What layered clothing does for you outside, layered lighting does for you inside. It delivers intensity where you need it but can be easily rebalanced to vary and harmonise the overall effect.
In fact, when it comes to modern, forward-thinking, welcoming interiors, lighting is layers – and the light sources that deliver the subtle interplay between these layers are indispensable in creating attractive spaces.
In this piece, we take a look at what layered lighting is, why it’s so important for well-lit and stylish interiors, and how Maytoni’s lighting solutions combine timeless design appeal with intelligent and efficient layering capability.
Layered lighting: what is it, exactly?
Layered lighting is a form of that makes use of several different light sources and types at once to develop a lighting effect that delivers emotive aesthetics and atmosphere.
For example, dull, uniform spaces or expanses can be given a sense of texture and depth by the use of layered lighting, making them visually more interesting and attractive, and preventing them fr om dominating a room.
Layered lighting can also significantly alter mood, with dimmed lights tending to create a softer atmosphere, and brighter lights a more alert or upbeat feel.
Showcasing certain features or zones in a space – a work of art, a cosy inglenook, an impressive desk - is also something layered lighting can achieve very effectively, whilst delivering an overall sense of comfort that puts the space’s occupants at ease.
The science of the art
And there’s some very solid science behind the effects of varying light types in layered lighting. Neurologically, bright, cool-toned white lighting, for example, (3500K-5000K on the ), enhances focus and concentration, whilst dimmer, warmer lighting (2700K - 3000K) promotes relaxation and calm.
Similarly, colour affects brain activity in different ways, with the blue end of the spectrum tending to stimulate the brain far more than the red. Red, however, tends to , whilst blue lowers it.
In short, layered lighting is the art (and science) of balancing light temperature, colour, and intensity to deliver multiple desired effects in one space, fr om multiple lighting devices.
Here’s how it works.
Ambient, task, accent: the layered lighting trio
Much like music, layered lighting works because it’s about individual contributors delivering specific value that enhances the whole.
This three-part harmony comes down to ambient, task, and accent lighting.
- Ambient lighting brightens an entire space and performs the important practical function of enabling people to see clearly. Size and structure, aesthetics, and purpose all play an important part here. Larger rooms or higher ceilings will require more ambient lighting, bright décors might require less of it or even need to be toned down to avoid garishness, and areas wh ere visual precision is important – kitchens and workspaces, for example – will probably need cooler white light than, say, a living room.
Ambient light is delivered most effectively by overhead light sources, like , , and even .
- Task lighting focuses light on specific areas in the room or space, but mainly for practical reasons of visibility. A kitchen worktop, or a desk, or a workbench are all examples of task lighting applications, because these are all places wh ere shadows and glare need to be minimised.
Task lighting is usually achieved using light sources like and , which can be static or directional depending on how and where they are to be used and the tightness and intensity of beam the user will require.
- Accent lighting is the decorative finish of the layered lighting approach, helping to highlight features and items that are visually interesting or arresting, fr om a statue in an alcove to a bouquet of flowers. Accent lighting can also be used to illuminate dark corners or recesses wh ere ambient lighting may not penetrate.
Typically, accent lighting is delivered by or , the latter having the benefit that the light source can be moved if an accented object changes position.
When less light is more
Of course, the essence of layered lighting, as we mentioned at the beginning of this piece, is that the layers can be adjusted – intensified, de-intensified, turned on or off – to tailor each effect to the surroundings, occasion, and user.
And this flexibility is absolutely core to what Maytoni believes in and how we develop our lighting solutions.
Light use should be adjustable, adaptable, controllable, and – always – minimisable. The less light used to achieve the desired effect, the better (not for nothing do we work with to reduce light pollution.)
So, our lighting solutions work with low-energy LED and practically all of them can be used with dimmer switches. Our enables you to control up to 50 track lights from your smartphone, meaning you can easily vary intensity both for layered effect and for economy, as well as turn any light on or off remotely.
Layered lighting in general makes it possible to add appeal, interest, and practicality to a room. But done the Maytoni way, it adds style, design, and sustainability too.
