Interior designer and architect Natalia Miyar believes that sculptural lighting creates a stunning focal point when designing and decorating a room. From choosing materials that accentuate a space to commissioning a unique artisanal piece, here Natalia giver her tips on how to set the mood through light, using living room lighting ideas – and inspiration for the rooms beyond.
'At the Natalia Miyar Atelier, bespoke statement lighting often provides one of the many layers of light needed for a room. I truly believe that lighting is one of the most important aspects of a design as it can completely transform the mood of a room,’ she says. ‘Designing bespoke lighting is one of my favorite parts of putting a room together.’
Natalia Miyar is one of the strongest international interior design talents to emerge in recent years. As a trained architect she approaches design with a skilful understanding of balance and proportion, creating spaces which are both considered and lively with a finely tuned eye for materiality. Her eponymous London atelier is a conduit for creative collaboration characterised by a confident and artful use of colour, pattern and texture. With bases in London and Miami the fast-growing transatlantic team spearheaded by Natalia create effortlessly luxurious homes that are sought by a global stable of private clients favouring a client-faced approach.
1. Materials first
Natalia often uses lighting to highlight colors, textures and the architectural character of a room. A central light, whether above a dining table, a kitchen island or in a living room, is a great way to bring an accent material into a space.
Metals such as brass or copper add a touch of warmth, and help to bounce the natural light around the room during the day, even when the artificial light itself is switched off.
2. Play with scale
Be bold, and think of a pendant light as a functional piece of art.
‘I often say that lighting is equivalent to adding jewellery to a stylish outfit; it can add so much character and without it, the outfit feels incomplete,’ says Miyar who often partners with talented artisans to bring her unique vision to life. ‘My advice is not to play too safe – this is an opportunity to have a little fun.’
3. Choose the right shape
It’s not just what a light’s made of that needs to complement the rest of the room: it’s the shape too. Minimalist geometric lighting for instance, might reflect the lines of an abstract painting or mirror; the arms of a cluster of pendants could tie-in with the shape of a skylight above while round globe lights may echo the soft shape of curving armchairs.
‘Good sculptural lighting enhances your decoration and furniture choices,’ says Miyar. 'It’s like a visual short hand and can sum up the tone or style of a room, whether contemporary or classic, in an instant.'
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