Why is lighting so important?

Something that is often overlooked in design is the lighting of the space, but I would argue that this is the element that can have the biggest impact (and also is the reason a lot of well designed spaces can still feel flat). Today we’re going to talk about some basic principles of lighting as well as how lighting affects your space.

So, first of all - have you ever heard the expression that “cooking is an art, but baking is a science?” This is said because when cooking, you can deviate from the recipe and still get a fantastic result, whereas with baking it requires precise measurements and ratios otherwise you end up with a not so stellar end product. I would argue that decorating and lighting are similar - decorating a space is an art - there is always more than one right solution. Lighting on the other hand is more of a science - there are definite guidelines to follow, and it’s very easy to screw it up. Lighting is also a lot more technical than most people realize.

In design school, I took an entire course just focused on lighting (you can actually get a degree in JUST lighting design) so I’m certainly not going to be able to cover it all in one blog post. For today, I’m going to give you some background on different principles of lighting and how it can affect your space.

Side note: For anyone within the industry reading this, I realize I am not always using completely accurate terminology throughout this post, for example bulbs instead of lamps and lamps instead of fixtures. That is because this was written for someone who doesn’t have this background in mind and for ease of comprehension for the average homeowner.

1) Types of lighting

There are three main types of lighting: ambient, task and accent - most of the time it is easy to identify which is which, but sometimes these overlap as well (told you there was a lot to it!)

• Ambient lighting is the general lighting in the space that everyone thinks of. Its generally created with the use of overhead lighting (chandeliers, recessed lighting, ceiling lights, etc), large floor lamps or table lamps.

• Task lighting is lighting that highlights for a specific task being performed in the space. Think about pendant lighting over an island, reading light at a desk, or vanity lighting in a bathroom.

• Accent lighting is lighting that focuses on a specific focal point or to create an effect. Accent lighting generally has to be brighter than the ambient lighting to create an accent effect. This can be achieved with sconces, track lighting that is focused on a specific point (think like a painting), or undercabinet lighting.

2) Color temperature/appearance and CRI

This is an area that I am extra sensitive to, and I think it makes my husband a little crazy because I obsess over it more than most people - a bulb will burn out and I will run to the store to get a bulb in the correct color temperature (instead of using one we have on hand). It’s also pretty technical so I’ll try to break it down a bit (my former science teacher self nerds out about this a bit). I’m also leaving out/glossing over some info… because again, you could get an entire degree in this and I’m not trying to write a dissertation.

Did you know that you can measure the temperature of light? It’s measured in Kelvin, and the lower the temperature, the warmer the appearance light. It might surprise you to learn that natural light is actually very cool in color appearance (blue undertones) and is generally in the 5000K range. In comparison, most interior light bulbs are at the 2700K range, which creates a very warm cast to the light (read yellow undertones). A lot of times, designers and those in the industry will say it is a “cooler color temperature bulb” or “warmer color temperature,” which is a bit of a misnomer. When the temperature is lower, the color appears warmer (2700K creates warm undertones) - when the temperature is higher, the color appears cooler (5000K creates cool undertones). If all of the whites in your house constantly look like they have a yellow tint, it might be because all of your bulbs have a warm color temperature.

Now, warm bulbs definitely have their place and can create a very warm and welcoming environment BUT there are times when a cool bulb is a better choice and there is science to back me up! CRI (color rendering index) is the measure of how well you can perceive the true color of an object. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 100 with 100 being perfect color rendering. Daylight has a CRI of 100 - it goes to follow that bulbs with higher color temperature will have better CRI. This is especially important in rooms where being able to accurately see color is KEY, such as bathrooms and kitchens. Generally 80 - 90 CRI is considered good, and 90+ CRI is excellent.

Another thing to note is that the higher the temperature of your light, the brighter the light appears. This means that a 60Hz bulb at 5000K is going to appear brighter than a 60Hz bulb at 2700K.

3) Light impacts materials

One of the first activities we did in one of my design courses was to go purchase material samples and then take photos of them in different lights to see the impact of the lighting on the materials. It was eye opening how drastically lighting can impact the appearance of different materials! To give you a quick visual of this, here is the same paint chip in six different areas in/around my home. These photos were all taken with the same camera and within minutes of each other (basically I recreated the assignment for you to see). Lighting has a HUGE impact on how we perceive materials and the colors in them.

4) Bulb types

There are a ton of different options for bulbs on the market and it can feel totally overwhelming. The most common bulbs used in residential applications are:

• Incandescent: These are the traditional bulbs that you probably grew up with (and may still have) in your home. They create a warm color appearance and don’t last very long in comparison to other types of lights. They also get very warm to the touch when left on because 90% of the energy becomes heat and only 10% is light. In addition, the filament is easily broken if the bulb is knocked over/dropped. They are the cheapest option looking at straight price to buy one.

• CFL: stands for compact fluorescent lamps; these were the first real energy efficient light that were able to replace incandescent bulbs. While not all CFLs look like this, these are the ones that look like a swirly top on the bulb base. They contain a very small amount of mercury, which can be a concern if they are dropped/broken.

• LED: Stands for Light Emitting Diode and is the most energy efficient bulb on the market. In addition to using less energy it lasts significantly longer than incandescent and CFL bulbs, which means it is replaced less frequently and generates less waste (average lifespan of a LED bulb used for 12 hours a day is about 11 years). LEDs can also be used with incandescent fixtures, you just have to make sure the wattage is compatible (which it lays out on the box). LEDs used to get a bad rep for being cold and ugly (and they were) but now you can get them in any color temperature, shape and style. They even have Edison style LED bulbs that are beautiful in chandeliers and pendants where the bulb is exposed and in super warm colors that mimic candlelight. A lot of newer light fixtures have an integrated LED bulb which means that you don’t have to purchase a separate bulb because it’s built in. While this means you typically have to replace the entire fixture if it burns out, since LEDs last so long, typically by the time they burn out that light is out of style and needs to be replaced anyways.

Okay, so I know that was probably a little heavier than you were anticipating, but I promise that lighting your spaces correctly will have a huge impact on how the space feels, looks and functions! If you want to discuss lighting solutions for your home specifically, I offer consultation services where I can recommend different options and solutions for your space and needs (and I can complete them virtually as well!) Next week, I’ll share some designer tips on how to implement all this new found knowledge you have!