design elements to create the perfect space for you. Feel free to contact us for more info and advice on the perfect décor that goes ways beyond beige.