Have you always dreamed of transforming your home into a calming, Instagram-perfect sanctuary?
It's amazing what you can achieve with a new lighting design and intentional design choices, such as calming colors and textures. Integrating low-energy light sources can help you achieve your dream sanctuary with minimal (or even zero) renovation, uncovering warmer shades and creating a relaxing atmosphere.
Low-energy alternatives also help you save on your energy bill, providing an even greater sense of calm.
Discover tips and tricks of painting relaxing spaces with light, from ambient layering to room-specific lighting designs.
How to Choose the Right Light Temperatures for Tranquility
The first step to bringing a relaxing space to life is to switch the color temperature of your lighting design. Lighting color temperature is measured in Kelvin. Look for color temperatures that help you achieve the soft glow of the golden hour, or a sunset, as opposed to the harsh brightness of early afternoon.
Start from the beginning. A "warm white" color temperature measured at 2700 K to 3000 K is considered a primary lighting temperature for creating a cozy, welcoming ambiance.
This color temperature achieves the glow of traditional incandescent bulbs, but you can find them in LED form to save energy. This soft temperature is ideal for bedrooms and living rooms. If you study this color temperature closely, you'll find subtle hits of yellow-red tones, which makes this lighting choice more relaxing.
What about neon lights?
Neon lights can add a splash of color to relaxing spaces, especially low-light spaces designed for entertainment, like watching movies or listening to music.
Neon accents and custom signs are also available in softer, pastel hues, like pale blue, blush pink, and warm white. To capture those perfect Instagram posts, you can visit Radikal Neon to learn more about integrating neon signs into relaxing lighting designs.
For relaxing spaces, choose custom signs that reflect shapes or moods, like trees, stars, or moons. Mount your neon signs on the wall and strategically place a large house plant in front, like a fiddle leaf fig, creating a softer, speckled glow in the space.
Do you want to improve your sleep patterns with relaxation design?
Incorporating even richer, warmer lighting hues like amber or even red light systems can help facilitate better sleep cycles. These lighting temperatures contain very little blue light, which can promote more melatonin production, also known as the sleep hormone, according to data from Harvard Health.
Consider programmable lighting systems that gradually reduce lighting intensity, creating a more seamless transition to evening time. This transition can help you better unwind, leading to better sleep quality.
What Lights Should You Avoid In Calm Spaces?
When choosing your primary color temperatures, avoid bulbs with higher color temperatures above 4000 K. These color temperatures have more blue light, making them appear cooler, less warm.
You can use lamp shades to adjust the color, but you'll achieve a more relaxing effect by pairing 2700 K to 3000 K bulbs with shades.
Tips for Combining Light Sources
The most relaxing spaces leverage light layers.
This technique requires an understanding of various light fixtures and placements. For example, the overall illumination of a calming space is achieved with ambient lighting, especially when combined with dimmers or adjustable features.
Accent lighting refers to your table lamps, wall sconces, and floor lamps. These lighting fixtures are used to highlight specific room features like a gallery wall or vintage clock.
Accent lights balance out spaces while adding uniqueness and personality. For example, a Tiffany-style lamp is both an accent light but also a decorative element that adds color and texture to the space.
Combining lighting designs prevents that flat, one-dimensional look of a single overhead light.
Try combination lighting in more spaces beyond bedrooms and reading areas. For example, instead of facing those harsh bathroom lights during your evening skincare routine, install adjustable light dimmers and place ambient table lamps with warm color temperature bulbs. Even a little red light integration can result in a more relaxing bedtime skincare experience.
Technology Integrations
Automating a calming lighting design helps maintain consistency throughout the space, corresponding with changes in natural light. Automated dimming and programmable lighting also save energy while enhancing ambiance.
SMART lighting systems offer additional controls by allowing you to manage your lighting system from a convenient smartphone app.
There are complete SMART lighting systems with LED lights. You can adjust brightness, color temperature, and dimming schedules for a complete energy-efficient relaxation solution. There are also SMART systems with "relax modes" to help you achieve exactly what you're looking for without having to buy new bulbs.
Round out your new lighting system with cable organizers to create a clean, clutter-free space that contributes to overall relaxation.
Discover the Lighting Design of Relaxation
Plan your relaxation transformation with a new low-energy lighting strategy.
Scroll through Instagram to find calming lighting designs that catch your eye. Select the right light color temperatures for your goals and don't hesitate to add some personality to the space, whether it's the soft glow of a neon sign or a stained glass lamp.
