Lighting

Light is everywhere. It impacts our life constantly, whether we realize it or not. Lighting can influence the way you feel about a space, or yourself in the space. And just as important as the light itself, the conscious void of light adds a balance that can make a good space great. An unlit, dark area also affects your experience, it can feed into one's anxiety and increase the feeling of mystery and excitement, or add depth that brings out the beauty in the smallest of details. 

Lighting is used to define spaces, be it exterior lighting that defines a home's boundary, a chandelier above a table in an elegant dining room, or the mind numbing fluorescent glow of an office building. A perfectly lit room will draw us in while one poorly lit will send us in the other direction. It is unfortunate that lighting, in many cases, is added as an afterthought and not fully integrated into the design. Light can foster inspiration and promote happiness, but for this to happen, light in all its forms must be considered. 

Light in design should always be a driving force. Lighting can dictate layout and flow. Instead of forcing light to work, allow light to do the work for you. So, the next time you consider design, start with lighting and see where it leads you.

If we paid as much attention to light as we do to the intricate details in a work of art ... light would be art.