LIGHTING

IN INTERIOR
DESIGN
DAYLIGHTING & ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING
SENSE TO UNDERTSAND &
FORM
 TO LEARN OUR LIVING SPACES, IN MOVING AROUND THE SPACES AND TO
LOCATE OUR OBJECTS – THE SENSE WE USE IS VISION

 THE MOST USEFUL SENSE :VISION

TO FORM MENTAL IMAGES, IMPRESSIONS, EMOTIONS

TO MAKE SPACE MORE UNDERSTANDABLE AND MEMORABLE

 LIGHTING SUPPORTS:

CONVENIENCE, COMFORT & EMOTIONAL REACTIONS(MOOD)

SIGNIFICANCE
 A STAGE DESIGNER USES LIGHTING AS THE IMPORTANT TOOL
 TO CREATE FOCUS, ILLUSIONS AND TO ESTABLISH AN EXPERIENCE

 UNLIKE WALL, FLOOR, OBJECTS - LIGHTING IS CONTROLLABLE AND

MODIFIABLE.

 INORDER TO SUBTLE / EMPHASIZE A CHARACTER

 TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL CHARACTER TO A SPACE
 TO ACHIEVE
 TO SET A DESIRED MOOD OR
ATMOSPHERE.
 DIMLIGHT – RESTAURANTS AND COZY
EFFECT
 BRIGHT LIGHT - FASTFOOD AND BUSINESS
LIKE SPACES
 TO DIRECT OR CONCENTRATE
ATTENTION
 BRIGHTLY LIT AREAS WITHIN A DIM LIT
SPACE DRAW FOCUS
 LIKE PRODUCTS DISPLAYED
 LIKE DINING TABLE LIT IN A SPACE
 TO ACHIEVE MORE FOCUS ON A WORK
DESK
TO CONTROL SHADING & SHADOW TO AID
THE VIEWER IN SEEING FORM AND TEXTURE
• DIFFUSE LIGHT FLATTEN AN OBJECT
• SHARP SHADOWS EMPHASIZE THE
FORMS
• A STRONG CROSS LIGHT BRINGS OUT
THE TEXTURE
TO EMPHASIZE OR MODIFY SPATIAL
PERCEPTION
• A DARK CEILING APPEARS LOWERS
• A LIGHT CEILING APPEARS MOVING
TOWARDS THE SKY
CHRONOLOGY
 DAYLIGHT THROUGH WINDOWS AND SKYLIGHTS WAS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF
LIGHTING
 AUXILIARY LIGHTING FROM OPEN FIRES, CANDLES & LAMPS
 SIMPLE IN NATURE, VERY LIMITED IN CONTROL & QUALITY.

 ELECTRIC LIGHT – EFFICIENT & EFFECTIVE

 STARTED AS NIGHTLIGHTING AND LATER BECAME PRIMARY SOURCE OF LIGHT.
 COME IN HAND IN SPACES LIKE WINDOWLESS SPACES, LIFESTYLE WHERE ONLY NIGHTS ARE
SPENT AT HOMES.
 SOURCES OF LIGHTING – (INCANDESCENT, FLUORESCENT, SO ON)
 PORTABLE LAMPS & FIXED LIGHTING FIXTURE – WIDE RANGE OF CONTROL OVER
LOCATION, INTENSITY, QUALITY OF LIGHTING OUPTUT
 HAVE INFLUENCE OVER FACADES LIKE WINDOW GLAZING, WINDOW TREATMENTS LIKE
BLINDS, SHADES & CURTAINS.
VISION & LIGHTING
MANUAL BOOK TO GUIDE
 FACTORS DEPENDING ON SHADING, SHADOW, LIMITATION OF BRIGHTNESS CONTRAST,
COLOR QUALITY, LEVEL OF INTENSITY.

