Colour in Indoor environments: considerations & applications

With the advent of efficient saturated LED sources, we are seeing a rise in the application of coloured lighting as a provider of ambience. To perceive colour means to ‘experience’ it. The factors that influence this process, on a conscious but also to some extent on a subconscious level, are discussed below. These have been inspired by Frank H. Mahnke’s categorization in his ‘colour experience’ pyramid, which describes the effects of coloured lighting on mood and wellbeing. These effects range from conscious, personal and temporary ones to more subconscious, biological and long-term effects.