How Lighting Design Enhances the Colors in Your Home

Make Walls, Furniture, and Artwork ‘Pop’ with Lighting Design 

Have you ever picked out a paint color at the store that you loved, only to discover it looks completely different on your walls? A slate green may turn out gray, while the violet paint in your daughter’s bedroom looks more like a rose pink. 

You can apply the same color in two rooms and achieve different results—all because of a space's lighting conditions. Light can significantly influence our perception of colors, which is why lighting design is crucial in any new home build or interior design project.

Natural and artificial light has the power to make colors appear brighter, darker, warmer, cooler, more vibrant, or neutral. Let’s explore how lighting design can impact the colors in your Zionsville, IN, home and overall improve your living space. 

SEE ALSO: The Benefits of Layered Lighting in a Home’s Design 

First, What Is Lighting Design? 

Lighting design is the art of intentionally applying light sources to create an aesthetic and functional ambiance. It's more than just fixtures; it involves strategic placement, intensity control, and understanding how different light temperatures can transform your home’s look and feel.

How Lighting Affects Color 

Sunlight is the most natural, purest form of light, but even that isn’t consistent. As the day progresses, sunlight changes in intensity, altering how colors appear. For instance, green walls might look bright during the day but seem darker at night. By choosing the right LED color temperature and brightness, you can control color perception, so you’ll enjoy the hues you desire. 

The Role of Brightness & Color Temperature

Your lighting settings can transform how wallpaper, wall paint, artwork, and furniture appear. Low brightness levels will neutralize colors, while brighter lights intensify colors. Cool-toned lights will emphasize blues, violets, and greens while dulling orange and red tones. Alternatively, warm-hued lights will emphasize the reds, yellows, and tans in your house.  

Pastel and pale colors reflect more light than deeper color tones, so if you have white walls, we may not direct as much light on the surface as we would in a dark room. We use smart lighting systems to intelligently adjust the color, brightness, and beam width of fixtures to achieve the perfect lighting conditions. 

Selecting Light Fixtures for Lighting Design 

The type of light fixture you use will also influence the color perception in a room. Here’s how we use different fixtures in a lighting design:  

Wall Sconces: Cast beams of light toward the wall or ceiling to provide indirect lighting and a soft effect.

Lampshades: The color and material of a lampshade can change the color and intensity of a light.

Downlights: These send light straight down from the ceiling. They're great for lighting up work areas but can make ceilings and upper walls appear darker.

Linear Lights: A striking line of brightness can draw attention to colors on specific furnishings or architectural details. 

A professional lighting design can transform a plain interior into an eye-catching, atmospheric home. If you’re interested in lighting design services in the Zionsville area, contact The Premier Group here to get started!