照明的層次等於生活的餘裕，不要讓生活只有一種亮度 The layers of light are the margins of life; don't let your life have only one level of brightness

你是否曾有過這種感覺：走進某個飯店房間或咖啡廳，明明沒做什麼，卻瞬間感到放鬆、被接納？但回到家，打開客廳正中央那盞吸頂燈時，雖然亮堂堂的，心裡卻覺得空蕩蕩，甚至有一種無處遁形的「審訊室」感？

這其中的秘密，不在於燈泡的瓦數，而在於「光的數量與層次」。

在室內設計領域中，有一條鮮為人知但極具魔力的黃金法則：「理想上，為每個房間規劃至少 5 到 7 處光源。」聽起來似乎有點誇張？你可能會想，誰需要那麼多燈？但這裡的「光源」，指的並不是要把天花板挖得像蜂窩，而是指光出現的「位置」與「機能」。

建築大師路易·康（Louis Kahn）曾說：「空間是由光所雕塑的。」如果只有一盞主燈，空間是平面的、單調的；但當光源增加，光與影的對話便開始了。

這 5 到 7 處光源，其實是對應著照明設計中經典的「三層次理論」（The Three Layers of Lighting）：

環境光（Ambient）： 這是基礎，提供整體的安全感，比如天花板的燈。

任務光（Task）： 為了特定行為而存在，比如沙發旁的閱讀立燈、廚房流理台下的燈條。

氛圍光（Accent）： 這是靈魂所在，用來照亮一幅畫、一個角落的植栽，甚至是櫃體內的微光。

為什麼需要這麼多？生活哲學家們常說，人的情緒是流動的，光線也該如此。白天我們需要明亮來提振精神，但夜晚則需要低色溫、分散的微光來告訴大腦「該休息了」。根據環境心理學的研究，過度均勻且明亮的白光會抑制褪黑激素分泌，讓人處於亢奮狀態；而分散、局部的暖光（類似營火的概念），則能帶來原始的安全感與親密感（Hygge）。

試想一下這個畫面：晚上回到家，你關掉了刺眼的大燈。角落有一盞立燈灑在單人椅上，電視櫃後方透出淡淡的背光，餐桌上有一盞低垂的吊燈，窗台邊也許還有燭光搖曳。這些光點錯落高低，像是在家裡譜寫出一段溫柔的旋律。

這「5 到 7 處光源」的建議，其實是在提醒我們：不要讓生活只有一種亮度。

當你擁有了控制光影層次的能力，你就擁有了切換心情的開關。多一盞燈，不僅是照亮角落，更是為了在忙碌的一天結束後，留給自己一份溫柔的餘裕。

*pic source via internet

Have you ever walked into a hotel room or a café and felt instantly relaxed and embraced, without knowing exactly why? Yet, when you return home and flip the switch for the single, bright ceiling light in the living room, the space feels stark, flat, and perhaps even a bit like an interrogation room?

The secret lies not in the wattage of the bulb, but in the "quantity and layering of light."

In the world of interior design, there is a golden rule that is rarely spoken of but works like magic: "Ideally, design at least five to seven light sources for each room." It might sound excessive at first. Who needs that many lights? But "sources" here doesn't mean turning your ceiling into Swiss cheese with recessed lighting; it refers to the location and function of where the light appears.

Architect Louis Kahn once famously said, "The room is not a room without natural light," and by extension, artificial light sculpts the space at night. If there is only one main light, the space is two-dimensional and monotonous. But when sources multiply, a dialogue between light and shadow begins.

These 5 to 7 light sources actually correspond to the classic "Three Layers of Lighting" theory in design:

1. Ambient Lighting: The foundation that provides overall visibility and safety (e.g., the main ceiling fixture).

2. Task Lighting: Exists for specific actions (e.g., a floor lamp by the sofa for reading, or under-cabinet strips in the kitchen).

3. Accent Lighting: The soul of the room (e.g., a light focusing on a painting, a plant in the corner, or a soft glow inside a cabinet).

4. 
   

Why do we need so many? Because, as lifestyle philosophers often remind us, human emotions are fluid, and lighting should be too. During the day, we need brightness to stay alert, but at night, we need low-temperature, scattered glows to signal to our brains that it is time to rest. According to environmental psychology, overly uniform and bright white light suppresses melatonin, keeping us in a state of high alert. In contrast, scattered, localized warm light (mimicking the concept of a campfire) evokes a primal sense of safety and intimacy—often referred to as Hygge by the Danes.

Imagine this scene: You come home at night and turn off the harsh "big light." A floor lamp casts a glow on an armchair, a soft backlight emanates from behind the TV cabinet, a pendant light hangs low over the dining table, and perhaps a candle flickers on the windowsill. These points of light, at varying heights, compose a gentle melody within your home.

This advice to have "5 to 7 light sources" is essentially a reminder: Don't let your life have only one level of brightness.

When you have the power to control the layers of light and shadow, you possess the switch to change your mood. Adding another light isn't just about illuminating a corner; it is about creating a gentle margin of comfort for yourself at the end of a busy day.