We all made the experience that light gives character to a room. But most of us have grown out of the time, in which a single lightbulb in our little one room apartment did the job. Especially with more sophisticated lifestyles throughout the years, lighting has made its developments as well. And no, this article is not talking about the transition from conventional heat creating lightbulbs to energy saving LEDs, but more about trends and styles of lighting – so-called “lighting design”.
Same as any kind of goods, which can be designed, lighting design has developed especially over the last 10 years, trying to be better with every new season. Whilst creating new designs, the lighting as such has to be considered as more than something we can measure with a lux meter, something that just lights up the surface or a solid thing without character.
According to light psychologist, there are 4 key-elements, when we perceive when we enter a room:
- Ambient light (natural lighting, before artificial light is added)
- Focal light (Objects and surfaces, to which our eyes are automatically drawn to)
- Glitter (Light reflections that stimulates the optic nerves and gives a feeling of well-being and luxury)
- Colour temperature
Especially the temperature of the colour affects our way of living. So does warm light give a warm, relaxed feeling and the feeling of evening, whilst cold white light delivers a harsh and energetic feeling and of course the feeling of day, just as it is supposed to be. It could also be the other way around: Yellow light during the day and white light in the evening turns the biorhythm upside down and causes and unpleasant feeling. So you see that the right lighting does not only affect how a person perceives a room, it also affects our conditions.
So how does this knowledge about lighting design actually help us?
The demand for sophisticated lighting design, especially in the course of a higher awareness for smart home solutions, is growing. So in order to stand out from the competition, lighting needs to be implemented with a defined design, which is based on experience and knowledge. Taking all designing facts into consideration, we will not only increase the level of comfort but also contribute to a better well-being and health!
Want to learn more about lighting design and its quick realisation with KNX?
KNX Association offers a comprehensive amount of free webinars, amongst others also about lighting design. Want to watch the latest webinar recording? Visit the KNX YouTube Channel for all webinar recordings as well as more videos about KNX.
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