The Four Types of Lighting Every Home Should Have
Light is an important aspect of any room and yet it is easily taken for granted. A room may be the most well-crafted piece of art, but without a little illumination, you and your guests will be unable to appreciate the beauty of your design and architecture. Without lighting, you and your visitors won’t be able to see the room décor and furnishings, much less pay any attention to them!
There are four types of lighting one should have in their home so as to complete the picture. With the proper lighting, the full beauty of your home should come into full circle, allowing you and your guests to enjoy the work and thought that you put into decorating your home. The four types of lighting are: ambient/general lighting, accent/feature lighting, task lighting, and decorative lighting.
Ambient or General Lighting
Ambient or general lighting provides a diffused light that gives an overall illumination to the room. An example of this would be the overhead light in most rooms. For most people, this type of light is not given much thought; however, sprucing up your ambient/general lighting is also a way of adding a touch of décor to a room. Why not pick an overhead light that suits the mood and theme of your home? Go for a rustic, weathered mini-chandelier for a shabby chic look. Line your tray ceilings with warm pin lights for a candlelit, ethereal glow. The possibilities are endless.
Accent/Feature Lighting
Accent or feature lighting directs focus to a particular part or object in the room. The focus is the illumined item or architecture and not the light itself. An example of this would be the track lights used to illuminate a painting. Don’t have too many focal points in a room; doing so will give the room a cluttered appearance and overwhelm you and your visitors. In this case, a little goes a long way.
Task Lighting
Task lighting is used in an area where certain tasks need to be done, such as cooking, reading, writing and others. There should be plenty of lighting in areas where these visual tasks will be performed so as to make the work easier. Examples of task lighting are desk lamps and island lights. Again, there’s no need for these light fixtures to be drab and uninspired; for example, stylish island lights come in all designs, using fabric, frosted glass, or even windowpane oyster shades.
Decorative Lighting
Decorative lighting is exactly what it says – lighting used as decoration. It draws attention to itself and is meant to be admired. Decorative light fixtures are meant to be statement pieces and centerpieces. An obvious example of this would be a chandelier. Other less obvious choices would be wall scones or table lamps. Pick out light fixtures that suit the mood and theme of your home. A wrought iron chandelier would be perfect in a rustic home, while a Swarovski, multi-tiered chandelier would be more suited to a baroque design.
All of these types of lighting can overlap and complement each other to create the perfect design for your abode, so don’t be afraid to conceptualize, experiment, and finally illuminate your home.
Image Credit: Mazzali
