Imagine a scene in a cop drama on television. The suspect is in an interrogation room, with a bright bulb dangling overhead. The stark contrast between the hot, glaring light on the suspect, and the deep shadows in and out of which the detective paces creates high drama and tension.
Anybody in the movie industry understands how important lighting design is. It can create a mood, direct the viewer’s attention, and make or break a character. But how often do we think about lighting design in our own lives? Do you consider the impact that lighting has on your home, your mood, and even your place of work?
We’ve often learned that while businesses might obsess about how their logo looks, or even the color of their walls, they seldom consider lighting design, and how that will impact their meticulously-chosen branding.
Lighting Design is Important from the Beginning
Many people mistakenly believe that lighting design is an accessory, only worth thinking about after the initial construction is done. It’s usually even postponed until after furniture is picked out. However, the best time to think about lighting design is right from the beginning. During planning, we’ll need to know the best way to wire for lighting, and consider important things like recessed lighting.
Additionally, the best kind of light is always natural light. The placement and size of windows will determine how lighting will need to be placed during the day to balance out the natural light, as well as how the building will phase to darkness.
Light Fatigue
Have you ever heard of light fatigue? It’s a common occurrence in office buildings, where lighting isn’t planned or thought-out. It’s just installed as necessary, with harsh overhead bulbs. Our eyes crave levels of light and shadow. The highs and the lows help us to take in necessary things at a glance and further explore as wanted. Think about it like a song: if the whole song is a constant barrage of cymbals and crescendos, without dynamics of highs and lows, we quickly become overwhelmed. There are no accents to increase the impact, no resting periods where you can think and feel deeply. Lighting in a room works much the same way. The best rooms will have highs and lows, accents and rest areas.
What Lighting Design Does
In the end, lighting design can have a monumental impact on the feeling of a space. It can make your entryway comfortable or imposing, make people feel welcome or on guard. Lighting design can even make the difference in how much your employees like to be there. Modern lighting options enable us to make really sophisticated choices in how a room will be lit. Give us a call today to learn more.