CONSIDERATIONS OF GOOD LIGHTING :

 LIGHT LEVEL
 CONTROL OF BRIGHTNESS, CONTRAST & GLARE
WHEN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BRIGHTEST AND DIMMEST POINTS WITH IN A VISUAL FIELS
IS NOT EXTREME, THE EYE NEED NOT TO STRUGGLE TO FIND A COMPROMISE ADJUSTMENT.
 EXCESSIVE BRIGHTNESS IS GLARE.
 VEILING REFLECTION – GLOSSY FINISH AND GLARE
VISION & LIGHTING
 CONTRAST & DIFFUSION
 SHADE AND SHADOW EMPHASIZE FORM BUT CONCEAL THE DETAILINGS.
 STRONG SOURCE OF LIGHTING LIKE INTENSED OR FOCUSED, PRODUCE SHADE
& SHADOW.
 EXAMPLE SUN

 DIFFUSED LIGHT DIMINISH OR BLOCK OUT SHADING

 EXAMPLE CLOUDY SKY
SITUATIONS
HIGH CONTRAST POINT SOURCE LIGHTING – DRAWS ATTENTION, ACCENTS
FORM & TEXTURE.

DIFFUSE LIGHT – PROMOTES GOOD GENERAL VISION BUT MAY SEEM DRAB AND
CHARACTLESS

ABSENCE OF SHADOWS – LEADS TO DISTORT 3D DEPTH PERCEPTION

ECONOMIC ISSUES - DAYLIGHT IS FREE | BUT LARGER WINDOWS ADMIT HUGE

HEAT GAIN IN SUMMER AND ESCAPE WINTER HEAT OUT. WHICH EVENTUALLY
REFLECTS A LOAD ON AIR-CONDITIONING.
DAYLIGHTING
TO ADMIT DAYLIGHTING
1. LOCATION & ORIENTATION OF THE BUILDING.
2. WINDOWS – DETAILING IN SIZE, SHAPE, HEIGHT, POSITION, FRAMING &
OPENING
3. EXTERNAL SHADING LIKE OVERHANGS, SUNDSHADES, AWNINGS, NEARBY
TREES AND BUILDINGS.
4. DRAW FEW ISSUES LIKE NOISE, LOSS OF PROVACY, HEAT GAIN OR LOSS.
DAYLIGHTING
TO CONTROL DAYLIGHTING :
MULTIPLE GLAZING : 2 OR 3 GLASS LAYERS FACTORY ASSEMBLES INTO A SANDWICH.
VACCUUM SPACE IN-BETWEEN MINIMIZE HEAT LOSS AND PERMIT JUST LIGHT TO PASS THROUGHT.
ORIENTATION:
 NORTH – DIRECT SUN, RECEIVE COOL AND CONSISTENT LIGHT
 EAST – STRONG SUNLIGHT EARLY IN THE MORNING AND LOSE THE SUNLIGHT BEFORE
NOON.
 WEST – RECEIVES LATER AFTERNOON SUN AND TOO MUCH SUMMER SUN.
 SOUTH – ADVANTAGE OF RECEIVING SUN THROUGHOUT THE DAY WHERE ANGLES BEING
MODIFIED ACCORDING TO THE SEASONS.
 WINTER – LOW SUN ANGLE GIVES MAXIMUM HEAT GAIN AND LIGHT.
 SUMMER – HIGH ANGLE REDUCES SUN’S PENETRATION PRECISELY. | GIVES FAVORABLE LIGHTING,
PLEASANTNESS AND CONTROLLABILITY.
WINDOW TREATMENTS
 CONTROLLING ON WINDOWS – BLINDS, SHADES, CURTAININGS.

 PLACING FURNITURES – KEEP BRIGHT WINDOWS OUT OF THE FIELD OF VISION

OF A PERSON DOING A TASK LIKE READING, WRITING SEWING.

“LIGHT COMING FROM OVER THE LEFT SHOULDER” REMAINS IDEAL.

