Party Architecture: #3 - Lighting

Turn down the lights
Turn up the music
Let's just be together tonight

-Neil Diamond

Turn your lights down low
And pull your window curtain
Oh let jah moon come shining in

-Bob Marley

Take it from Bob and Neil, lighting is essential when creating the right mood at your party.

In previous posts on Party Architecture, we covered Density, or having the right number of people in your space for the type of party; and Structure, or arranging your apartment so guests can mix and move.
A third tenet, lighting, complements density and structure and, over the course of an evening, subtly signals where the party is heading.

Lighting

Following are the two basic ideas behind proper lighting. They may seem obvious to some of you, but we find that people often forget them when the party begins.

1. Light the Zones

There should be good light at the entrance, while in the rest of the apartment the levels should be brighter at first and then dim for intimacy, dark for dancing. In the structure post we suggested that those who have the space can spread out the bar, food, music, and entrance, and arrange spaces for intimate conversation and/or dancing. Lighting should complement and shift with these areas.

2. Vary the Lighting Over Time

Restaurants with bars often do this well. As the evening goes on, the lights should go down and the music go up. One way to do this is to have candles and lights going early then turn off some lights as the party progresses.

What are your lighting tips?

-Billy Mac

Party Architecture Series

• Party Architecture: #1 - Density
• Party Architecture: #2 - Structure
• Party Architecture: #3 - Lighting
• Party Architecture: #4 - Flow

Re-Edited on 12.13.11 - MGR)
(Re-Edited on 12.15.10 - MGR)
(RePosted from 2005-12-15 - MGR)
(ReEdited from 2006-12-19 - MGR)
(ReEdited from 2007-12-14 - MGR)

Comments (7)

Thanks, AlmostAD. I'm going to the dollar store!

I love chandeliers and table lamps with an orange-ish glow. I have them in my foyer and livingroom as well as accents in other rooms. They are fantastic for both entertaining and intimate family evenings. Especially when they create indirect light (nothing more annoying during gatherings than being blinded by a light fixture behind your conversationalists head). Stuff like this is perfect and makes a hell of a convarsation piece - another plus for the party! :
http://www.withoutstyle.com/2007/11/27/lights-my-fire/

I look at the photos, and think, "Man, I was born in the wrong decade." I woulda been one hell of a gay boy in the 60's - acid trips, marijuana, woodstock, janis joplin and grace slick, and casual sex.

Now, addressing the subject matter of the post, since all my lights are CFLs (non-dimmable) I do keep a handful of very low wattage regular bulbs and change them out for parties.

lighting gel--thin sheets of heat-resistant colored plastic--can be purchased from any theatrical lighting supply shop (including online from barbizon.com) and easily wrapped around incandescent or compact florescent light bulbs using a little scotch tape. they come in literally hundreds of colors, and each sheet will cover between 6 and 8 bulbs for less than $10.

Gel is a great way to set the mood for your parties and have a different look for each party you throw. Not to mention the fact that you can "dim" CFLs by using a saturated color to decrease the amount of light.

For a less affected look, try using ambers or oranges, which is similar to the color incandescent lamps glow when they're dimmed.

To me, lighting is THE most important thing about a party, followed by music. These two things make the first impression by really creating the atmosphere; walking into a bright or silent party room always makes my heart sink and makes me want to turn around and walk right back out. Reminds me of office parties and other forced celebrations.

In my experience, guests will eat and drink pretty much anything (I know I will!). But they will relax and let their guard down more, and stay longer if the lights are dim and the music is fun.

At friends' parties, I've even been known to ask for permission to turn off/down lights; and usually when they are turned down, you hear a little cheer from all of the guests. I think many people don't recognize the affect lighting has on them until it shifts.

Lighting is such an important element in planning a party. If a corner is too dark, then no one will go there. If it is over-lit, then partiers become exhausted and may want to leave early. Light also plays a part in where people gather. A great lighting appliance that attracts just the right crowd and creates a relaxing ambiance is an eco-friendly ventless fireplace: www.hearthcabinet.com

I have a dear friend who loves to turn ALL her lights on when she has a party... it's downright weird.