86 LIFESTYLE OCTOBER 2011

Space is a premium in Singapore. So, home owners are looking for quick and easy ways to transform their homes to suit their moods, says Tiew Chew Meng, General Manager, Philips Lighting Singapore. He made his comments at the company’s Living Spaces event, a lighting design event in July. “With this event, we hope to inspire designers and show them the many possibilities of combining the latest LED technologies to complement their home designs.”

So, let’s dive in and get the Philips advice on how to enlighten your home.

SPACE LIGHTING

LIVING ROOMAs a multi-purpose room, the key to living room lighting is fl exibility. Lighting at home can create different atmospheres, whether it is soft and sensual, energetic or reassuring. Different types of light are required for different purposes to create a comfortable ambience. For example, you may wish to use spot lighting to create a focal point for an artwork, or when you are reading the newspaper.

In addition, the colour of the lighting is important too. A warmer colour makes it more inviting. You can even use the Philips Living Colours behind the furnishings to create different colours and a glow effect when you watch a movie, for example. The key here is to ensure that we don’t put too much light everywhere. Having harsh lighting affects our emotional state and does not make the living room a place to relax.

Living Space

086-088 Living-PhilipsLivingSpace.indd 86 9/20/11 6:01 PM

OCTOBER 2011 LIFESTYLE 87

STUDYAs a place of work and concentration, you will want to avoid glare in this room. Remember that dark surfaces will negate the benefi ts of providing additional luminaries. Such surfaces are likely to result in an unsatisfactory luminous environment where there is little indirect or refl ected light. Bright room surfaces are generally preferred over dark ones, provided that glare is controlled. The room surfaces are, in effect, part of the lighting system.

The right lighting can signifi cantly reduce problems such as eye strain and headaches. You will need task lighting for reading, writing and computer work. General lighting is for the surrounding area. You may also want to include accent lighting to highlight specifi c objects.

DINING ROOMWhen lights are bright and harsh, everything becomes clinical. In the dining room, this can make food look unappetizing visually. Creative use of spot lighting with

“Our experience has shown us how lighting can affect the mental and emotional states of people,” said Mr Tiew.

“I chose this because it is able to have four different directions rotating. The backlight is a spot light, more of a warm light to give to give a soft tone to the CD wall,” said Ophelia Jen, Design Sense Interior Concept on her concept `Eco’.

086-088 Living-PhilipsLivingSpace.indd 87 9/20/11 5:21 PM

88 LIFESTYLE OCTOBER 2011

warm lights can help create that restaurant dining feel. Now you have the Philips myLightAccent collection that features wine coolers, plates, coasters and vases. These glow with colours adding that subtle complement to your dinner party or gathering.

BEDROOMThe key here is soft. As a place of rest and relaxation, lighting plays a big part in the ambience. Choose lights that are warmer in colour generally but you can even use different colours below the bed or cupboard to create a glow effect. Remember that you can make use of the darkness to help create the ambience. So, put soft glow lighting near the fl oor to enable you to visit the bathroom without disturbing anyone else.

BATHROOMThe most important area in your bathroom is the area around the mirror because this is where most grooming takes place. The light here should be soft and diffuse, with no shadow or glare. Other light sources enhance the overall mood of the rest of the room. Dimming lights should be considered too. So, the light in your bathroom can be bright and invigorating in the morning and soft and subdued in the evening.

WORDS WONG MUN WAI

Living Space

Rheem Manufacturing Company (Singapore) Pte Ltd

8 Pandan Cresent, UE Tech Park

#02-02 Singapore 128464

Tel: 6872 1161 ∙ 6872 2043 (Service)

Fax: 6872 1151

Email: rheem@rheemmfg.com.sg

www.rheemmfg.com.sg

∙ 90° Regulated Stop Valve

∙ Electronic Temperature Control System

∙ 5 Spray Massage and Misty Handshower

∙ Splash Proof and Anti-Rust

Features

Rheem Electric Instant Heater

white silver

Modern • Simple • Slim

Please contact Rheem for authorised dealers’ details.

ectriceater

pppppppppllllleeeeeeeeee •••••••• SSSSSSSSSSllllllliiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmm

086-088 Living-PhilipsLivingSpace.indd 88 9/20/11 5:22 PM