How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood – Daypart Scene Designs
In this series which I call “Lighting for Mood”, I draw on my experience working with many interior design companies in London to describe current best practices in this exciting area of design.
In my previous article (Lighting for Mood Part IV), I described the basics of pre-set lighting design. In this article I talk about a new movement, in use today by certain prestigious interior design companies in London: “daypart scene”; lighting design.
As mentioned in my previous article, the interior design company will often present the client with a simple switch plate with just four buttons. In daypart scene lighting designs, an interior design company will designate each scene for use during a specific part of the day. Scene one is usually bright, to be used on a dull day to compensate for London”s often-overcast skies. The interior design company will have adjusted most of the lights to full brightness and some of the very discreet effects of feature lighting, which only work when light levels are low, may even be programmed to “off”. Early evening often starts at 4pm in London during the winter– and this daypart is ideal for scene two, which features a slightly lower level of light. Interior design companies will select low voltage halogen beams for this scene, to give a crisp and fresh look to a room. Scene two”s task lighting is left slightly higher, so that cooking can still take place in the kitchen, for example – perfect for London, as homeowners and staff often prepare for soiree guests to arrive at this time.
For entertaining, scene three is suitably atmospheric. The interior design company will have pre-programmed a dimmer general light setting and will have raised the level of feature lighting to increase the contrast. This can also be effective when the client”s brief requires the interior design company to create dual-purpose rooms. For example, sometimes the kitchen needs to be transformed into a dining area (often the case in some smaller London flats), and lighting scene three can allow pots and pans to disappear into the background. For special occasions or after dinner, scene four can be more moody still, introducing a sense of cinema. Interior design companies will sometimes double-label scene four as an economy setting, providing night lights in a hallway for example.
This completes my series on “Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood”. I hope these articles have helped you understand how interior design companies in London can tailor lighting effects to suit and enhance our favourite moods.
Lily Candice is regular article writer for Interior Design London – Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
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