LIGHTING GUIDE HW
LIGHTING THE
BEDROOM BY MARIA MERCIECA, M+DESIGN
“Due to the fact that it is where we rest after a long day’s work, there is a need to consider comfort and relaxation. Having a good bedroom lighting design enhances the mood of the room, and should emit an inviting and soothing effect.” PROJECT TEAM: Interior design: Maria Mercieca, Analise Farrugia for m+design Lighting design: Maria Mercieca for m+design Photography: David Pisani Styling: m+design team, BoConcept, Retroforma, Piscopo, InsideOut, onepercent
ood bedroom lighting design ensures visual comfort by enabling one to walk around the room at night and offer a welcoming tone for the day. Lighting a room depends on the size of the room, apertures and location (north or south facing). Big rooms need more lighting when compared to small ones.
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To develop the lighting concept, it’s important to observe and understand what each person wants to experience before going to bed or when waking up. This is determined by the individual’s sleeping patterns, sensitivity to light and other uses related to the bedroom, such as watching TV, reading, dressing up or listening to music, as well as how they interact within the space. The images of bedroom lighting and design projects here are naturally well lit; one having a large opening overlooking a small garden, the other being a narrow long space with a relatively large window at the far end. Two very different concepts were applied. One concept was designed to emphasise how the space changes, transforming from day to night as the sun goes down and artificial lights are turned up. The second concept aims at transforming a long and narrow space into one which is more dynamic by creating a visual dividing line through change in materials, and trying to create
horizontality by using linear strip lighting and high level, as well as full length mirrors. In one bedroom, the choice of materials, such as red translucent and sand blasted glass and mirrors contribute to introducing more light and creating points of interest with natural sunlight. Blinds control the quality and quantity of natural daylight coming into the room, but also interact with the outdoors by creating shadows, which add softness to the bold design. As the sun goes down the yard is blackened out, and the bedroom becomes a more intimate and cosy space. Lighting is mainly indirect, apart from three spots, which give a warm ambient light. There are recessed light fittings on either side of the bed, together with the indirect light coming through the sand blasted glass to create an excellent light for reading or watching TV. A recessed fluorescent tube above the desk gives sufficient light to work with, while decorative lighting by use of pink LEDS fitted into the red shelves. There is a clear gradual mood change from bright daylight which brings the outdoors in by shadows created by the lemon tree. Dusks works well with the functional indirect light which give the room a softness, while the coloured
RGB led at night transform the room completely giving it a bold feel. And when the lights are switched off the large opening becomes a panoramic view of a star and moonlit sky. In the second bedroom, the lighting design concept is to use light, materials and volumes to visually divide the room in two. A recessed strip LED in the timber bulkhead runs into what seems to be the next room as the occupant lies in bed, creating a sense of space and horizontality. Bedside reading lamps are surface-mounted and rotate 360° to light the wall behind the bed or bulkhead, and add softness to the room. Two halogen spots at the back of the room light the plant and the wardrobe, while diffused recessed LEDs light up the main changing area, also acting as a general light. Here again, full-length mirrors enhance the light to help transform the volume. The bedroom is one of the rooms that needs special attention during home designing. Due to the fact that it is where we rest after a long day’s work, there is a need to consider comfort and relaxation. Having a good bedroom lighting design enhances the mood of the room, and should emit an inviting and soothing effect.
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PM HW-65 BOOK.indb 55
08/02/2014 13:57