KOCHI: Lighting in homes has come a long way, from simply fixing bulbs anywhere to treating it as a work of art. It has now become a crucial element of interior design. Be it natural or artificial, lighting enhances the aesthetics of living spaces.
Shreeganesh V Nair, the founding partner of Ganesh Technical Consultancy Services, says, “There was a time when designs were all about functional lighting -- especially tungsten bulbs and fluorescent lights. Decorative lighting at the time was mainly about halogens, which were power-consuming. Even now, the concept has not changed but technological advancement brought in numerous differences.”
Improved energy efficiency has paved the way for using lighting wisely and aesthetically. Warm light or yellow light still rules as it tries to mimic the sunlight. However, designers say, nothing beats natural sunlight where all colours are sharply visible. That is why contemporary designs concentrate more on natural light, says Shreeganesh.
“LED lights have become a major part of the lighting design because of their affordability and low power consumption. They also have very good light output compared to CFLs. Then began the technical revolution of the same light emitting different colours, which is still in trend,” he adds.
Bedrooms are now taken over by warm lights which provide a cosy feel. “The white light has a glare that may disturb sleep,” he says. Warm light suits well for living rooms with floral carpets, wall paintings, or texture walls. The current trend of using complex architectural shapes is accentuated with the proper lighting technique. However, it is preferable to use white light in study rooms.
Luminaires are also modified with the aid of technology. From a flat structure that fits fluorescent tubes and conical holders of tungsten bulbs, now luminaire can be anything. “Bamboo, wood, and plastic luminaires are lightweight. Various forms and shapes have increased the limit of decorative lights. All these have provided us with the courage to bring mood lighting into our homes,” says Shreeganesh.