Tips for perfect lighting in every room

Warm, cold, bright or muted: light creates atmosphere. And only with the right lighting planning will living become truly comfortable. Nobody feels comfortable when a lamp blinds them or shines directly on them. At the same time, no one will be left in the dark.

It's also about optimally planning and placing the lighting at home so that there are enough work areas and still create enough oases of well-being.

What are typical mistakes – and how can you avoid them?

A typical mistake that many people make when thinking about new lighting: focusing on the light too quickly. “What is overlooked is that the lighting does not only result from electric light, but is always an interaction with the surfaces,” says Cornelia Moosmann, professor at the University of Applied Science and Art in Hildesheim.

Hence her tip: First look at the room.

Central questions are:

• Are there more light or dark surfaces there? While light surfaces distribute light evenly, dark surfaces create uneven lighting in the room. Under certain circumstances, more light sources make sense.
• What will the room primarily be used for? Diffuse, softer light is suitable for a cozy atmosphere. Hard, directed light is more suitable for detailed work – such as accurate handicrafts or model making. A mix in the room is usually ideal.
• How much daylight actually comes into the room to be illuminated? This depends on how much lighting you need during the day.

Once these basic considerations have been made, it's time to get to grips with some technical terms.

What technical terms should you know before buying a lamp?

If you want to buy lamps, you should know the most important technical terms. Moosmann explains some:

• Lumens Indicates the amount of light.
• Kelvin refers to the color temperature.
• Ra index also refers to the color rendering of the lamp. It ensures that tomato soup looks red and not gray and should preferably be above a value of 90.

Tip: Cozy, reddish light is around 2300 Kelvin, while blue light is around 4000 Kelvin.

By the way: You can measure the brightness with a lux meter. Equipment in hardware stores costs less than 50 euros – some of them can also be rented. For private use, apps can provide a rough guide, even if the information provided by Moosmann is usually rather imprecise.

What is crucial about lighting so that you feel comfortable?

Lighting can do even more: create atmosphere, for example. “We differentiate between three types of lighting,” says Iris Vollmann, from the industry initiative licht.de. She lists:

• Light to see: This refers to general lighting.
• Light to look at: This includes space lighting for reading, for example.
• Light to look at: Also accent lighting that serves decorative purposes.

“If you mix these three types of lighting, you create a pleasant room atmosphere,” says Vollmann. In addition to a warm light color, low-mounted lights in the bedroom and living area also create a cozy atmosphere. “In the bedroom, only the wardrobe needs bright light,” says Moosmann.

None will be mixed. However, additional light by the bed can be useful. “It should be accessible quickly at night,” says Vollmann. For this reason, she recommends lights that have switches near the bed or can be operated by remote control.

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How many light sources in the room are recommended?

At least three light sources per roomrecommends Vollmann. But it could also be significantly more. Whether mixed together or from a design family remains a personal preference. In any case, it makes sense if light sources can be adjusted not only to your own taste, but also to your individual needs.

Especially since the need for how much light you need can vary greatly depending on your age. “When you’re young you need surprisingly little light. “From the age of 40, the need for light increases significantly,” says Moosmann, who heads the “Lighting Design” competence field.

Are there any recommendations for lighting design in the kitchen?

Despite all the differences in taste, every household should take a few aspects into account when it comes to lighting. For example in the kitchen: “There is a risk of injuries here, for example from sharp knives and hot pots. “We also need bright light,” says Vollmann. She advises Light with at least 500 lux on work surfaces.

Bright light ensures optimal conditions in the kitchen – and therefore more safety on the work surfaces.

Source: —/licht.de/Paulmann/dpa-tmn

The position of the lighting is also important in the kitchen: a simple Vollmann ceiling light is usually not enough for work surfaces. Especially because your own body can then cast shadows on the work surface – unfavorable to dangerous if you cut food there, for example, according to the expert. Instead, they are suitable Additional light sourceswhich can be mounted on the wall or under the kitchen cupboards.

By the way: The color rendering of the light is essential in both the kitchen and the dining area so that food appears natural in artificial light. This often plays a less important role in the bedroom and living area.

Which lighting conditions are ideal for working from home?

If you want to concentrate on working or reading, there should be enough light so that your eyes don't tire too quickly. Lamps with 600 to 700 lumens are ideal. The legal requirement is at least 500 lux.

A cool light color is also best for working. “A light ceiling can also make a good contribution because it makes the room even brighter and allows me to be more active,” says Moosmann.

Tip: “It’s beneficial for your eyes to look away from the screen and into the distance,” says Vollmann. In addition to the actual workplace, the rest of the room should also be illuminated so that the change from light to dark is mitigated.

Daylight progression – where does that make sense?

Both in the bathroom and in the home office, it can make sense to rely on a trend in the lighting industry: the Daylight progression. The lights can emit both bright, bluish activated light and reddish, calming light, explains Vollmann. They can be adjusted individually or react independently to the lighting conditions.

It is also important for the bathroom: As many bright surfaces as possible and as little directed light as possiblesaid Moosmann. Spots etc. cast harsh shadows on the face, emphasize the wrinkles and make applying make-up a real challenge.

RND/dpa