When people think of interior design, they often overlook the importance of lighting… Lighting can completely transform a space! There have been major advancements in lighting design within the last few years. The way we light our homes is smarter, healthier, and more beautiful than ever. Keep reading to learn about how lighting has evolved and why it’s such an essential part of home design.
The Basics
Lighting isn’t just about making a space visible. It affects how we feel, how we function, and even how we see color and texture in a room. There are 3 main categories of lighting that are essential when designing a home. A good design finds a balance of all 3:
- Ambient Lighting: general, overall room lighting – ceiling fixtures, lamps, chandeliers, or recessed lights
- Task Lighting: focused lighting (generally brighter light than ambient) for specific tasks like reading or cooking – desk lamps, under-cabinet lighting, pendants over kitchen island
- Accent Lighting: decorative or directional lighting used to highlight artwork, architectural details, or to create a mood – picture lights, wall sconces, or uplighting
Color Temperature & Bulb Types
The color of light is measured in Kelvin (K) and ranges from warm to cool. Try to stick with one color temperature per room to avoid eye strain/ fatigue.
- 2700K – 3000K: Warm White
- 3500K – 4000K: Neutral White
- 5000K – 6500 K: Cool white/ Daylight
Stairway at Oheka Castle – note how the chandelier is a very cool white whereas the floor lamps and candles are all very warm white. This makes the lighting in the space look non-cohesive.
When it comes to bulbs, there are several options:
- Incandescent: The classic bulb – inexpensive but inefficient. Emits heat.
- LED: the current standard for bulbs that are energy efficient and long lasting. Available in a wide range of colors from warm white to daylight (for residences we typically recommend warm/ soft white).
- Integrated LED: Nowadays, many fixtures have LEDs built in. These are even more efficient than LED bulbs and have a long lifespan, though the entire fixture often needs to be replaced when the light dies.
Wattage and Lumens
Wattage refers to energy consumption (lower wattage means a bulb/light is more energy-efficient) whereas Lumens refers to the actual brightness of a light (the higher the lumens, the brighter the light).
- approx. 450 lumens = a 40-watt incandescent bulb = 5–8-watt LED
- approx. 800 lumens = 60-watt incandescent bulb = 8–12-watt LED
- approx. 1600 lumens = 100-watt incandescent bulb = 14–20-watt LED
Typically, you want higher lumens for task-heavy spaces like kitchens, offices, and bathrooms. And then less lumens are needed for spaces like living rooms and bedrooms. Below is a chart that shows the estimated recommendation for lumens in various spaces.
Impacts of Good Lighting Design
Lighting impacts more than just aesthetics of our homes. If done right, it can positively affect our physical and mental wellbeing.
- Emphasis on Daylighting: maximizing daylighting reduces energy use during the day and supports our natural circadian rhythms which improves sleep, mood, and productivity. Planning for day lighting means strategic window placement as well as use of skylights and other architectural features that enhances natural light.
- Physical Effects: Poor lighting can cause eye strain, headaches, and fatigue.
- Psychological Effects: The color of light really impacts how you feel in a space. For example, warm light makes you feel cozy and relaxed whereas cooler lighting is better for focus.
Advancements in Lighting & The Smart Home
Lighting has definitely come along way. The biggest leaps in lighting design are the following:
- Smart Lighting: app-controlled lighting, voice activated dimmers.
- Color-Changing Bulbs: bulbs that can mimic natural daylight and /or shift hues based on the time of day to match the color temperature of natural sunlight.
- Integrated Fixtures: lighting built into architecture (such as cove lighting, stair lighting, etc.) which makes lighting more seamless with the design of the home.
- Smart Homes: Smart lighting systems are increasingly popular, especially in new build homes. These systems allow you to create preset lighting “scenes” (e.g., “sunrise wakeup,” “movie night” or “dinner time”), automate lighting adjustments throughout the day, and sync lights with other smart devices like security and sound systems.
Final Thoughts
If you only take away one thing from this blog it should be this: Don’t treat lighting as an afterthought. Lighting is one of the most powerful tools we have when creating spaces that are both functional and beautiful. As technology continues to evolve, we have more flexibility than ever to create personalized lighting solutions that meet our needs. So, whether you are redesigning a single room or building your dream home from the ground up, remember that a well-lit home is a well-lived home.
Stay Inspired,
The MWI Team