Choosing the right kind of light is just as important as choosing furniture for your home. Different types of lights may have the same purpose – to provide light to any space or room in the house – but this doesn’t mean that you can just purchase anything just for the sake of it. Your lighting choices can significantly impact the value of your home as well as its ambiance and theme. Using natural or man-made lightning can create the illusion of space, while lights that illuminate dark colors can make a room feel cramped and smaller.
While you may already have an idea of how you want your home to feel and look like, do you know which type of light to use in order to achieve those goals? With the number of options available in the market today, do you know what to consider? And the important aspect that you need to use proper fixation tools to fix the lightnings, so let this article be your guide.
Gone are the days when lighting fixtures only come in one type. Today, you’ll find a variety of lights in different forms, styles, and designs. The wide variety may give you unlimited choices, but choosing the right one can also be a struggle. To help you come up with a sound decision, look into the different types of lights and its corresponding benefits.
1. Ambient or general lighting: This is one of the most common lights appropriate for home use. Ambient lighting creates a soft glow to any space, making it easy for you to accomplish tasks without being distracted by any glare. This type of light is considered as the “natural light” in cinematography and photography. In terms of home décor, the concept is quite similar. The only difference is that you basically create ambient light by making the room’s light as flat and as natural as possible. Ambient lighting may be conducive for getting tasks done, but it’s not the best choice if you’re usually working using small materials or things or if you need to highlight certain areas of your room or space.
With the right light, location, and installation, ambient lighting can create a fantastic environment wherein you can just relax and share stories with a loved one. You’ll need this kind of environment when you had a stressful day at school or work. Ambient lighting is also referred to as mood lighting because it captures the soft curves of your face while allowing your pupils to dilate slightly.
If you think ambient lighting is apt for your style preference and home design, scout for the following lights:
- Recessed or track lights: Although recessed or track lights generally suit any type of home, installing it in a low ceiling requires caution. This should be installed strategically in order to avoid creating harsh lighting in the room.
- Chandeliers and pendants: On the other hand, if your home has tall ceilings, chandeliers and pendants are two of your best options. When using these types of lights, just make sure that these are hung in a height that’s above people’s head, not at eye level.
- Wall sconces and wall lights: Who says your lights should only be hung from the ceiling? You can now light up your home using wall sconces and wall lights. This type of lights is so versatile that you’ll be able to find one that perfectly suits your home’s architecture.
2. Task lighting: As its name suggests, this type of light produces a smaller and concentrated light, apt for working. Some people even tag this lighting type as office lighting. Task lighting is designed to help you see clearly when you’re working on tasks that need good lighting. These include cooking, reading, sewing, and writing, among others. You can maximize the benefits of task lighting by using it as a contrasting light. If you’re working in a low-lit room and a table lamp is turned on, the task light in this area will be more effective because it creates less glare. If the entire room was lit, task lighting could cause too much glare.
Aside from providing light so you can accomplish tasks easier and faster, task lighting can also stimulate your brain. This works because the contrasting light fuels your brain to be more alert and focused. As a result, your productivity levels will increase. If you’re wondering why more and more businesses are using task lighting in their offices, you already have an answer.
You can create task lighting in your home by using the following lights:
- Desk, floor, and swing arm lamps: These types of lamps are lightweight and allows you to work during nighttime without disturbing other people in the room. You can simply adjust the direction of these lamps to an area where you can read or write comfortably, allowing your children or spouse to sleep in peace. These lamps can be used for the bedroom, especially if you’re fond of reading, writing, or working before going to bed.
- Under-cabinet and vanity lights: If you want your tasks lights to be stationary, opt to install under-cabinet and vanity lights. These are considered as the ultimate task lights because it allows you to be productive without disrupting the aesthetics of your home. Under-cabinet lights are perfect for kitchen use, while vanity lights are appropriate in your bathroom, dressing mirror, and workstation.
- Pendant and track lights: Pendants and track lights are great options for your home because these can be placed anywhere. Similar to other tasks lightings, pendants and track lights can also provide the same benefits but has one major setback: it only covers limited space. This means that you may need to purchase more if you’re planning to use these for larger areas.
3. Accent lighting: Accent lighting is different because its primary intention is to draw the eyes to a specific focal point, not light up an entire room. If you want to add drama and style to your home, accent lighting should be on top of your list. This type of light works by illuminating pieces in a room or space while hiding dull areas. Accent lighting works well if you want to showcase different artworks, pieces of furniture, or wall washing in your home. Accent lighting can also be used outdoors in your yard or garden. You can purchase these lights from Banno Lighting.
Unlike other types of lights, accent lighting creates a very sophisticated and luxurious ambiance. This type of light encourages the mind to give meaning and importance to the images or items that are being highlighted. This is the reason why museums and art galleries are using accent lighting.
To get this look, start scouting for sellers who offer the following lights:
- Wall lights: This is one of the most common lights for accent lighting. These lights come in a variety of sizes, allowing you to highlight big or small artworks. You can also use these lights to accentuate any significant structure in your home.
- Landscape lighting: If you naturally have a green thumb and you want all of your visitors to be in awe of your skills, use landscape lighting. This is an excellent choice for showing off your prized garden. You can also use this type of light in your pathway or driveway.
- Recessed lighting and spotlighting: Illuminating an entire wall with art all over can easily be done using recessed lighting. Installing these on the base of your wall is an effortless way of accenting any piece or area in your home.
Make a Worthy Investment
Once you’ve chosen the right type of light for your home, start scouting for reliable businesses that offer the product. Keep a watchful eye on the track record of the business, its image in the market, and the quality of its lighting products. Anything that you purchase for your home is considered as an investment, so make sure you’re getting the most of your money from these lights.
