Wednesday, June 17, 2009
A Properly Lit Room
My Decorating Plan
www.mydecplan.com
805.933.0222
Lighting is often the most ignored design element when decorating a room. However, the lighting in a space can significantly impact the comfort level, ease of use, and overall enjoyment of that space.
There are four types of lighting necessary for a well lit room. They are: General, Task, Accent and Mood. Most rooms need all four types of lighting to be successful.
General lighting comes from an indirect source that showers light over a large (general) area. It reflects off of walls and ceilings to create an overall backlit feeling. General lighting can be recessed lighting in your ceiling or ceiling mounted light fixtures. Make sure that your general lighting is evenly distributed about the room, to not cause any major shadows or overly bright spots.
Task lighting is direct light aimed at one specific area of the room. Just like the name says, it is mainly used for specific tasks such as reading, writing, and cooking. Task lighting can be achieved through lamps or under-counter lights.
Accent lighting is used to create an atmosphere or highlight a room feature, such as a display of art work or an interesting architectural element. Accent lighting can be achieved through the use of wall sconces, spotlights, uplights and small lamps.
Mood lighting is artistic lighting. By changing the intensity of the light with a dimmer switch or the using of colored bulbs, lighting can dramatically change the way a room feels at different times. Examples of this type of lighting are chandeliers and and accent lights.
Besides having all four types of lighting in your space, it is also important to make sure all light is evenly distributed around the room with no dark corners or areas that are too bright.
If you heed these simple lighting rules, the end result will be a room that is well lit, practical and aesthetically pleasing.
