From autumn it is dark and dreary outside – and cosiness inside is all the more important. The light plays a crucial role in this. Also for concentration and performance.

The reputation of cosiness precedes the gloomy autumn. It should be pleasantly bright in the living room when it is dark outside – but not too bright. A good lighting arrangement requires fine tuning between different needs.

It is too dark? You don’t need much for first aid: there are now many mobile battery-powered lights that you can add to your living space or place somewhere else at any time. Usually they have the form of table lamps. “They are ideal as mood lighting or as a light source in a reading area,” says Munich interior architect and lighting designer Ulrich Beckert.

The mobile lights with battery can also be taken to the balcony or garden. “Provided they are suitable for outdoor use and have at least IP X4 protection,” says Iris Vollmann from licht.de, an industry initiative of the Association of the Electrical and Digital Industry (ZVEI). IP is the abbreviation for Ingress Protection, which roughly translates to “protection against ingress” (of water or dust).

As practical as mobile lights are, they are nothing more than a supplement to conventional light sources. Which illuminance levels are important at home depends on the room in question. “In the living room, 300 lux is usually sufficient,” says Iris Vollmann.

If the visual tasks are more demanding – for example when reading or handling sharp knives and hot pots in the kitchen – the illuminance should be 500 lux. 500 lux is also recommended at the desk. This ensures that your eyes do not tire and you can concentrate better.

Tip: A measuring device called a luxmeter can be used to determine whether the required light intensity is being achieved.

hallway

One or more lights on the ceiling provide basic brightness. “In the cloakroom, we recommend an additional mirror light with one light each on the right and left, which illuminates the face without shadows,” says Iris Vollmann.

From her point of view, the icing on the cake is the accent lighting, which emphasizes a picture or a piece of furniture, for example. This is ensured, for example, by a table lamp on a dresser or a discreet LED strip on the shoe rack.

living room

“In order to achieve exciting effects, there are several light sources, including a central ceiling light,” says Ulrich Beckert. Pictures illuminated with light or a small table lamp on the sideboard provide varied lighting accents. Indirect light is emitted by floodlights such as floor and wall lights, which illuminate the walls and ceiling and whose reflections illuminate the room.

When watching TV, the environment should not be completely dark. Otherwise the eye has to constantly compensate for strong differences in brightness. “Even a little dimmed basic lighting relieves the strain,” says Iris Vollmann. In order to be able to watch television undisturbed – in terms of lighting technology – all lights should be aligned in such a way that there are no disturbing reflections on the screen.

bedroom

Basic lighting in the form of a ceiling light is important here. It is practical if there is a second light switch near the bed. There is also a wall lamp or a table lamp on each side of the bed if you want to read in bed. Closet lighting makes it easier to choose clothes in the morning, especially in the dark season.

nursery

It is important to have your own lamp at the changing table, but it must not dazzle the baby. “Toddlers’ eyes are very sensitive to light,” says Vollmann. When children are crawling, mobile lights are taboo within reach of children’s hands – the risk of injury is too great. From school age, a desk is needed that should be illuminated like in a study.

Workspace

The desk should be lit with direct light that does not glare. The light must not come from above and cast shadows. “It’s better if it comes from the left for right-handers and from the right for left-handers,” says Iris Vollmann.

kitchen

Bright functional light that falls directly on the work area is particularly important here. It is often already installed in wall units or extractor hoods or can otherwise be retrofitted. LED lights, such as light rails, help to find something in the depths of a cupboard or drawer.

Bad

Whether for make-up or shaving – in the bathroom, light on the mirror is important. Lights are placed either above the mirror or on both sides to avoid shadows. “Ideal is 300 to 400 lux in front of the mirror light,” says Ulrich Beckert.

If you also want to make use of a biological lighting effect, you can rely on lamps or luminaires with several light colors and illuminance levels. “The freshness kick in the morning is provided by very bright light in the light color daylight white,” says Iris Vollmann. And in the evenings, the best way to relax is with warm white, dimmed lighting.