What role do lights play in your interior design? Your first thought might be about the gorgeous chandeliers in the dining room or decorative lighting sculptures in the foyer, but consider another aspect: the color temperature. Lighting hues are a subtle touch that can make or break a room’s design. To learn more about color temperature and how home lighting automation can help you achieve the perfect color balance for your Baltimore or other Maryland area home, read on.

What is Color Temperature?

Color temperature is a way of indicating how warm or cool a light is. A light source’s hue is different depending on heat. Though it may seem counterintuitive, the hotter a light source, the cooler the color temperature. Lights with temperatures at 5,000 or more Kelvin will appear bluish, while temperatures around 2,500-3,000 Kelvin will have a yellow or orange tinge.

The Psychology of Color Temperature

The hue of a room’s lights can have a significant impact on how a room looks and feels. Cooler light temperatures promote a sense of concentration and productivity, while warmer hues evoke feelings of relaxation. Within a cohesive lighting design strategy, these hues are often adjusted to fit each room’s primary activity—cool in the kitchen, warm in the bedroom, etc. However, what about multipurpose rooms? After all, very few areas of a property are used for a single purpose. That’s where home lighting automation comes in.

Flexible Designs with Lighting Automation

With regular lighting systems, what you see is what you get: one generic hue that may or may not be a good fit for the room. But with lighting control, you open up a world of possibilities for customizing a room’s color temperature for any given time or purpose. With the push of a button, your kitchen can go from a cool and bright environment for cooking to a warm and inviting area for hors d’oeuvres with friends. 

This flexibility is also a boon for interior designers seeking the latest home design trends. While a cool, modern look might be in vogue for a season, you may not want to keep that style forever. Instead of changing out all of your furniture and décor, you can create the trending atmosphere simply by adjusting the color temperature and swapping out a few choice pieces in each room.

SEE ALSO: 5 Lighting Trends for 2017

Home lighting automation works by replacing standard lights with controllable versions. These lights are linked to a smart system that lets you adjust your lights right from your smartphone or tablet. Turn the lights on or off, dim to a certain level, or change the lighting temperature effortlessly from anywhere.

A Cohesive Look

Don’t make the mistake of painstakingly choosing complementary curtains, wallpaper, furniture, and art and then ignoring the lights in your home. A warm color scheme with blue-hued lights (or vice versa) can create a muddied, unappealing look that throws off your entire design. Instead, ensure that your lighting tones are in line with the color scheme of each room, from the lamps to the chandeliers.

BRAVAS partners work directly with homeowners and interior designers to create that perfect look for each area of your home. To learn more about lighting automation and how it can enhance your home’s design, contact us today.