SAME FOR LEFT HANDED PEOPLE, LIGHT SHOULD BE FROM RIGHT SHOULDER.
PLANNING OF LIGHT -
ARTIFICIAL
1. DEFINE THE GENERAL AIMS IN TERMS OF CHARACTER AND ATMOSPHERE? –
BUSINESSLIKE, EFFICIENT, RESTFUL, COZY ?
2. CONSIDER THE SPECIFIC PURPOSES FOR WHICH LIGHTING IS REQUIRED.
ACTIVITIES INVOLVED LIKE WORKING, READING, WATCHING TV, COOKING,SO ON. MULTIPURPOSE MEANS
VARIED/CHANGEABLE LIGHTING.

3. ASCERTAIN THE INTENSITY LEVELS FOR PROPER VISION AND BALANCE THESE
AGAINST ENERGY AND FIRST-INSTALLATION COSTS AND OTHER FACTORS TO DECIDE
ON LIGHTING TYPE. EFFICIENCY AT ALL DIMENSIONS
EXAMPLE : FLUORESECNT LIGHT – FACTORY EFFICIENT BUT DRAWS PSYCHOLOGICAL AND VISUAL
PROBLEMS.

4. SELECT FIXTURES BASED ON GENERAL AIMS AND SPECIFIC NEEDS

5. PLACE FIXTURES

REFLECTED CEILING PLAN DEALS WITH LIGHTING DETAILINGS.

 LIGHTING NEEDS
 TASK LIGHTING
 GENERAL LIGHTING (AMBIENT LIGHTING)
 SPECIAL LIGHTING (ACCENT LIGHTING)

