How you feel can change in the blink of an eye or at the flick of a switch. Literally speaking, changing your mood with light can be best described as slipping into the calm of candlelight or buzzing at the feeling of sun rising on an early morning. Setting the mood, as it’s called, is such a powerful transition in time, where change becomes noticeable. We’ve thought a lot about how lighting a space can make or break your memory of it. So it’s no surprise that Ampersand is filled with it, from ambient mood to natural daylight – so much so, we named an entire studio on our second floor after it. With all that said, we put aside a few points to share that should help ‘Lighten the Mood’.
WHERE IS LIGHTING MOST EFFECTIVE
It can be used in any room to enhance the space you are in. You need task lighting to go about your daily life, like under cabinets in your kitchen to see when you’re chopping or the ceiling light in your lounge. It’s often used to soften the decor in a room or highlight it.
TWO ROOMS THAT NEED IT MOST
Your dining area and bedroom are the two rooms you that you spend the most time in, so make them count.
By placing lighting effectively, you can double down and dim or turn off the main light to offer a softer feeling when you are entertaining friends in the dining room or relaxing in the your bedroom at night.
WHAT’S TOO BRIGHT? WHAT’S WARM VS COOL LIGHT?
Your main light in a room can also be used to create mood lighting, especially if you use a dimmer where the combination can provide a flexible solution. It can be used at full brightness for task lighting throughout the day and then dimmed in the evening to provide inviting mood lighting.
The bulb itself can be warmer, white toned or more blue. We often go with warmth and softness to play with adding or subtracting light when needed.
Offering multiple lighting sources also casts different shadows and shades around the room which can change the feeling and mood from one part to another.
Last point, the easiest thing to do is pair your light with your interiors colors to make the most of the rooms decor style look and feel.