Introduction:
Lights are one of the most essential components in any home. You can décor your home in any way you want, but if you don’t have appropriate light for visibility, all the décor can go in vain. One room can be used for multiple purposes; it can act as a bedroom, home office, studio, or playroom, and for every purpose you need suitable lighting.
According to Patricia Rizzo of the Lighting Research Center,
“The best advice I can offer is the following: no matter what you do or what you hope to accomplish, always install three types of lighting in a room. i.e., Ambient Lighting, Task Lighting, Accent Lighting.”
There are three basic types of lights to be installed at home; we will explore all three types with proper descriptions so you can choose wisely and make an informed decision.
Types of Lights:
Ambient Lighting:
General or ambient lighting provides light to a room in its full entireness in a uniform manner. You can quickly get an overview of any room with these lights. It illuminates your room overall by bouncing back to walls and providing warmth and an inviting atmosphere.
Examples of Ambient Lighting:
- Chandelier
- Ceiling or wall-mounted fixture
- Traditional recessed fixtures and/or LED downlights
- Track light
- Floor or Table Lamps
Recommendation for Ambient Lighting:
You can set your light’s temperature either cool or warm and install dimmers so you can adjust its intensity.
Task Lighting:
A type of light that is required in one specific area with specific focus and intensity is called task lighting. For example, light used for cooking, reading, writing, painting, or doing make-up. It provides sufficient bright light for better visibility and less stress on eyes.
Examples of Task Lighting:
- Lamps on tables in offices and study rooms.
- Lights in kitchen cabinets
- Make-up room or vanity rooms
- Lights used in shops like jewelry shops
Recommendation for Ambient Lighting:
Choose a task light according to your need; for example, a light required for reading is different from a light needed for makeup. A suitable intensity should be kept in mind.
Accent Lighting:
Accent lighting is used mainly to focus on a precise point of interest or to accomplish an anticipated effect. This type of lighting gives the impression of a larger room. As a general rule, effective accent lighting needs the installation of three times more light on the focal point than ambient lighting generally provides.
Examples of Accent Lighting:
- Slim line bar or track light to prominent any architectural feature or statue
- Wall-mounted fixtures to prominent a collection of objects
- Downlight or directional recessed fixture in outdoor near any plant or pool
Recommendation for Accent Lighting:
You should experiment with different lights with different intensities according to your desired visibility of your decorative items.
Conclusion:
Lights can make or ruin a place for you if you don’t pick lights according to their needs or requirements. You should always ask for expert advice before installation of any light. There are different qualities of the same light available in the market; you can choose according to your budget. It can be a one-time investment if you choose lights of high quality because it can be tiring to change lights often if you go for cheap options. By knowing the purpose and characteristics of ambient, task, and accent lighting, you can make informed decisions to boost your space’s environment and functionality.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can I combine two types of lights?
A: Yes, Task and Accent lights can be combined together for great results.
Q: What points need to be kept in mind while choosing suitable light for your room?
A: These following points need to be kept in mind:
- Purpose of room
- Size of room and placement of windows
- Color scheme of room
- Personal preference
Q: How can we define “layering” of lighting?
A: When you combine different light sources to produce a stable lighting scheme, it is called layering of lighting.
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