Light and Scale

It can be difficult to make really large spaces seem intimate and warm. However, I must say that the lobby of Hotel Sierra in Short Pump does a really nice job of using lighting to make an otherwise cavernous space feel comfortable and inviting.

There are large floor-to-ceiling windows along the front of the space which let in ample amounts of natural light. But it is not this natural light which creates the ambiance of the space. It is the array of artificial lights used throughout the space. I must say that the sheer number of different types of lights used in the space can make it feel a bit disjoined. More consistency and repetition in the selection of lights might have helped with the flow of the space. However, the lighting they chose still manages to make the space intimate.

One type of lighting used is recessed can lights in a dropped ceiling. This dropped ceiling provides a bit more scale for the room while bathing the area in a soft, even light. In an area without a dropped ceiling, a light shelf is used to diffuse the artificial light and create a warm glow.

Dropped ceiling with recessed cans

Light shelf

Two large, lighted columns in the space not only add visual interest but also add some accent lighting. These columns allow you to experience the large scale of the space, but the warm radiance of the light these columns emit doesn’t make the size of the space feel overwhelming.

Lighted pillar

Throughout the rest of the lobby, multiple variations of amber pendants are used as ambient lighting, some glass, some fabric. The key to the success of these lights isn’t really the type of lights they are, it really has to do with the color choice. The amber glow really does make the space feel cozy.

Large and cozy don’t always go together. But it is interesting to see what thoughtful lighting choices can do to change the scale of a space.

Photo Credits: Kate Canale