To ensure that you will achieve the desired effect for your rooms, it is important that you first understand the four basic types of home lighting.
1. Ambient or general lighting - illuminates the whole room. You probably notice it from recessed and track lighting. Certain wall sconces are yet another example. I recommend that you install a dimmer with your track and recessed lights so that you have the added flexibility in adjusting the brightness.
2. Task lighting - provides sufficient light to help you perform the task at hand, e.g., reading, cooking, shaving, etc. Task lighting should be glare free. And it should make things easy to see without tiring or straining your eyes.
3. Accent lighting - is focused lighting that is used to illuminate a sculpture, piece of art, or architectural element in a room. Accent lighting is about three times as bright as ambient lighting.
4. Natural lighting - comes through windows, doors, and skylights. Depending on the time of day, season, or weather, it can vary in brightness and intensity.
As with all of your decorating efforts, do a little planning before you rush out and purchase your home lighting fixtures. Think carefully about the activities that will occur in each area of the room.
Don’t be afraid to use multiple types of interior lighting in a room. In fact this is highly desirable and will create very dramatic effects.
Living Rooms
* Place a lamp behind every reader’s shoulder…about 42 inches above the floor. Click on this link for ideas on re-energizing outdated Table Lamps.
* Highlight a framed piece of art with halogen track lighting or by attaching a picture light
* Use accent lights to illuminate book or display shelves.
* Install recessed lighting as your general lighting or to bring out beautiful wall textures (use a dimmer)
* Slim strip lights come in just about any length and can stick to the edge of shelves or ledges to highlight displays or provide a soft wash to a wall
Kitchens
* A grid of recessed ceiling cans will provide great general lighting
* Install individual recessed down-lights as task lighting for the sink and range
* Place halogen pendant lights over bars and counters
* Under-cabinet lights make excellent task lighting
Dining Rooms
* A chandelier over the dining room table creates a beautiful setting (use a dimmer)
* Highlight a framed piece of art with halogen track lighting or by attaching a picture light
* Install halogen strip lighting your china cabinet to highlight china or collectibles
* If a chandelier is not your taste and you have a long table, try a trio of pendant lights
Bedrooms
* Place table lamps on your bedside tables. (For children’s rooms, avoid halogen lamps which can get very hot.)
* Wall sconces can provide good general lighting without being too bright
* If there is not much space, consider recessed lights or pendant lights
* Don’t forget candlelight if a romantic setting is what you have in mind
Bathrooms
* Use shadow-free fluorescent or incandescent lights around mirrors for grooming
* To avoid heavy shadows, place mirror lights on the side rather than directly overhead
* Don’t forget to install a nightlight
