HOME LIGHTING TIPS – FOR ANY BUDGET
v“For any lighting project, whatever the budget, you have to take a step back first,” says Burckhardt. “Today almost anything is possible, so you have to know what you want.” Points to consider include the purpose of the space to be illuminated, the desired mood, and the objects or areas to be highlighted. Whether it’s a home, an industrial space or a studio apartment, this information should form the basis of any concept. “These basic elements help us understand whether lighting should be warm or cold, direct or indirect, scattered or reflected,” says Burckhardt.
Equally important are the layout of the room and the type of furniture. “Lighting design and interior design merge into each other,” he tells us, proving his experience in both sectors. “One cannot be considered without the other”. Take for example the influence of coatings and materials: “Dark furniture absorbs light, while brighter furniture reflects it,” says Burckhardt. In other words, a room with heavy curtains and mahogany furniture will need more lighting than a room with beech furniture and light fabrics.
MUST HAVE
Regardless of your budget, there are a few things for Burckhardt that are always worth investing in. Among these are dimmable lamps. “A dimming function offers a great level of flexibility and can easily change the mood of any room,” he explains. According to Burckhardt, being able to adjust the lighting level is much more important than being able to adjust the color. Here too, his experience in interior design shines through: “Rather than changing the lighting from red to blue, I would recommend instead varying the color of the accessories and furnishings on which the lamps focus.”
Speaking of color, there is one part of the room that Burckhardt recommends keeping neutral: the ceiling. he says. Because? To allow homogeneous illumination. “Too often, the main light source is a lone lamp hanging in the center of the room,” he points out, “but this usually leads to patchy and often insufficient lighting.” As an effective alternative, Burckhardt suggests directing the light onto the (freshly painted) ceiling, letting it reflect throughout the room.