Lesson 1: The Five Basic Factors
Light
The term "light" in the context of interior decorating refers to two elements affecting your room.
The first, and more important, element is the amount of natural daylight which enters the room directly or indirectly. Placement of windows greatly determines how much light enters the room. Windows on the east side of the house will allow morning light, which is generally less intense than midday or afternoon light. If you will be using the room mostly in the morning (preparing breakfast, getting kids ready for school, working at your desk) try to take advantage of this natural light source by keeping window treatments to a minimum.
Windows on the west side of the house will benefit from the intense colors of sunset, and the long shadows of early evening. Rooms that can take advantage of this light might be a family room, dining room or library. Warm, rich colors will be enhanced by this light.
Windows on the north side of a house are preferred for working at an easel, a desk or a workbench. It is a more consistent light, with less intensity. Light colors will enhance the amount of light available.
Southern exposures generally absorb more of the heat and ultraviolet rays of the sun, which may affect your artwork, fabrics and carpet. Indoor plants will thrive, however!
You will, of course, want to take into account where the better views are when arranging furniture, but we will discuss this in a later lesson.
Studies have shown that "daylighting usually provides more light on the task than electric lighting would, and is free of flicker. Daylight also tends to provide more diffuse task lighting than would be provided by electric light alone; this reduces excessive contrasts that can be caused by shadows on the task area."(1) Further evidence shows that bright daylight during the day and darkness at night control our circadian [internal time clock] rhythms, and without such regulated light in our lives, our health suffers and our capacity to perform tasks is reduced.(2)
Artificial lighting in the home has an interesting history. We tend to use incandescent light in most instances in the home, because it is warm, flattering, and inexpensive. However, there are some places where fluorescent or high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting is preferred.
Compact fluorescent lighting is being increasingly recommended by professional designers because of its energy efficiency and cost savings (compact fluorescents burn 10 times longer than incandescents) at the same time providing the same amount of light as traditional incandescent bulbs.
Good lighting, for example, can make the difference between seeing and not seeing, especially for older adults with poor vision, and between comfort and discomfort. People tend to work longer and more effectively when they are comfortable. Lighting can affect a person's level of comfort; for example, poor lighting can create glare, which in turn causes eyestrain, headaches and discomfort. Effective use of proper lighting avoids glare.
(1) and (2) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Lighting Research Center
