Lighting The Spaces You Love
Wendy Wenig • September 3, 2021
Exploring the seven sources of light
Making choices to complete your vision for a renovation or new build can be daunting to say the least. You want to have the look you’ve always dreamed of, but in many renovations, the budget becomes tighter than preferred before all the finishes can be installed. Sometimes, that means the sad choice to skimp on lighting is made. But you’re not alone — working with your lighting supplier and your designer can get you the best solutions available for your budget. That way, there’s less compromising on your vision and you’re able to experience the effects of quality lighting in your space.
One of the rules of thumb for designing interior spaces is providing seven sources of light within typical multi-use rooms like kitchens, dining rooms, living rooms, master bedrooms and family spaces. Here’s a breakdown of those seven sources of light:
- Of course, daylight is the first light you’ll use in your space. Ideally, your architect has maximized the use of daylight planning in the positioning of your building plan on the land site.
- General lighting comes next. Options for this include the traditional central lighting we see in all older homes, often excepting the living room. This type of lighting almost always spreads the lighting cone upwards to allow maximum viewing in the space, indirectly. In more recent times, cove lighting and low profile recessed LED pot lights are used to create general lighting. The number of pot lights are determined by the room's use and size.
- A second layer of "ambient lighting" allows us to create moods within a room. Thats where layering recessed LEDs with chandeliers or pendants, or the above cove lighting, comes in to play. All the romance movies you see will use mood lighting in one way or another. Think of dimmer switches, remote controlled lamps and motorized drapes opening to reveal nightscapes of city lights with the moon and stars shining above.
- Task lighting is pretty easy to understand, right? A reading nook, your piano, over the sink and stove, island pendants and desk lamps, are a few examples that spring to mind. You’ll find these often have a higher wattage to provide greater visibility. Most are directed downwards to focus or be aimed at the working surface. These can also be chosen for decorative reasons, so I always encourage choosing styles carefully to ensure the light actually provides for the need.
- Another type of task lighting are those used for showing direction, safety and highlighting. These range from motion sensor security lights to hallway night lights. Style doesn't need to be ignored here either and even with low wattage, this lighting will make a significant difference.
- Adding the next layer is the most fun — accents! Basic accents like art spotlights and sconces are easy additions with very specific destinations. Believe it or not, electric fireplaces are actually accent lighting. Imagine the stunning surprise of stars at night in your theatre spaces (fibre optics); waterproof, motion sensor controlled strip lighting inserted flush with your tile in the bathroom; under cabinet LED strips in the kitchen that can be installed at the floor, countertop or above the top level; artfully designed backlit fishtanks glowing from your master bedroom wall — the possibilities are endless! Even showers are being accented with multicoloured LED lighting, flowing as beautifully as the water they shine through.
- The seventh layer of lighting is familiar, easy to implement and comforting — the simple candle. Whether you love the flickering of a genuine flame or the glow of the battery operated candles, the soft and symbolic sight of a candle imbues peace, love and hope that’s suitable for every space.
For everything but the candles, it’s important to have an experienced, qualified electrician on your design team. As a design consultant, I trust and appreciate the experience, guidance and friendly efficiency that Sheldon Nichols and his team provides. I’ve collaborated with Nichols Electric on some exciting projects to date and I anticipate many more in the future...
About Wendy
Wendy graduated from a Vancouver design school in 2015 and returned to her home in Camrose to work as an independent designer. Through her local Camrose business, Iconic Inspirations, Wendy offers services as a Design Consultant. As an approachable designer, she collaborates closely with her clients to bring their unique vision for their spaces to life.
Connect with Wendy!
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