What is indirect lighting?

The goal that most interior designers try to achieve is to distribute and harness natural light to create a ethereal space without wasting energy.

 

Well designed interiors make the most of daylight and artificial light to create free flowing spaces with poetic effects in interior lighting. The beauty and the quality of any space can only be appreciated with good lighting. Le Corbusier defined architecture as 'Sculpture Seen Under the Light'.

One needs a good understanding and appreciation of good lighting to bring out the best in any interior design and architecture. Light is also one of the most effective means to alter the character of space in any interiors. To design good lighting is not only a skill, but also an art.

What is indirect lighting?
Indirect lighting is natural sunlight or artificial light that is diffused to eliminate the heat factor. This is achieved by obstructing direct light by means of a surface that will absorb the heat and throw our or disperse the light alone uniformly inside the room. In order to achieve this effect with sunlight requires a good study of various light entry points of a given room and selecting surfaces that will absorb the heat but at the same time reflect a lot of light to the interiors.

 

 

With artificial lighting you can select the number of light sources, which can then be creatively be hidden using shaders and other design elements, so that the light spots can be directed towards reflective surfaces.

An easy way to achieve indirect lighting with artificial light sources is to project spotlight onto a bright reflective ceiling. The ceiling itself will uniformly disperse the light in the rest of the room. Projecting the light on ceiling will eliminate the problem of causing glare, since the ceiling is always above the normal eye level. Using a centralised light source on the ceiling and throwing the light on adjacent walls is also a good solution. This will also save a lot of wiring lengths, cutting your cost in the fixing up of the total electrical system.

Affordable options:

Rope lights
Perhaps you have seen rope lighting used at a restaurant or on staircases to illuminate treads. It is also used for outlining objects with a soft border of light. Rope lights are a perfect source of light if you want a soft glow of indirect light in any room.

Wall fixtures

Ideal for indirect lighting as these fittings provide an up light and add warm ambiance to any room. Stylish architectural wall sconces can alter the perception of space in a room, define texture, and create a specific atmosphere, as well as giving a feeling of height to a low-ceilinged room.