 LEVEL OF ILLUMINATION – MEASURED IN CANDELAS

BRIGHTNESS CONTRAST

BETWEEN A VISUAL TASK AND ITS IMMEDIATE SURROUND, NO MORE

THAN 1:3
BETWEEN A VISUAL TASK AND ITS MORE DISTANT(GENERAL) SURROUND,
NO MORE THAN 1:5
BETWEEN A VISUAL TASK AND A REMOTE DARK SPACE , NO MORE THAN
1:10
 LIGHTING FOR AGEING
POPULATION
 VISUAL ACUITY DECLINES WITH ADVANCING AGE AND VISUAL PROBLEMS BECOME MORE
COMMON AMONG MEMBERS OF OLDER AGE GROUPS.
 INCREASE IN OLDER PEOPLE BEING ACTIVE BOTH IN WORK FORCE AND HOMES – CALLS FRO
AWARENESS OF ADEQUATE LIGHT LEVELS TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF OLDER PEOPLE AND OF
VISUALLY IMPAIRED OF ANY AGE.
CONSIDERATIONS:
 ADJUSTABLE LIGHTING LEVELS.
 INCREASED USE OF LIGHTING DEVICES THAT CAN BE PULLED CLOSER FOR TASKING.
 MORE APPROPRIATE IN WORKPLACES AND RESIDENTIAL PLACES, HOSPITALS, MEDICAL
ESTABLISHMENTS, RETIREMENT COMMUNITY RESIDENCES AND SOCIAL SERVICE FACILTIES
FOR ELDERLY - COMPARING TO STORES, RESTAURANTS , HOTELS,ETC
 ELEVATED LIGHTING LEVELS IN BATHROOMS AND STIARCASE
 SENSORED/AUTOMATED LIGHTINGS ARE PROVIDED MORE.
 MANUAL SWITCHES LOCATED AT LOWER POSITIONS ARE APPROPRIATE FOE WHEEL CHAIR
USERS.
SPECIAL-PURPOSE LIGHTING -
OFFICE
ALLOW VERY LITTLE OR NO DAYLIGHT , ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING BECOMES MORE
PRIMARY ILLUMINTION SPACE.
OVERALL LIGHTING DELIVERING A STANDARD LIGHTING IN 1950’S AND 1960’S –
BELIEVED TO PROMOTE EFFICIENCY : CREATE GLARE AND WASTEFUL OF
ENERGY ON SPACES WITH NO HIGH NEED OF LIGHTING LIKE STORAGES,
CIRCULATIONS, SEATINGS,ETC.
TASK-AMBIENT LIGHTING : TASK- DESKTOPS, AMBIENT – REST OF THE SPACES.
(CIRCULATION AND NON-TASK AREAS_
AMBIENT LIGHTING – LIGHTING SUPPLIED INDIRECTLY FROM FIXTURES AIMED
UPWARD TO REFLECT OFF THE CEILING.
SPECIAL-PURPOSE LIGHTING -
OFFICE
GLARE CAN BE ELIMINATED BY USAGE OF LENSES
WITH PARABOLIC REFLECTORS.
VEILING RELFLECTIONS CAN BE AVOIDED BY
PLACING ANGLES OF VIEW TOWARD TASK AND
INCIDENCE IS NOT THE SAME – BUT SIDEWAYS WITH
LOCAL SWITCHES FOR EBNERGY SAVINGS.
LIGHTING NEAR THE GLASS OF SCREENS CREATES
GLARE – AVOIDED BY SHEILDING THE SCREEN BY
CAREFUL PLACEMENT OF FIXTURES.
SPECIAL-PURPOSE LIGHTING -
HEALTHCARE
 LIGHTING IN HOSPITALS, CLINICS AND MEDICAL OFFICES INVOLVE A COMPLEX
VARIETY OF ISSUES CONCERNING THE COMFORT AND WELL-BBING OF THE PATIENTS.
 WAITING AREA & CIRCULATION – MODERATE (30-50 FOOTCANDLES)
 PATIENTS ROOMS – DRAB GENERAL LIGHTING AT LOW LEVELS WITH DIFFERING
INTENSITIES (30-50 FOOTCANDLES)
 MEDICAL CONSULTING OFFICES – AMBIENT (60-100 FOOT CANDLES)
 EXAMINATIONS & TREATMENT ROOMS – HIGHEST LEVEL(100 OR MORE
FOOTCANDLES)
 GOOD LIGHTING PROMOTE GOOD HEALING & HELP TO REDUCE ANXIETY AND
DISCOMFORT OF PATIENTS ANF FAMILIES.
SPECIAL-PURPOSE LIGHTING - RETAIL STORES AND
SHOWROOMS
 AMBIENCE OF STORE AND APPEARANCE OF MERCHANDISE ON DISPLAY STRONGLY
AFFECT CUSTOMERS’ DECISIONS ABOUT PURCHASING.
 BASIC LEVEL OF 100 FOOTCANDLES IS COMMON AND SPOTLIGHTS ON PRODUCTS
WILL BE 500 FOOTCANDLES.
RAPID TURNOVER AND LOWER PRICES – HIGH-INTENSITY LEVELS.
BETTER-QUALITY MERCHANDISE( MIN. BARGAINIG CONCEPT) – AMBIENT LIGHT (50-
70 FOOTCANDLES)
BRIGHTLY LIT ACCENT DISPLAYS WITH PERIMETER LIGHTING – 100-300
FOOTCANDLES) – FOCUS ON SEASONAL PROMOTIONS.
SPECIALTY SHOPS – LIKE A PRIVATE HOTEL OR CLUB. GENERAL LIGHTING(20-40 FC),
ACTUAL MERCHANDISE (UPTO 60FC) AND FOCUS DISPLAYS (100-200 FC)
SPECIAL-PURPOSE LIGHTING - RETAIL STORES AND
SHOWROOMS
GLITTER PRODUCTS LIKE JEWEL, PHOTOGRAPH, SMALL APPLIANCES – HIGH
INTENSED LIGHTING.

FURNITURES, RUGS, TEXTILES – SOFTER LIGHTING.

AUTOMOBILES – HIGHLIGHTS TO MAKE CAR BODIES HANDSOME AND

EXCITING.POINT LIGHTING TO PROVIDE GLEAMING EFFECTS FOR ATTRACTION.

