Light Up Your Life! Explore Different Lighting Options for Your Home

Lighting is a huge aspect of your interior design scheme. On the most basic level, it provides you with visibility, but it also contributes heavily to the mood and style of your home. If you’re struggling with lighting ideas, read on to become familiar with some of the many lighting options available to create different effects.

Natural Lighting

Of course, the most natural way to light up a room is by letting the sun shine in through windows, glass doors, or skylights. However, relying on the sun can be really unpredictable. You’ll be at a loss at night, and any daytime storms will cast a gloomy shadow into your room. Additionally, too much direct sunlight can fade carpet, rugs, and furniture. While window tinting can help prevent fading, it will often come at the cost of weakening the natural light that’s illuminating your room. Fortunately, there are some window film options that can block harmful UV rays with minimal impact on the amount of light that’s filtered in. Ultimately, sunshine is generally not dependable enough to be the sole source of light in most rooms of the home, even if it does feel happy and bright during a nice day.

General Lighting

General lighting is also called ambient lighting, and it is usually the largest source of lighting in a room. It might not be the brightest type of lighting, but it will usually extend over a greater area than other lighting options. Chandeliers are a good, tasteful choice for more elegant rooms and foyers. Recessed lighting and track lighting are the best options for basements or rooms with low ceilings because they can provide an ample light source without hanging down into the room. The most commonly seen general lighting comes from basic ceiling fixtures, such as the lights on ceiling fans.

Task and Accent Lighting

Task and accent lighting are used to highlight a certain portion of a room. Task lighting is usually more practical, serving to illuminate an area that requires bright light. One of the most versatile forms of task lighting is the lamp. Because lamps come in so many varieties and are portable, they are an easy and effective way to add light to almost any given area. Pendant lights that hang down in groups also work for task lighting and are a popular choice for above dining room tables. Accent lighting, on the other hand, is typically used mostly for artistic purposes, such as drawing attention to wall decor. For accent lighting to be successful, it must shine three times as brightly as the room’s general lighting.

Bulbs

Once you’ve settled on a style of lighting for the rooms in your home, your next task is choosing the kinds of lightbulbs you want to use. Nowadays, bulbs come in all shapes and sizes to suit any type of lighting preference. Ranging from natural light to fluorescent, lightbulbs offer a variety of colors and shades to enhance the mood of your room. Energy efficiency should also be considered. With so many options available, be sure to choose a lightbulb that will be long lasting and cost efficient. Check out two of our past blogs to learn more about lightbulbs and energy-efficient lighting options.

The lighting you choose to install can make or break your home’s indoor aesthetic. Without putting enough thought into the process, you could end up living in the shadows or straining your eyes. The right lighting is easy on the eyes, creates a mood, and enhances room features. Make sure to keep these facts in mind the next time you’re updating your lighting.