How Light Creates Ambience in Interior Design
Commercial and retail interior design is about much more than simply creating functional spaces that fulfill a need. What makes interior design truly an art is found in the aspects that defy description. The esoteric qualities of design that evoke feeling and emotion require not only skill and experience to master, but also innate ability that cannot be taught.
This NWDB article examines the role lighting plays in creating ambiance and atmosphere in interior design for nightclubs, spas, restaurants, and more.
Zen and the Art of Retail Interior Design
Creating unique spaces by using interior design in nightclubs, lounges, and restaurants begins with a floor plan and materials. The physical qualities of the space must first be clearly defined. Everything from the materials used to the placement of furniture, bars, and booths is taken into consideration. Not only for functionality but for the moods and experiences to be created there.
Beloved Spaces and Sacred Memories
Think about your favorite restaurant or a beloved bar or cigar lounge. When you think of it, what is the first thing that rises in your consciousness? Feelings. Before you think about the space and the memories you’ve made there — you feel. Mastery in interior design comes from developing a sixth sense of how people feel and what elements evoke those feelings.
Elements and Creation
The elements you work with as an interior designer are the easel, the canvas, and the background you paint perhaps. They ground the design to the physical plane. But one of these elements is more ethereal and, in many ways, harder to master than all of the others: Light.
Using Light as a Paintbrush in Commerical Interior Design
Much of the time in interior design planning is spent looking at architectural blueprints and considering practical aspects, like maximum occupancy, materials, surfaces, and colorways. The truth is that the layman rarely considers the role light plays in the interior design of a restaurant or bar.
For businesses like restaurants, nightclubs, spas, salons, and lounges, lighting does not merely illuminate; it transforms. Everything must be considered. From where the light originates to where it falls, how it falls, color temperature, the interplay between natural light and artificial lighting, and shadows — it all plays a part in how your guests and patrons feel.
The Essence of Light in Shaping Experience
Imagine entering a restaurant where the light embraces you like the warmth of a gentle sunset or a spa where the luminosity whispers the tranquility of moonlight over Central Park. This is the ethereal power of lighting.
Light evokes, soothes, invites, and excites. In the dance of shadows and radiance, lighting sets the mood, creating an ambiance that can turn a space into a haven, a celebration, or a sanctuary.
From a purely practical perspective — lighting is an important element of interior design because it helps you make the most of your space. The right lighting can make a small room feel bigger. It can make a large room feel warm and cozy. Light is power, when it comes to interior design.
The Symphony of Natural and Artificial Light
The interplay between natural and artificial light in commercial spaces is akin to a symphony, where each has its part, contributing to a harmonious whole. Natural light is ever-changing. Sunlight speaks of growth, warmth, renewal, and rest.
It speaks of morning’s optimism in a café or the reflective calm of twilight in a chic Manhattan lounge. When the darkness overtakes the city — electric light seizes the throne in a bloodless coup. The endless variety of LED, projection, and diffused lighting gives the interior designer a magnificent palette to work with.
Interior Design Fundamentals: Lighting Fixtures and Tones
Interior Design for Restaurants
Opt for warm, dimmable fixtures that can adapt from the light cheer of lunch service to the subtle ambiance of dinner. Chandeliers and pendant lights can add character, while table lamps introduce warmth and intimacy.
Nightclub Interior Design Fundamentals
Nightclubs are all about energy and creating a vibe. Special attention must be paid to lighting in a club. The nightclub atmosphere is designed to tantalize the senses. Here, we want dynamic LED systems that change color and intensity, mimicking the rhythm of music.
Spas and Salon Interior Design
Spas and salons revolve around self-care and indulgent sensory experiences Soft, natural-toned lighting that mirrors daylight promotes relaxation and wellness. Consider wall sconces and floor lamps that cast a gentle glow, enhancing tranquility and comfort.
New World Design Builders and K2 Studios Create Atmosphere
New World Design Builders and K2 Studios are a team of craftspeople, artists, and design specialists. We embrace modern and biophilic design — but remain ever-inspired by classic principles.
Both architecture and interior design meet under one roof in the partnership between New World Design Builders and K2 Studios. This synergy makes us uniquely qualified to create comprehensive commercial interior design solutions.
Let’s begin a conversation about creating your ideal space.
