THE ROLE OF LIGHTING IN CUSTOM CARPET DESIGN

Apr. 14

When designing custom floor coverings for interior spaces, we are highly aware how lighting can affect the way in which the content (wool, silk, shiny nylon, etc.) and the colour appear in its final location. When planning the carpets for the recently-completed Pendry Manhattan West hotel, the interior designer made us well aware of the detailed lighting plan for each of the locations within the hotel. A particular challenge was Bar Pendry (above) where sophisticated lighting design creates a magical glow. We wanted our rugs to have a specific connection to the space. As overhead lighting was not used in the seating areas, we needed sheen in the rugs so we used viscose to add accents of golden shimmer. Combined with wool they create the perfect combination of carpet that is pared back yet connected to the surrounding interior.

Lighting Challenges and Our Solutions

Is the interior space where the carpet will be situated mainly lit by natural daylight?
The colour lab in our studio is especially situated so we can select colours in natural daylight, therefore the colours we chose should read just as harmoniously in the specified naturally-lit space.
Is the lighting dramatically-lit or dimly-lit?
If colours are intended to be subtle in a dramatically-lit or low-light interior, we choose a more diverse range of tonality. This ensures the colours still read as subtle in the space but appear different enough for the colour tone changes to be seen well.
Do certain colours need to appear stronger than others in the carpet?
If a certain colour/range of colours is key to the design, we hope to select the colours in a space with similar lighting. If this cannot happen, we order production of carpet samples in various colour options and either we - or the interior designer - reviews them in the actual space to determine which option works best.
Does the intended lighting for the interior space have specific direction that could affect how the carpet appears?
Depending on where the light will hit the carpet (whether overhead, spotlights with direct lighting on certain areas, or light shining upwards towards the ceiling on walls), we recommend a method of carpet construction that is not only well-suited for the space in terms of durability/longevity but also offers the ability to add sheen or loop and cut details that will elevate the look and feel of the carpet.
Will any of the other finishes in the interior affect the way colours appear in the carpet?
If any floor or wall finish in the space needs to work particularly closely with the carpet, we request a small physical sample to ensure the colours balance in the finished interior.