Light serves an essential purpose in architecture: to help us see. Whether it be through natural or artificial methods, rooms must be illuminated accordingly so occupants can safely inhabit them and fulfill their daily functions. When the right system is selected, light can also contribute to energy efficiency and sustainability within the building as a whole. However, apart from its evident functional and environmental value, lighting design can vastly impact the visual comfort and aesthetic tone of interiors by drawing attention to textures, enhancing colors and defining volumes. Therefore, of the many pieces involved in interior design, lighting is certainly one that can enhance or destroy a space and even affect users’ well-being, which is why it should be considered a crucial design element by itself.
Of course, natural light will always be the most comfortable for users since it is the source of illumination to which our eyes adapt naturally. However, most projects also require effective artificial lighting to illuminate in the dark or in areas that natural light does not reach, maximizing the functional and aesthetic quality of spaces. With so many systems available (direct, indirect, diffused, effect, and accent lighting) and their evolution with new design trends and technologies, there are endless design possibilities to choose from. With this in mind, selecting the right way to artificially illuminate a modern space – and, at the same time, enhance its architecture and unleash creativity – can be very challenging.
