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Giving Interiors a Glow Up
Modern living room in natural colours and materials, dining room with eye-catching ceiling lights in the background.

Giving Interiors a Glow Up: A Guide on Lighting in Homes

Beyond providing visibility and illumination, good lighting can also transform the experience of spaces. From the type of lighting, such as architectural lighting that accentuates key features and decorative lighting that acts as a piece of art, to qualities of lighting such as its intensity and colour temperature, a combination of factors can create a functional and inviting ambience. 

Good lighting does not just stop at artificial lighting sources; when orchestrated in concert with natural light and intricately planned fixtures and fittings, its effects in the home can be further compounded. As both a science and an art form, lighting is a multi-faceted aspect of interior design. In this blog piece, let’s explore different ways to light up spaces.

Ambient lighting

Plug & Light in black, taken in a home cinema furnished in natural and grey tones. A pleasant ambient light illuminates the wall behind the TV.
Graphite Apartment, Kyiv, Ukraine. Credits: Bezmirno Architects
As the most prevalent form of lighting in homes, ambient lighting is the backdrop of the area’s lightscape, providing overall illumination to create a cosy and inviting atmosphere. A wide array of light sources can be used to create this: from commonly used downlights, snuggly cove lights, modern track lights, trendy wall sconces, to statement chandeliers.

Task lighting

KNX push-button F 40 and Chinese Standard socket outlet in the LS 990 range in Dark, made of lacquered aluminium, installed in the room cut-out next to a modern box-spring bed and above a simple bedside chest of drawers.
Focus Hangzhou Apartment Complex, Hangzhou, China. Credits: Cheng Chung Design & Horizontal Design
KNX push-button F 10 and sockets in British Standard, in the LS 990 programme, mounted above the worktop of a stylish, modern kitchen.
Specialised lightings for specific tasks are known as task lighting, such as a bedside reading lamp or kitchen cabinet lighting. Planned with the goal of illuminating a selected zone to a comfortable brightness level to enhance focus on details and avoid straining the eye, task lighting are often situated to shine light without casting harsh shadows. Available in multiple forms, such as lamps, pendants, and under-cabinet lighting, they can be expertly integrated into the interior design for a cohesive look.

Accent lighting

SCHUKO socket outlet, included in the room cut-out with a sophisticated interior and a floor lamp with pink feathers.
Koszykowa 24 Showroom. Credits: Jacek Kucharczyk
SCHUKO socket outlet, photographed in a room cut-out with a sophisticated interior, next to heavy violet brocade curtains and a
Aside from its functional properties, lighting can also elevate interiors as an artistic element, which is known as accent lighting. On one hand, by using spotlights or track lights, art pieces or standout objects can be highlighted, accentuating their key features. On the flipside, lightings such as intricate lamps can become the statement piece of the room themselves, adding depth and creating a sense of drama to the space. Accent lighting in either form are great additions to homes with their dynamism.

Creating a glow effect

JUNG products in the LS 990 range in Dark, made of lacquered aluminium. Ambience shot in the Changfeng Residence, Shanghai.
Changfeng Residence, Shanghai, China. Credits: JSP Architects
Series push-button in the LS 990 range in Dark, made of lacquered aluminium. Ambience shot in the Changfeng Residence, Shanghai. Shot in a passageway, with a modern bedroom in the background.
Lighting effects do not necessarily have to be created with a specific light source; the interplay between existing lighting and choice of materials can add an unexpected quality to spaces. By cladding interiors with reflective materials such as metal accents and marble floorings and wall laminates, warm light generated from ambient lighting can be amplified, creating a glowing halo effect that endows the space with opulence.

Enhancing brightness by enlarging spaces

Ambient shot in a private residence in Vilnius. Section of a room with a brick passageway, photographed in the mirrored door of a built-in wardrobe.
Private Residence in Vilnius, Lithuania. Credits: Andrej Vasilenko
Ambient shot in a private residence in Vilnius. Section of a room with a round dining table and six chairs in the foreground, all made of wood. In the background there is a brick passageway and a mirrored built-in wardrobe on the right.
Similarly, lighting can also be enhanced with the use of mirrors, which do exceptionally well in reflecting light from downlights and chandeliers. When placed next to or opposite light sources, they help brighten the space while also giving it an enlarged and airy feel. Be it with trendy floor-to-ceiling mirrors or statement mirror pieces, they can amplify both natural and artificial light.

Allowing natural light in

Push-button and SCHUKO® socket outlet in the LS 990 range in graphite black matt. Shot in a cosy window seating area. Ambience shot in the Vagabundo Tiny House, Munich.
Vagabundo Tiny House, Munich, Germany. Credits: Sophia Hünnekens
Apart from artificial light, the integration of natural light in rooms cannot be understated. The benefits of natural daylight are clear as day, from boosting vitamin D absorption to improving sleep, and should be a priority when designing for interiors. Especially relevant for existing builds where windows are fixed, special zones where residents linger, such as lofts, can be planned around the windows for maximum utilisation of the abundant natural light. Artificial light such as downlights and cove lights can also be incorporated into these zones to supplement the brightness on shady days.
While there are many different approaches to brightening up spaces, the best results are often achieved when a variety of lightings and synergistic fixtures are expertly placed and used in conjunction. By layering them, a nuanced and dynamic atmosphere can be created, adding a multi-dimensional appeal while retaining its functionality.
Ambience shot in the Koszykowa 24 showroom in Warsaw, Poland. Seating group with four black chairs standing around a round, black glass table. Decorated with a flower arrangement in green and red, under a lavish chandelier.
Koszykowa 24 Showroom. Credits: Jacek Kucharczyk
Ambience shot, modern dining room on the film set for the drama "Mrs Durian" in Gyeonggi, South Korea.