Next to function, I consider lighting to be the next important aspect of interior design, even before the design style. A good lighting layout can make an average-looking space impressive. Tactile finishes, decorative features, and accessories won’t look as great without proper lighting. But sometimes, less is the way to go. A dim room welcoming me after a long day of work is what I need after sitting in front of the screen for the whole day. A singular table lamp in the living room helps me wind down and ease into the evening. Whether relaxing, reading, or setting up an intimate get-together, good mood lighting can help create a different atmosphere.
WHAT IS MOOD LIGHTING?
As the word suggests, mood lighting is about creating an atmosphere in a room through lights. I would consider this the opposite of task lighting and is often a soft, dispersed glow. In this post, I will discuss various ways to achieve mood lighting in different parts of the home.
WAYS TO ACHIEVE MOOD LIGHTING
FLOOR AND TABLE LAMPS
This is the most flexible option as it can be bought from shops. There are many styles and materials to choose from that could easily fit any design identity. Most of the time it has easily replaceable bulbs that can be bought from depots.
Light temperature, or the color emitted by the bulb is integral to how the space will feel. Opt for warm white or even natural white to create a cozy atmosphere. Choose clear bulbs for brighter illumination, frosted ones for a diffused glow, and colored bulbs for something playful.
The material and shape of the lampshade will dictate how the light will spread in the room. A standard table or floor lamp with cylindrical shade will illuminate the floor, ceiling, and surrounding walls which creates a cozy corner for reading or some armchair hobbies. Conical shades illuminate the floor more and are great for highlighting accessories on the side table or the floor.
Even though uncommon, uplight lamps are a fabulous source of mood lighting. As the name suggests, uplight illuminates the upper portion of the wall and the ceiling. This indirect illumination will create a cozier space and is much more conducive for winding down or intimate conversations.
DESK LAMPS FOR MOOD LIGHTING
Before I studied interior design, I had always thought a desk lamp was similar to a table lamp. I soon discovered that it is used as task lighting for various activities done over a desk – be it reading, working, or anything that requires a focused beam of light hence the name.
If the room is devoid of light, having this light source can be dramatic as it can highlight a spot in the room. What’s great is that most desk lamps have adjustable shades and arms that pivot which makes them versatile. It can pointed to the ground, wall, or ceiling as an uplight. It can be moved from one spot to another allowing more ways to achieve mood lighting.
WALL LAMPS
It can illuminate things on the wall or something nearby – art, sculpture, or a textural wall. I love highlighting tactile surfaces through wall lamps to create glimpses of the textures. Wall lamps usually emit a weaker glow perfect for small spaces like hallways or toilets. A larger room might require layering more lights for proper illumination.
DIMMABLE LIGHTS
Based on the residential projects I handled, it is surprisingly uncommon for homeowners to request this which could be due to the lack of familiarity. It is a shame as dimmable lights can easily change the mood of the space with a few twists of the switch.
I remember when exposed filament-type bulbs in industrial burst chandeliers were a trend and making it dimmable can easily transform the space into something cozy. Even the bright general lights can be dimmed to achieve mood lighting. Make sure that the fixtures are dimmable when purchasing bulbs.
NATURAL LIGHT AS MOOD LIGHTING
Mood lighting is usually associated with artificial light sources like the examples above. However, mood lighting can also be achieved through natural light with a proper setup that requires planning ahead of time.
This can be achieved through intentional architectural features where light sources are identified and filtered to achieve drama. I remember seeing a home during one of my work research where the outdoor hallway has solid wood louvered panels that swivel to control the amount of light that goes inside the room.
SCULPTURAL PENDANT LIGHTS OR CHANDELIERS
There was an interior design reality show in 2007 called Top Design. One of the episodes is about designing a room around a Swarovski chandelier. A contestant got a long emerald-colored chandelier if I recall correctly. It was a dilemma at first as it was practically the same height as the room.
Since it cannot be placed in the middle of the room as one would expect a statement chandelier to be installed, it was placed in a corner instead. This was the first time I encountered it back then, and that’s why it stuck in my head. It made the chandelier stand out nonetheless even though it is in a corner.
The same can be done in a home. A statement chandelier, especially one with multiple bulbs, installed in the center or any part of a room can be a great source of mood lighting. It can also double as a conversation starter.
COVE LIGHTS
This is a staple to my projects whether residential, commercial, or workspaces. Cove lights lend a soft glow because of its indirect lighting. I use it to add softness and warmth to a “cold and sterile” environment. It is usually wired separately from the general lighting so users will have the flexibility to shift the mood of the space.
Switching to just cove light in an office can transform it into a more casual loungy atmosphere perfect for after-work drinks or in-office celebrations. In homes, a room with just a cove light on would create a relaxing atmosphere.
Sometime during the pandemic, there is a trend where pulsing RGB strip lights illuminate rooms, a trend most likely popularized by streamers. I wasn’t a big fan of making a room look like the inside of a PC unit, but then I realized it was only the crude application that made it unappealing to me.
Using vibrant-colored lighting in a room can easily transform it into something dynamic or cozy. There are lighting fixtures now that can be controlled through an app where a huge spectrum of colors can be achieved, even pastels. Even though it is a bit pricey, the possibilities for creating different moods through lights are endless!
LAYERING MOOD LIGHTING
Combining multiple light sources with different levels of illumination and colors is the best way to achieve mood lighting in a room. One light source can create a cozy atmosphere but the brightness might be insufficient. Having multiple light fixtures produces different points of interest in a room that can blend to achieve a particular mood.
