Interior Designer’s Perspective: The Science Behind Light and Colors

– The core mind-boosting explanation of Interior Design –

Interior Designers should have a scientific and psychological vision while designing places. The vision shouldn’t only be artistic.

As a start, it’s essential to understand the meaning of light and color. Light is simply the “energy” that enhances and spots on surfaces, and in physics – color is explained to be the way our eyes and brain see a light reflection “off all objects”. The link is very clear between them!

The color-light scientific perception is the process of examination of how color and light can affect the reactions of people. For that, a top Interior Designer shall be able to create a spacious space and to connect places with Interior Design ideas that attract mood-boosting benefits such as healthy and productive vibes.

Lights and colors are not as shallow – they have the power, solely and together, to impact the mood of people. There are studies behind the psychology of colors and lights, on how the human eye interprets them.

Test it on yourself, try to recall a time where you entered a room that made you feel utmost comfortability and another time where you entered a room that made you feel disturbed. The reason behind your feeling in both experiences and how you interpreted the mood, is due to the color and light combination of the Interior Design.

It is of extreme significance to choose the right combination; the relevant roots of light with the right interior color – simply because the interior color has the power to drive the direction of light based on factors such as the color mix and interior division. Science without a doubt, is the heart of Interior Design.

Now the question arises, on how Interior Designers can find the right combination?

Well, it’s all dependent on the facility and its owner. Interior Designers have to sit a long session with the client at first to understand their social status, their personality, their lifestyle, and what are their likes and dislikes. That’s not a joke – in the end, the facility owner will be spending most of their time there and not the designer. For that, this is a very critical meeting and will direct the whole design process to meet the client’s needs and protect their day-to-day well-being.

Based on the findings, the Interior Designer will be able to choose the right combination of light and color of the client’s facility, no matter what it is – an apartment, an office, a studio, a hospital…etc. you name it! There is a thoughtful and precise effort put by the Interior Designers to make the color choice, and make it induce the desired mood and effect by the client.

For example, companies nowadays who have their offices underground or in places where natural light can’t penetrate – tend to choose artificial lights that change color, from blue to red for instance, over the course of the day to fit better their employees’ internal clock for better motivation and productivity. Since the chosen light changes color throughout the day, Interior Designers focus in this case as well on office wall colors and furniture color, which will affect the ambiance of the workplace for sure.

It’s on purpose that we chose the example of blue and red colors. Plenty of analyses have been made on the effect of interior colors on light quality, and it has been proven that red walls stimulate relaxing alertness. Yes, you read it right! Relaxing.

Blue is more inclined in our understanding to be a calming color. Yet, red radiation is stronger in double effect. It is alerting but not the alertness type that puts you on fire. If the combination of light and color is right, it is one of the top colors to consider at your workplace.

As another example, for a nursery Interior Design – the light should be based on natural daylight, and colors should be happy and reflecting the sun. Why? Because this will affect the development cycle of the babies and toddlers. Their sleeping rhythm will function normally which will impact positively their eating diet and daily activity.

Presented those two examples to show in simple words that interior color and light are omnipresent factors and have a very important impact on the psychological functioning and fulfillment of the people.

When designing a place – Interior Designers are creating emotions, enlightenment, and inspiration!

Let’s have it clear that there is no right or wrong design combination.

Design is beautiful in all shapes!

Beauty is Art! & Art is subjective, is an opinion, is individuality and uniqueness!

One person can see it lovely and another can feel it is uncomfortable.

That’s the amazing part and what makes each place unique. That’s what makes each design a masterpiece like no other.

~Eliane Abou Serhal