SUPERMARKETS AND FOOD EATERIES – SENSITIVE TO LIGHT-COLOR

CHARACTERISTICS.
STANDARD FLUORESCENT MAKES IT LOOK GREY AND UNAPPETIZING.
RED AND PINK TONES – ASSOCIATED WITH FRESHNESS.
SPECIAL-PURPOSE LIGHTING -
RESTAURANTS
 PARALLEL TO MERCHANDISE LIGHTING.

 LIGHTING IN RESTAURANTS INFLUNCE THE APPEARNCE, APPETIZING, CUSTOMER

SATISFACTION.
 FAST-FOOD OUTLETS- INIFORM BRISK LIGHTING

 TABLE SERVICES – MID-RANGE AMBIENT LIGHTING (30-50 FC)

 SPECIALAIZE / GOURMET QUALITY – LIGHTING AT LOWER LEVELS – FOR ELEGANT AND

ROMANTIC ATMOSPHERE.
TABLE LITTED AND SEATINGS DIMMER.

 WALL ILLUMINATION WITH WALL DÉCOR RAISE THE AMBIENT LIGHTING.

 BARS AND BACK-BARS : STRONG LIGHTING DIRECTED ON BAR TOPS AND BACK BAR DISPLAYS
WHERE THE GLITTER OF BOTTLES AND GLASSWARE GENERATED BY POINT-SOURCE LIGHTING
ADDS TO LIVELY AND INTIMATE COMFORT.
AUXILIARY STRONG LIGHTING SHOULD BE PROVIDED IN ANY DIMLY LIT RESTAUARNTS FOR CLEANING
AND MAINTENNACE WORK DONE BEFORE AND AFTER SERVING HOURS.
TYPES OF LIGHT PRODUCED
 INCANDESCENT LIGHT
 FLUORESCENT LIGHT
 HIGH-INTENSITY DISCHARGE LIGHT
 NEON
 COLD CATHODE
 MERCURY AND SODIUM
 LASER LIGHT
 FIBER OPTICS
 COLOR-CHARACTERISTICS
FIXTURE PLACEMENT &
LOCATION
ARCHITECTURAL AND PORTABLE LIGHTING
TYPES :
 CONCENTRATING (UP, DOWN, BOTH, MANY/ALL DIRECTIONS) - ADJUSTABLE
 DIFFUSING (UP, DOWN, BOTH, MANY/ALL DIRECTIONS)

 TABLE : SHADED INCADESCENT LAMPS, GLOBE LAMPS, REFLECTOR LAMPS,

UPLIGHTS/TORCHERES
 WALL MOUNTED – WALL BRACKETS WALL MOUNTED REFLECTPR LAMPS, UPLIGHTS
 CEILING LIGHTS – DOWNLIGHTS, EYEBALL AND WALL WASHER ADJUSTABLE UNITS,
HANGING FIXTURES, CHANDELIERS.
 SURFACE MOUNTED AND RECESSED LUMINAIRES, TRACK LIGHTING
 BUILT-IN LIGHTING – COVE, LUMINOUS CEILINFS, INTEGRATED CEILING SYSTEMS.
 MISC- CLIP-ON PHOTO LIGHTS, LUXO LAMPS, ANTIQUE REPRODUCTIONS.
FIXTURE PLACEMENT &
LOCATION
FIXTURE PLACEMENT &
LOCATION
FIXTURE PLACEMENT &
LOCATION
CODE AND REGULATIONS
 SCHOOL DESKS – 50-60 FC

 LIMITS TO ELECTRICAL CONSUMPTION

 COMMON LIMIT IS 3 WATTS PER SQUARE FOOT

 IN URBAN SET-UP, EVEN TO 2 OR 1.5 WATTS PER SQUARE FOOT
IADL - INTERNATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF LIGHTING
DESIGNERS 
Founded in 1969 and based in Chicago,
IL, USA, the International Association of
Lighting Designers (IALD) is an
internationally recognized organization
dedicated solely to the concerns of
independent, professional lighting
designers.
 The IALD strives to set the global
standard for lighting design excellence
by promoting the advancement and
recognition of professional lighting
designers.