Space is a premium in Singapore. So, homeowners 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.”

1. 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 ROOM
As a multi-purpose room, the key to living
room lighting is flexibility. 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
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2. OCTOBER 2011 LIFESTYLE 87
STUDY
As a place of work and concentration,
you will want to avoid glare in this room.
Remember that dark surfaces will negate the
benefits of providing additional luminaries.
Such surfaces are likely to result in an
unsatisfactory luminous environment where
there is little indirect or reflected 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 significantly 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
specific objects.
DINING ROOM
When 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’.
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3. 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.
BEDROOM
The 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 floor to enable you to visit the bathroom
without disturbing anyone else.
BATHROOM
The 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
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