How strange: light, whether from a natural or artificial source, is simply there. We take it in with many of our senses and it affects us at the deepest levels. We need it to live and to read, to walk and to marvel. It is no wonder then, that in the story of creation it was called into being on the very first day.

We see light itself, but the only thing we can touch is an illuminant, i.e. what is commonly called a lamp. It is these two so very different sides that make lighting design particularly interesting and challenging: visible and at once invisible at, visually perceived forms, effects that impact our sense of well-being.

Emotional escape. Private living fulfils many needs. Its emotional component is hard to grasp – just like light itself. A home is so much more than just four walls, bolted together to form a flat. But you cannot simply go out and buy an atmosphere that offers security, that lets you relax and let go. This is where lighting design come in.

Whereas in the past a well thought-out lighting design was common practice in commercial properties for functional reasons, the tide has now turned. Today, interior designers as well as inhabitants have understood that in private living, the ambience can be greatly enhanced with the right lighting. Or not.

Intelligent lighting design is so much more than just installing beautiful luminaires for decorative purposes. Today, you can work with a whole range of lighting options: decorative light such as table lamps, pendant lights, wall lights, etc. and technical light, frequently in the form of tracks with spots.

Our Trend Team has just returned from Europe’s largest lighting fair. Every few years, the latest developments are presented at Light & Building in Frankfurt.

One trend that interior designers have repeatedly implemented in private homes involves indirect lighting. Direct lighting sometimes puts too much of a focus on a small area of the room. In these cases, basic illumination can come up short.

What exactly is indirect light? All surfaces in a room reflect light. They do this in different ways, depending on their materials and colours. This creates a basic illumination in the room that has an even effect throughout the room, casts only few shadows and prevents glare.

With such indirect light, the actual light source is hardly visible, if at all. It can even be hidden as an LED strip behind a wall protrusion, a suspended ceiling, a cupboard, under a shelf or a bed, in a wall recess, or behind the skirting board.

Functional light is required for concrete tasks. When it comes to cooking, reading and working, we need targeted, effective lighting.

Indirect light, on the other hand, sets the mood. Interior designers always design indirect lighting first before moving on to targeted and decorative lighting.

Playing with shadows. Wall luminaires offer a special form of indirect lighting. They come in a wide variety of forms and functionalities. Many give off both direct and indirect light. Their light cone can often be adjusted individually: upwards, downwards, both at the same time or not, narrow or wide, with diagonal offsets, etc. The result is that light itself becomes a design element instead of merely remaining a background functionality.

As part of an interior design concept, indirect lighting must be planned right from the start. Electrical planning is then adapted accordingly – an effort that is most definitely worthwhile. Rooms with indirect lighting appear well thought-out, carefully planned with expertise, and modern.

Decorative luminaires are almost always offered as a family. Pendant, table, and wall lamps, all with a similar design, in different sizes or colours. Skilfully combined, they themselves act as a design element in the room, just as you would coordinate bags, belts, and shoes for a good fashion outfit.

So one option is to combine different types from one family. Another possibility is to arrange several identical luminaires as a group.

Biophilic design. Organic shapes have been a hot topic in interior design for quite some time now. Its popularity is explained by the fact that people tend to feel more comfortable in natural-looking environments. Organic, rounded forms fall into this pattern. When it comes to decorative lighting, we also see many organic designs that seem to come straight from nature.