Every year in January, as soon as the festive Christmas lights have disappeared and in autumn, when it gradually gets dark earlier, our customers increasingly express the same wish: “a lamp”. This often leads to lengthy discussions, as it is not so easy to find the ideal lamp.

THE RIGHT LIGHTING IN THE RIGHT PLACE

On social media and in magazines, we often see pictures of rooms where a light is in the wrong place. A trendy chandelier or a stylish arrangement of naked light sources above the dining table may look good, but it often makes you feel uncomfortable. Most of the light is lost on the ceiling in one case, and in the other you are unpleasantly dazzled when you turn up the dimmer. In the bathroom, there may only be one ceiling light or one wall light on the left-hand side of the mirror – neglecting the practical side of shaving, applying make-up or inserting contact lenses. There may be several pendant lights hanging above the kitchen counter, which you bump your head on when you lean over the chopping board.

It’s important to recognise what type of lighting is needed and simply to be dazzled (pun intended) by the beauty of a luminaire. Do you need direct or diffused light? Do you need to illuminate a dark corner, or are you planning to read or watch TV in an area? Each luminaire is more or less suitable for different purposes and emits different light.

NUMBER OF LIGHT SOURCES

We also often talk about the importance of the number of light sources in a room. In general, our plans envisage using five to seven light sources per room. In larger, interconnected rooms, we recommend a different calculation by planning at least three to four light sources per area. A lack of light sources leads to excessively bright and dazzling light, as there is a greater need for light. In addition, only one or two luminaires create undesirable shadow patterns.

INFORMATIVE LIGHTING

Informative lighting is a matter of course in public spaces. Staircases are well lit and house numbers are clearly visible. In private settings, however, the use of the same concept can leave a cold or styled impression. It is often sufficient to create well-lit rooms with diffuse general lighting. In the dark season or at night, this can be dimmed or controlled by motion detectors – an important argument for older people too.

SPOT LIGHTING  

Spot lighting is required if, for example, you want to emphasise a work of art, illuminate a bookshelf or create other lighting effects.

GENERAL LIGHTING

The classic general lighting for illuminating a room as a whole consists of a ceiling light that distributes the light throughout the room.

TASK OR WORKPLACE LIGHTING

Reading lights in the form of floor, table, wall or clamp lights emit direct light to illuminate the desired activity – a function that becomes increasingly important with age.

TUNING LIGHT

Light sources that create a pleasant atmosphere are often of natural origin: candles and fire. Combined with several dimmable light sources in the room, the desired atmosphere is ultimately created.

OUTDOOR LIGHTING

External lighting influences well-being both indoors and outdoors. It contributes to cosiness and a sense of security. However, it is important not to use too much, too strong or incorrectly directed light outside so as not to disturb neighbours, animals or the ecosystem. Light pollution should be avoided and reduced by using motion detectors and indirect light.

THE RESULT

The appearance of a room, the functions to be fulfilled and the appearance of the people in it are all the result of well thought-out lighting design. We can learn a lot from photographers and filmmakers here. It’s a highly complex area, but crucial for a successful interior design.

The way in which a luminaire is presented with different light sources also plays a role. Some luminaires are designed for clear light sources, others for opal light sources and look different when the wrong one is used.

The effect of colours is also a result of the lighting: in daylight, a colour is perceived differently in a room facing north than in a room facing south, and the same applies to electric light. The degree of light reflection must also be taken into account when designing a room. How many and what kind of light sources do we need and what effect do we want to achieve? Are the walls, ceilings and floors light or dark? Are there any mirrors that reflect the light?

The right lighting is therefore crucial to how we feel in a room and can rarely be achieved quickly by buying a trendy luminaire.