Hello all, you must have bid farewell to Ganesha and about to bring Navdurga home. So, between the celebrations I want to draw your attention to an important element of interior designing.

In interior designing, lighting design is crucial to be considered. I find that lighting is one of the most overlooked yet most significant elements. Lighting arrangement usually is considered as an easy job, just like decoration that we do in festivals and other celebrations. But we need to give a thought to the rational use of lights as it can improve and add to the lifestyle and living! Any of the greatest designs can’t be appreciated nor can say be noticed enough if the surroundings lack proper illumination. Sufficient light can help the functionality of the space and enhance the artistic appeal of the place giving a proper mood and ambience to the inhabitants. Talking about the residential design, one can work on any particular room giving it a special effect / look by utilizing the appropriate designing aspect of lights. Thus, paying close attention to lighting designs will add value in creating your new environment.

This subject might sound more technical but I have tried to keep it short and simple for you. If I may not cover all the information today, I will keep on sharing helpful insights on the subject of lighting design in upcoming articles. Let’s answer the most basic question first,

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIGHT?

You’d say, to make things visible around you or as a help to finish chores at night even to move around safely in the dark.Isn’t it?

But, that’s not all! Here are a few functions of light from the perspective of an interior designer.

– Facilitate to carry out all day to day work with ease.

– To create a zone of comfort or amenity.

– To give an aesthetic touch to the space.

– Works to assure the functionality of the visually dynamic spaces.

Use of natural light is one of the best options one can go for. But, Using light fittings and lamps can complement the style and décor of the places. It amplifies life in the given area. So, I would definitely like to add that,

Rightful lighting choices can lead you to equilibrium of style, comfort and aesthetic designing!

So get ready to take a brief stroll in the illuminated world of lighting designs with me.

Our journey starts with taking a basic step that we’d like to know what a good lighting design is!

It must look good! ( not some tubes or bulbs with bunches of strangled wires)

To give an appropriate amount of light in every room.

Must fit in the budget. (Yes, even Hotels like, Marriott and Four Seasons also think of budget)

Should suit the architecture and the interior design of the place.

Help to enhance the mood.

And above all, it must be controllable by the owner.

Once you decide to bring out one of the options, you’d definitely like to know about the light sources. We already know one source is the natural/daylight and another is light fittings.

Here is a crisp overview of those.

Incandescent Lamps

The kind of light bulb is supplied with electric current by feed-through terminals or wires embedded in the glass. You can find this kind of bulb used in a socket which provides mechanical support and electrical connections.

They are beautifully appealing and sold in many colors.

They are available in a wide range of varieties and dimmable too!

Let me point out that Incandescent lamps are not very energy efficient. There are low voltage incandescent lamps also available but not inherently energy efficient!

Halogen Lamps

These lamps are attractive, having a range of crisp, warm and attractive colours. They are long lasting when talked about durability. Even energy efficient as compared to incandescent lamps. Low voltage halogen lamps are an even better option as compact, bright lamps with more energy efficiency. I recommend these lamps for corporate and commercial projects, as they fulfil need for bright space.

I must add that halogen lamps are excellent while reading under it, as work and display light sources.

Fluorescent Light Sources

Fluorescent tubes or lights are low pressure, mercury vapour gas discharge lamps which use fluorescence to produce visible light. That’s a little expensive as compared to incandescent lamps. Linear fluorescent tubes (T-12) are no longer in use as they are fat tube lights and are really not a choice for designs today. But, T-8 and T-5 are used for most residential uses and under cabinet lighting.  

In designing, along with linear fluorescent lights, compact fluorescent lamps like triple tube, Circline and 2D lamps are used and are available in popular sizes as incandescent and are very useful as an energy saving alternative.   Nowadays, Fluorescent Ballast technology is one of the widely used in designing. Ballast is a device intended to limit the amount of current in an electric circuit. There are both dimming as well as non-dimming ballasts available in the market having different advantages respectively.

Fiber Optics

An optical fiber is a flexible, transparent fiber made by drawing glass or plastic to a diameter slightly thicker than that of a human hair. Optical fibers are used mostly as a means to transmit light between the two ends of the fiber. There is variety of applications where Fiber optics are used in interior designing like,

 – Fiber optics as special effects-

• End emitting fibers are used to give the space a twinkling effect and even in giving underwater effects as in ponds and lake features.
• Side-emitting fibers have an application in laminating outlining and shapes.

 –  Fiber optics as display lighting-

•   Uses small lenses for lighting.
•   Virtually no UV or IR.
•   Requires low ambient spaces to be lit.

Fiber Optics and LED are quite contemporary!

LED

This light source is known to almost all of us as,

•   It’s one of the most promising technologies today.
•   Used majorly in signs and signals. Most of us have seen those in marketing boards!
•   It brings new products like Sconces, step light and marker lights.

Sconces are trending in modern design. They are the small wall affixed light fixtures. They are used in hallways or corridors to provide both lighting and a point of interest along the passage enhancing the design element.

If you are thinking of selecting lights for your home or newly built office, you may still find it difficult while choosing the most appropriate light for your purpose. Actually, these basic varieties of lights are categorised under so many different names and have tons of varieties depending upon its functionality, application or its brand name.

Fortunately, these online stores cover almost every light type under its appropriate category. Please check these online stores Pepperfry ,  Fabfurnish, Urban ladder.  Few manufacturers like Syska, Phillips  & Wipro also offer a great variety of products to choose from. Either you can buy online or get educated with lighting terminology before your electrician tries to impress you with added jargon.