Lighting a house is the best way of making the most of each room and enhancing each detail. Some time ago we wrote, in this blog, an article about light being the treasure of a house. We are not the only ones to state this fact, but also interior designers who consider light a key element in decoration. A clear proof of this is how in many Interior Design schools light is studied in a detailed way. Have you ever stopped to think if your house is well illuminated? We must not only think about the kind of lamp we are going to put in a room, but we must also consider the setting surrounding that light. Of what colours and materials are the objects and the walls around the light? How will they reflect the light? What kind of natural light does the room have? How will the natural light combine with the artificial light we have chosen? These are all fundamental matters in order to make the most of each room in the house. Experts on decoration state that before buying a piece of furniture we need to study the light of the room where it will be placed. This is because colours and materials show differently depending on the light they receive.

A SUITABLE LIGHT FOR EACH SPACE

Some interior decorators say that the first thing one must bear in mind when decorating a room is the light it receives. That is the way it is: light defines the spaces and, to a certain extent, decorates them. Therefore, we should take advantage of the light so as to make the most of each part of the house. Before lighting a room, we must first of all ask ourselves if we are using all the natural light that this room gets. This is a basic question because, very often, spaces look dull when we do not take advantage of the outside light. Do we have curtains or roller blinds that allow the light to pass? Do we open the blinds enough? Do we contribute to natural light refraction using mirrors? Once we have solved these aspects, then we can go on to the next stage: ask ourselves what kind of artificial light we want to use. So, we must make a decision about the bright indoor lighting we wish the room to have. Even though there are many different kinds of artificial lights as well as numerous ways to lighten a room, we can say that, generally speaking, the lights should always give out a cosy tone. Thus, we must avoid excessive lighting as this can create discomfort. When at home, nobody likes to feel as in an interrogation room or at the dentist´s surgery. This is why warm lights which are not too bright can be a great choice. In any case, it is very important to take into account the size of the space we wish to light up in order to choose the power of the glow.

SOME KEY POINTS

Even though each person is different, and each person chooses the atmosphere at home, there are certain considerations with regard to lighting that prove interesting. For instance, a bedroom must have a warm light as it is a place to rest and this kind of light contributes to relaxation.

If we wish to create a more intimate atmosphere, we can use a salt lamp. In places such as the dining-room or the kitchen (if we have meals there), we must pay attention to the height of the lamps so as to avoid bothering or dazzling the table companions.

In the reading corner of the living room, a good option is white or neutral light because they do not create contrasts with shadows. In the bathroom, we must make the most of the natural light as it reproduces colour best. And, as for artificial lighting, we should use neutral or cold lights.