“Light to Walk Toward”

Here is a good exercise of creativity. Take a moment to pause. Clear your mind of whatever might be distracting you. Imagine a cold winter night, paying your friend a visit at his new house. You exit your air conditioned car and step out into harsh wind. You are walking up a long dark driveway, shivering. Your teeth chatter as you plod forward. Perhaps a lamppost lights the slick sidewalk–a welcome gesture to visitors caught in your position. You probably feel anxious to get inside and warm up. Amidst this unpleasantness, a yellow glow catches your attention. You see flickering light through the frosted glass in the entry door, promising warmth and activity. Your anxiety turns to excitement. Even before you’ve entered your friend’s home, light has played a powerful role in welcoming you. This principle of following light prevails in many well-designed homes. This example is easy to grasp; but it doesn’t stop there. We haven’t even explored indoor use of light.

​

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Light draws people because it implies activity, welcomeness, and even safety. A ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ takes advantage of that association. This effect proves most effective when the ‘tunnel’ (walkway, hallway) is intentionally low-lit. This contrast with the brighter room at the end makes the effect more dramatic.

​

Window at the End of a Hallway

Simple in concept, but used to dramatic effect, a window can transform a space. This is a straightforward method for creating that ‘light’ at the end of the ‘tunnel.’ A window allows daylight in, and a view out into the bright outdoors. A long hallway can be a tricky space to design; normal lighting just draws attention to the narrowness of the space, but you can’t just keep it dark either. A bright outdoor view is the perfect solution to invite people, drawing attention to and endpoint or doorway.

​

​

Lighted Picture at the End of a Vista (129)

Though aesthetically pleasing, windows are not always a feasible design measure. Well-lit artwork or framed pictures make for a brilliant substitute. The picture provides an engaging focal point to approach. This application of light is a clever and cost-effective remedy to a drab view at the end of a hallway.

​

​

Window at the End of a Main Axis (129)

We’ve touched on hallways a lot. However, a main visual axis of any kind can use this effect of ending a view with light. For example, imagine a large space that contains two rooms. This is common with a dining room and a kitchen; no wall separates them, but the boundary is implied. Or maybe it isn’t; two areas with a weak separation can create a disorderly effect when you first walk in. But place a window opposite to the space’s entrance, and you create a centered focal point. Though it’s not at the end of a literal hallway, the light source suggests a walkway–an axis between rooms.

​

​

“Reflecting Surfaces” (143)

Reflections are a powerful tool for the home designer. Clever light placement can turn virtually any surface, walls, mirrors, ceiling, into a beautiful light source. It’s all about angles. Let’s explore the simple yet useful techniques and effects of reflective surfaces.

​

​

Wall Washing (144)

In photography, there is a term for when the photo is too bright known as “washed out.” Photos of this sort are usually a mistake. Put simply, washed out photos are the result of too much light. The result is a whited-out picture, like all of the color has been rubbed or ‘washed’ away. However, in home design, this washing of light is actually quite appealing. Whenever a window or skylight is placed directly perpendicular to a wall or ceiling, incoming daylight reflects strongly off the surface. This carries extra light into the room, and makes the surface as bright as a light fixture. Light colored walls are especially effective at this.

​

​

Reflective Ceiling (144)

Similar to wall washing, but on the ceiling. When you place a window’s top edge flush with the ceiling, the entire surface becomes a reflector. This technique is most effective with incoming light parallel to the ceiling, such as sunrise/sunset. Light reflected from the ground can also play a factor; the lighter the outside ground is, the more light comes in. Homes near bodies of water receive extra light from this angle, and in some cases the rippling water reflects patterns of light on the ceiling for stunning results.

​

​

Hidden Light Source (145)

This is a special technique that hides the light source from immediate sight, only showing the reflection to be visible. For example, a long ceiling shaft topped with a skylight lets down strong light that hits a reflective surface. This technique is a trademark of religious buildings, as it gives a sense of mystery and wonder.

​

​

Light Coves (145)

Another technique to use the ceiling as a reflector is to light it from a cove from the wall below it. The light from these coves is attractive as a gentle reflected glow. This effect is especially attractive in the darker times of day such as evenings. A key detail for this technique is to keep the light sources at least 4 inches from the reflecting surface to avoid “hot spots” of bright light that can look like lighting mistakes.

​

​

Doubling the Space (146)

Walls and ceilings make for great reflectors. However, let’s not overlook the obvious: mirrors! These reflect light and view, and are the secret to a special technique to add space to a room. Effective mirror placement can make you feel that the room is larger than it actually is. The bathroom is a popular example. Placing a mirror that spans to the edges of the wall or backsplash creates an illustrious second half to the bathroom that opens up the space.

​

​

“Visual Weight” (159)

In basic terms, visual weight refers to the use of color and texture to differentiate elements in a room from one another. This visual contrast is a subtle yet important tool for shaping the impression of your rooms and giving them personality. For example, the oppressiveness of a low ceiling can be countered by making its surface a light color with a smooth texture. Both attributes enhance the ceiling’s reflected  light, making the whole room feel more expansive.

​

​

Colored Wall (160)

A wall that is painted a darker color than the surrounding walls stands out as important. This technique is great for giving a space a distinct ambience from the rest of the home. A dark red color emits warmth; a dark blue impresses calm and thought; orange is vibrant and playful.

​

​

Dark Colored Ceiling (160)

Whether a hue of paint or a naturally darker material, a darker ceiling has a heavier impression. This will make the ceiling feel lower than it actually is. This effect may seem like a negative, but it depends on the situation. Some rooms can feel too tall. A simple layer of dark-colored paint can solve the issue, adding visual weight and a strengthened sense of shelter to the room.

​

​

Subtle Color Difference (161)

Though visual weight typically refers to strong contrast between colors/textures, some scenarios call for subtlety. When a little visual weight is desirable, a small contrast can be the solution. For example, white door trim on a white wall doesn’t stand out very well. A layer of paint can fix this, but a darker color may be too stark a contrast. A soft tint of gray preserves the lightness of the walls, yet provides a slight contrast to the full-white trim, achieving a balance of visual weight.