No, you don’t need tube lights

The tubelight is the most contentious item of lighting in Indian homes. Drive across any urban Indian landscape and you’re likely to see towers of white light, harshly illuminating evening domestic scenes. Tubelights are afterall, cheap, accessible, and will light any space with acute painful brightness. Almost nothing looks good or charming, or delectable in white tube light. Even if a space has depth, this type of light will murder it. It causes visual fatigue and makes a space feel colder; it is light better suited to going for a blood test than to a scene of rest and restoration. Tube lights have become the defacto choice when there are just too many choices. And if you’re someone constantly in doubt then opt for soft warm yellow light that can be calibrated with dimmers. For those brave enough to choose, we have a lighting plan…

Architectural Layering of Lights

Modern urban homes no longer have singular purpose spaces, they have become flexible. One overhead light source may not be the solution to today’s flexible spaces. Beyond its basic functionality, lighting shapes the emotion the room evokes, it also alters perception and directs how we interact with the space. Good lighting unassumingly carries meaning and is rarely loud. Whether it's dimly lit or brightly lit, warm or cool, each is decoded by our brain instinctively. Multidimensional layered lighting in the right pockets add depth while sculpting the space. Each room has its own rhythm and asks for its own intensity and atmosphere guided by how the space is meant to be used. Faisal Manzur, principal architect and designer at his Madras-based eponymous design studio Faisal Manzir Design Studio suggests, “Lighting between 2700K and 3000K introduces warmth, comfort, and intimacy into a space. This softer spectrum mimics natural evening light, making rooms feel inviting rather than clinical or harsh.”

The Heart of the Home

Working in a kitchen demands clarity and precision. For tasks like chopping, cooking, and cleaning, having a well-lit space is very important. (It might be the only place in the house where a soft warm white could be said to be actually useful.) Apart from concealed lighting under cabinetry, Faisal points out, “Task lighting should be used selectively only where function requires it, to maintain balance without overwhelming the space. Pendant lights above dining tables distribute light evenly while encouraging connection and intimacy.” Materials and textures also play a significant role in how light is perceived. Faisal continues,“Natural finishes like wood and stone reflect and diffuse warm light. Elements such as wooden wall cladding paired with a stone table add texture, allowing light to move softly across surfaces.”