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| Feng Shui Lighting |
Hence keeping the home well lit throughout this year becomes of the greatest importance. A well-lit home will bring instant benefit to any household. Addressing the issue of lighting from an architectural and design viewpoint, with valuable suggestions of the kind of lighting you should consider depending on the effect you want to achieve and the room that the lighting is intended for.
The kind of ambiance we create in a space depends on how we light it up. So it is important to understand how different types of lights are used to create different effects, and also how to manipulate light to help to soften up any space. Soft light is always preferable to harsh light because it easier on the eyes and does not create chi that is overly yang; while yang light is what we want, balance is always more important, so we do not want to go too far the other way either.
Types of Lighting
First, it is important to note that different lights are used for different purposes. For example, ceiling recessed down lights are typically used to create an overall ambient lighting level, which helps to brighten up the space to an acceptable living condition. Spotlights are then introduced to highlight key elements within the room which then diverts our attention to specific areas of attention. Occasional lights such as table and floor lamps are used to soften up the room and to add a more human scale, as it allows the user to relate directly to the furniture at eye level rather than be overwhelmed by the size of the space. Chandeliers, meanwhile, are key to highlighting specific living areas such as the dining table while also introducing a feature piece to compliment the interior design.
Take for example in a bedroom, setting downlights are used to create the necessary ambient lighting, but the key lighting element is introduced by flanking the bed setting with the table lamps which helps to set the bed area within the room. Spotlights are then used as isolated lighting elements to focus on the actual bed thereby highlighting the focus of the room.
Ceiling Washers
The next element is to investigate how we can manipulate light to suit the use of the room. In this scenario, diffused lighting is created by bouncing light off the ceiling to create an illuminated ceiling, which offers a subtle diffused atmosphere. Further accents are introduced through intermittent spotlights along the feature wall to create a multi-dimensional effect while offering locations to highlight feature details. In addition, light can also be used to frame key features such as the curtain portal, to achieve a framing effect, using light as an architectural feature in the design.
Light may also be used to designate areas by creating different zones, and through the mixture of different lighting techniques, we are able to shift our visual attention and human movement to areas as required. Therefore we need to think of light as a design tool, and not only to brighten up your space. Lighting always works best when we think of how we can use it to complement the function of the space.
Wall and Floor Washers
Another lighting technique is to bounce light off walls by creating wall washers, which is an inexpensive way of creating a subtle environment. In this example, the use of wall washers is used to create a visual disconnection between the walls and ceiling to enhance the sensation of space. But more so, it allows light to reflect the color of the feature walls thereby giving a soft illuminated ambiance to the bathroom.
This technique can also prove to be very advantageous in long corridors to illuminate walkways, while creating an architectural statement in the process.
One of the key design elements of washing light along the walls is the ability to separate the architectural planes. By 'detaching' the 2 planes from each other, we are able to create the sense of floating whereby the floor is visually disconnected from all the vertical planes.
Specialized Lighting Concepts
When designing with light, look at ways of how we can design outside the conventional system and to to use light not just as a light source but also as an art piece. Through the architecture, we can bend, mould and even diffuse light in a manner where it can create an architectural statement that shapes the design and experience of the space.
Back lighting is another technique that designers use to highlight certain motifs that add character to the design. In this case, the patterned grille acts as the light source by casting intricate shadow details along the pathway; it also adds a touch of craftsmanship in the architectural treatment of how light is being used.
Finally, skylights tend to be very efficient in introducing light to areas deep within the home without any light source. In this example, the skylight is backlit to diffuse light back down through the frosted glass panel to create an illuminated surface to flood the entire space with light.
Therefore, when we think of light, think of how light would behave and how we are able to transform light to become an architectural feature that can add a further sense of design and experience to the space. To find out more, you can check out Feng Shui Lighting.