If you have ever brought home a work of art that felt electrically in the gallery just to hang it on your wall and feel nothing. The problem is not your taste or space, it is probably the lighting.
It sounds like a subsequent thought, but for art lighting is everything and it is worth planning just like the rest of your house. “Art not only decorates a room, but also defines it – but without the right lighting, even the most exquisite piece can fall flat,” says Luke Thomas, design director of John Cullen Lighting. And yet the light of art at home often feels a bit difficult to grasp, the same parts art and science.
Galleries may have sky-high ceilings and discrete track lighting with the heavy lifting tools, which most houses can either not fix or deliberately avoid. For the living room lighting, for example, it has to fulfill twice the mandatory: flatter your art And Illuminates your life. The good news, however, is that the balance is more achievable than it seems.
So we asked Luise how to light their art like a curator and turn their home into a room in which each piece receives the spotlight that deserves it. Think of the summer exhibition of the Royal Academy, minus the centuries of formal training and the velvet ropes.
You don't have to stop in paintings. Try LED strip lighting (available from Amazon) to illuminate open shelves, niches and your preferred everyday objects.
(Photo credit: John Cullen lighting)
The importance of deeper lights
Flexible track systems may be the gold standard in galleries and museums, says Luke, but in residential areas “used downlights are often preferred for their discreteity.” This means a certain flexibility, but it is a fair compromise, since most homeowners do not exchange canvas every other week.
“This is a less concern in houses in which art positions are generally static and the walls are smaller, which makes it easier to plan discrete, solid lighting that can remain unchanged for years,” he adds. Used luminaires “Make sure that the maximum focus is on art and not on the lights.”
Wall art against sculpture
It doesn't need a light designer to drive the difference between painting and sculpture – but how you light it? Does it differ?
“Paintings are typically two -dimensional and most frequently illuminated from above in order to illuminate the surface evenly and reveal details,” says Luke. Sculptures, on the other hand, are a form.
“Shadow becomes a much greater consideration because he plays a crucial role in defining shape, texture and depth,” he continues. “The material from which the sculpture is made also has a high impact on the most effective lighting approach.”
Back lighting adds drama and dimension. Sculptural pieces in particular benefit, but simply.
(Photo credit: John Cullen lighting)
While the wall decoration requires a single overhead beam, sculptures invites you to experiments. “They can be illuminated from the floor or base, from behind to produce silhouettes or dramatic backlights or even from the sculpture yourself to highlight internal structures or to create an essential glow,” adds Luke.
“This multidirectional potential enables a dynamic interplay of light and shadow that improves the three -dimensional nature of the sculpture and invites the audience to move them to appreciate its different facets.”
Is there something like too much light for works of art?
When you hang a new work of art for the first time or simply place a sculpture, the instinct is often to add more light. According to Luke Thomas, director of Lighting Design, “there is absolutely something like too much light.”
“Excessive uniform lighting over an entire room can lead to a” flat “effect,” he explains. “Everything is illuminated evenly, and suddenly none of the nuances get through.” This is exactly the opposite of what you want if you strive (and cost) to collect something meaningful.
The key, says Luke, is not easier, but more intelligent light – especially the light. “Effective lighting design uses a layered approach with different zones and contrasts,” he says. “It leads the eye, creates rhythm and emphasizes what deserves attention.”
The best lighting does not draw attention to itself. You shouldn't notice it like a good sound design in a film.
(Photo credit: John Cullen lighting)
According to Luke, the Sweet Spot is about “doing a balance”. We should aim to emphasize the work of art and at the same time maintain the visual comfort, the “precise beam angle, adequate lumen edition and the interaction of light and shadow into account in order to reveal the depth and texture of the artwork without overwhelming it or the viewer.”
If that sounds a lot, it is so. This is exactly why the attitude of a lighting designer – although admittedly a pleasure – could be worthwhile if you work with a serious collection.
Quick tips (for those who do not set a professional)
Still not every room Needs A light consultant. There are some experts that you can use to increase art in your house:
- Know your medium. Watercolor or oil? Pencil or photography? Is it a glass front? “Every medium reacts differently to light,” says Lukas – some will reflect, others absorb.
- Adjusting scale and orientation. A portrait needs a different treatment than a landscape. A sculpture more dimension than a canvas.
- Buy with a view to flexibility. Find fittings with which you can set both the beam spread and the angle – not just the brightness.
- Match tone to the temperature. Use warm light to emphasize warmer tones in one piece, cooler light for crisp and graphic work. They not only light the wall – they curate as it is seen.
Everything can become art if they are correctly illuminated. Yes, even your staircase.
(Photo credit: John Cullen lighting)
Is lighting skills worthwhile?
If all of this sounds a little dizzying, they are not alone. According to Luke, however, lighting is not optional – it is essential. “Lighting is not just an improvement. It is absolutely fundamental to what a work of art looks like and feels,” he says.
Without them, they don't see the work – at least not as it should be seen. “Improper lighting can distort colors, dark details, generate unwanted reflections or flatten the dimensionality of the artwork,” he continues.
“Investments in the right art lighting ensure that you honor the artist's vision and the beauty and nuance of your collection fully appreciate and transform it from a static object into a living and appealing experience in your home.”
So yes – the juice is worth the crush. And at the front, a few ways to make squeezing a little easier.
Pooky Lighting
Dimmable middle shield Blake Figure light in ancient brass finish
The best lighting for works of art is the way you do not notice – which is easier said in the area of picture frame lighting than done. However, this moves out with a 2700,000 LED light source, which lasts up to 30,000 hours and brass is complete for a luxurious but low-profile look.
Astro
Minima around fixed interior illumination
This downlight will not win any design prices, but with a three -year guarantee and an assessment of 4.3/5 it is reliable and does the task. If you equip an larger art space and need duplicates, this is an intelligent and scalable option.
Serax
Sophisticated
Add a dose of industrial charm with Serax's Sofisticato Wall ramp light, which can be mounted on the wall or ceiling. With a 360-degree rotation, you can easily guide light where it is most urgently needed to set the sound and emphasize collections in the development.
John Cullen lighting
Polefinity 40
A directional architectural downlight. With 360 ° change and a 30 ° tendency, you can control the beam with almost surgical precision. There is even a 25 mm extrra deep black bowl to cut glare and improve visual comfort. It is also borderless, so it disappears cleanly into the ceiling – you will hardly know that it is there. Price on request.
Soho home
Andro picture light
If you are looking for a small spectacle, the sanded alabaster colors from Soho Home are a nice compromise: design enough to give a statement, but soft enough so as not to attract attention. They may remember similar facilities in Little House Balham.
Ikea
Waterstone LED lighting stripes
Not exactly a look in itself, but LEDs are their invitation to become creative – they are under shelves, behind cupboards, along a staircase or behind a favorite. Suddenly everything changes.
A rule before they shed light on something: scaling is important. The wrong proportions will undo the best lighting plan. Use this guide to select the correct graphics to do it right.