Home Lighting 101
When Designing homes, it is important to have adequate lighting throughout. There are 3 different categories when it comes to interior home lighting:
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. ~ Patricia Rizzo
Ambient Lighting
General or Ambient lighting is supposed to light up a room on its own. This category of lighting is what makes up about 80% of the lighting in your home. This can be a chandelier, flush mount fixture, recessed lighting, or a ceiling fan.
This warm, cozy space features ambient lighting.
Task lighting
Task lighting illuminates the tasks a person carries out in each space. These tasks are things such as reading, cooking, computer work, anything that you want a spotlight on. This includes sconces, desks, floor lamps, or pendants.
A great example of task lighting in a vanity space.
Accent lighting
Accent lighting is used mainly to focus on a specific point of interest or to achieve the desired effect. It helps give the impression of a larger room and is typically used to highlight an architectural feature. This can be track lighting, a decorative chandelier, undercabinet lighting, a directional recessed fixture, or a directional wall-mounted fixture.
This gorgeous chandelier is a wonderful example of accent lighting.
Your Home Lighting Plan
A good lighting plan combines all three types to light an area, according to function and style. This provides your home with adequate lighting, plus it also opens the door to specialize your home some more. There are a lot of different styles of lights in each category with different colors, shapes, textures and details that can affect the overall look and feel of a room.
A warm, inviting room that features all three types of lighting.
“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,” says Patricia Rizzo, of the Lighting Research Center .
Most rooms in our homes are multifunctional – serving more than one purpose. They can be a place you can relax, work on the computer, do arts and crafts, cook, share a meal with friends and so much more. Therefore, lighting features need to correspond to the setting of the room.
Contact Room Reimagined Design
If you’re not sure where to start or are in need of professional help, feel free to contact Gina Wolleat from Room Reimagined Design for further assistance at (651) 387-3861. We have the knowledge and the product selection to find you the perfect lighting for your home.
