How to Use Event Lighting at Your Events

Event Lighting: How to Set the Right Tone At Your Events

When it comes to planning an event, lighting might not be the first thing you think about, but lighting is an important part of setting the right tone for your event. The right lighting can transform any space. Whether you’re hosting a corporate event or having a product launch, lighting plays an important role in making your event memorable. Here are some tips on getting the lighting right at your next event.

Create the Right Mood

Lighting has the power to set the tone for your event. Soft, warm lighting can create a friendly vibe at a meet-and-greet, while bright, colorful lighting can energize a crowd at a concert or corporate event. Different lighting styles help bring up different feelings and emotions in people, so think about the mood you want to create and choose your lighting accordingly.

For example:

Warm, dim lighting works well for dinners or networking events.
Bright, white lights create an upbeat, professional environment that is perfect for conferences or presentations.
Colored lighting adds drama and excitement, ideal for parties, concerts, or product launches.

Warm Lighting

Warm stage uplighting and room design for small corporate event in hotel ballroom with stage and projection screens on each side by Wired Production Group

Bright Lighting

Stage design for corporate event with large LED backdrop across the stage and bright blue uplighting as well as bright white gobo lighting on the ceiling by Wired Production Group

Colored Lighting

Rainbow color lighting design across corporate conference room for company holiday party designed by Wired Production Group

Lighting to Highlight Key Areas

Strategic lighting can help direct attention to key areas at your event. Use spotlights to focus on stages, speakers, or performers. Ensure that any important areas, like the registration area, bars, or food stations, are well-lit.

Hundreds of attendees seated at round tables in front of bleachers, with five performers in the bleachers with custom lighting to highlight their performance visually, designed by Wired Production Group

Five performers stand on bleachers with microphone, lighting design lights the performers with a bright, clean look for the audience

Uplighting Can Help Set the Stage

Uplighting, where lights are placed on the floor and directed upward, is an easy and effective way to create a dramatic vibe with indoor or outdoor event designs. It adds depth and dimension to any space. Uplighting can also be customized with different colors to fit your event’s theme, making it a useful element for any event.

Wide shot of Utah State University building with exterior blue uplighting and bright white uplighting near the entryway signage, designed by Wired Production Group

Get Creative with Gobo Lighting

A fun way to personalize your event is with gobo lighting. Gobo lights project patterns, shapes or even logos onto walls, floors, or ceilings. You can use them to display your brand logo at corporate events or project patterns for galas. Gobo lighting adds a unique and creative touch that can make your event feel more customized and sophisticated.

Happy gobo design on the ceiling of the Voxman Music Building auditorium to enhance the space with positive energy through lighting design

Custom branded gobo as the backdrop of a corporate event in a hotel ballroom

Moving gobo designs on the ceiling captured in a photo with LED vertical displays on stage

Use Color to Enhance Your Theme

Color is an element of event lighting that can reinforce your event’s theme or branding. For instance, if you’re hosting a product launch, you could use lighting in your brand’s colors to create a cohesive look.

View from the bleachers of the Nebraska Board of Trustees event, with round tables filling the floor and dramatic uplighting making the room red in color

Changing the color throughout the event can also help shift the mood from formal to fun. For example, you could use cooler colors during dinner and transition to vibrant, dynamic lighting as the dance floor opens.

Use Dynamic Lighting for Energy

Dynamic lighting can take the experience to the next level for high-energy events like parties or concerts. Using moving lights, strobe effects, or light shows can create excitement and engage your guests. Pair dynamic lighting with music or other elements to create a more fully immersive experience for your audience.

Remember To Use Natural Light

If your event takes place during the day, don’t forget about natural light. Venues with large windows or outdoor spaces can offer beautiful lighting without any equipment. However, be prepared to adjust as the sun sets. If your event goes into the evening, have a plan to transition from natural to artificial lighting.

Work with a Professional Lighting Designer

Event lighting can be complex, especially for large events or more elaborate lighting setups. Working with a professional lighting designer ensures that every aspect of your event lighting is planned and executed perfectly. They’ll know how to professionally set up your lighting and help you achieve the look and feel you’re going for.

Event lighting is more than just a necessity — it’s a powerful tool that can transform your event and leave an impression on your guests. By considering how to use lighting to set the tone, highlight key areas, and enhance your theme, you can elevate any event from ordinary to extraordinary.

Whether you’re going for a subtle glow, a high-energy vibe, or a sleek, professional look, the right lighting can make all the difference. So next time you’re planning an event, give lighting the attention it deserves — it could be the key to creating the perfect atmosphere.