Shaping moods: Reggiani and the stimulating effects of controlled light

We talk a lot about how the success of an interior leans on the layout of its walls, doors and windows, and maybe the shade of paint or degree of cushioning on the chairs placed inside. The truth is, it will probably live or die by the quality of its light.

It’s not news that light tends to lift the spirits, while long shady days of winter can bring a dip in mood; the power of light has always had a bearing on architecture. Talk to the British architect John Pawson for five minutes and you realise that light is perhaps his favourite material – he shapes interiors with light by controlling its entry points meticulously. But today the power of lighting goes deeper than the management of daylight into a space; growing intelligence about the precise impact of different qualities of light means we can start to mould moods with artificial illumination in our interiors to great effect. 

67-year-old lighting brand Reggiani has been exploring the impact of different lighting quality on interiors with its LED Mood Lighting category of recessed lights for a number of years, and has recently evolved the product to give it more functionality. In regular dialogue with some of the world’s most preeminent lighting designers and architects, and in step with the latest research, Reggiani prides itself on a problem-solving approach and innovative technological solutions. Specifically, the newly updated Mood Pro range responds to a growing desire to control the intensity and the colour of light, giving us the tools to discreetly and easily adjust the impact – emotional and biological – on those within the illuminated space. 

The essential science is that warm lighting – on the yellow colour spectrum and akin to the natural tones of dusk – makes an environment feel more homely and relaxing, while brighter, cooler lighting – on the blue spectrum – creates a more stimulating environment, making us more alert and productive. Believed to reduce levels of melatonin – the sleep hormone – blue light, as emitted by digital screens, is detrimental at night when rest is required, but it can be used constructively in places where high focus is needed, such as kitchens and meeting rooms.

The stimulating effects, however, might be more nuanced. A study by Alison Jing Xu of the University of Toronto Scarborough found that bright light intensifies the emotional reaction we have to products and people, so controlling it could have a bearing on consumer habits. Turning down the intensity, for example, might be conducive to more rational decisions and successful negotiations. 'Marketers may also adjust the lightening levels in the retail environment, according to the nature of the products on sale,' suggests Xu. 'If you are selling emotional expressive products such as flowers or engagement rings it would make sense to make the store as bright as possible.'

In Mood Pro we find the tangible solution to shifting, nuanced lighting needs. The latest fixed, adjustable and wall-washer versions feature augmented wattages, lumen outputs, and beam angles. Warm Dimming functionality (1800K – 3000K),  allows users to refine the ambiance of a space, while the Tunable White functionality provides remarkable flexibility in colour temperature from 2700K to 6500K. The fixtures, which can be entirely recessed, domed or shaped as sculptural cylinders, and arranged attractively in lines or clusters,  have features that ensure soft, uniform lighting, so that its cast is general, replacing or harmonising with daylight. The adjustable models, meanwhile, create accent lighting to highlight features below. 

With exceptionally high colour perception index (>90) it is little wonder that Mood Pro is proving a popular choice in retail, while its discreet mood-moulding capabilities make it a top choice for hospitality. But equally it provides solutions for our increasingly multi-tasking domestic spaces too, where one minute we might need the full clarity of bright light to precision chop a cocktail embellishment, and the next we need the obscurity of soft warm lighting tones to consume the cocktail in comfort.

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