Certified Interior Decorator (CID) Practice Test 2025 – All-in-One Comprehensive Guide to Exam Success!

Polished surfaces in Roman homes were highly valued for their ability to enhance lighting through reflection. These surfaces, whether they were polished marble, metal, or even glass, effectively bounced light back into the room, creating a brighter and more illuminated environment. This reflective quality was especially beneficial in times when natural light from windows or openings was limited.

The reflective surfaces would maximize the use of available light, whether from the sun during the day or from torches and lamps at night, reducing the need for additional lighting sources and creating a more inviting and spacious atmosphere within the home.

In contrast, absorption of light would lead to darker spaces as materials soak up light rather than reflect it. Scattering and diffusion of light can also play roles in lighting an area, but they typically do not contribute to the same level of brightness as reflection does, which directly enhances the luminosity of a space.