04 Oct The Four Layers of Indoor Lighting
Properly lighting your home is one of the most important things you can do to make it look its absolute best. Good lighting makes any space look bright, welcoming, and comforting. Illuminating your home well is easy, once you are familiar with the four types of lighting, and how to utilize them effectively. The four types, in decreasing order of prominence, are as follows:
Ambient Lighting
Ambient lighting is the general lighting in a room. While it is the most important of the four layers, it is still often executed poorly. Good ambient light is provided by sources that bounce illumination off of ceilings and walls. Types of ambient lighting include (but are not limited to) floor lamps and ceiling pendants.
Task Lighting
Task lighting, as its name would suggest, is lighting for times when you need additional light to better accomplish a specific task; reading, doing work in the kitchen, and so on. An ideal task light is placed between your head and the surface you need to light. Lighting from above (ergo, ambient lighting) is ill-suited for this purpose, as it will create harsh shadows. Types of task lighting include table lamps and desk lamps – especially adjustable models, which can direct light with even more precision.
Accent Lighting
Accent lighting is directed lighting that highlights certain things in a room; art, decorative objects, plants, or other small accents. Good accent lighting is all about being subtle. If you do it right, people will notice the object you’re illuminating and not so much the way it is lit. Types of accent lighting include track lighting and LED tape light.
Decorative Lighting
Decorative lighting can’t provide usable illumination all by itself, but it acts as the “jewelry” of lighting, helping a room to sparkle and shine. Types of decorative lighting include wall sconces and chandeliers.
At Bahir lighting, we provide custom accent and decorative lighting pieces, constructed by way of ancestral glassmaking traditions. Visit us today to begin the journey toward lighting your home with character and comfort.
Note: This article adapted from a piece on Lights Online, authored by Emma Harger.
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