Know the difference because it makes a difference to your interior
Have you ever stayed in a luxurious 5-star hotel and wondered why the room felt so relaxed, so therapeutic, so… transported into another world? Have you ever wished that your living space would produce the same effect?
If your answer is yes, then read on to find out the different types of interior lighting and how it enhances the look and feel of your home.
Top-end luxury hotels engage interior designers to lavishly deck up their rooms. And aside from the choice of furnishing, the placement of different types of lights plays a crucial role in their decor.
A little-known fact is the use of different layers of lighting to achieve such a desired effect. If you’re keen to create the same effect for your home, you’re in the right place. You’ll soon discover the secret tricks the experts are using to create such a calming atmosphere in any room.
What homeowners are guilty of
Did you know that most homeowners spend an enormous amount of time ensuring they have chosen the coolest wall colour and the coziest sofa? They spend hours researching the finest 55-inch ultra-high-definition flat-screen TV for their living room.
They arm-wrestle, squabble, and argue over the theme and design for their kitchen cabinetry. They fight over the colour scheme and tile texture for their bathrooms. And they engage in endless cold wars over whether a king-size or queen-size bed fits the room. But somehow, they neglect to put much emphasis on the interior lighting.
For most homeowners, lighting fixtures are picked because they look nice aesthetically and blend well with their interior design. However, not knowing the difference between the different types of lighting can make a lot of difference to the ambience, look, and feel of your home.
Different types of interior lighting
The key to creating a functional, well-lit home is not to fall back on a single type of lighting. There are generally three different types of lighting that serve different purposes — ambient, accent, and task lighting. You usually want to have all three layers present in most of your rooms.
You might also enjoy reading about the top mistakes homeowners make when decorating their interior — are you guilty of any of them?
You may also like to read more about the importance of lighting in your living room to see how these layers come together in one of the most-used rooms in the home.
Ambient lighting
Ambient lighting, also known as background lighting, provides the room with an overall uniform layer of illumination. This form of light enhances the room with a comfortable level of brightness without glare.
It’s the most basic of the three types. The most common ambient lights are ceiling fixtures, track lights, or recessed lights. Ambient lighting is the most commonly used lighting in our homes. However, it does not serve the purpose of highlighting or showcasing an area of the home, nor does it function particularly well when working closely on activities like reading.
Accent lighting
Accent lights add interest to a particular area or give added dimension to the room design. They’re typically used to highlight certain objects or architectural features — such as houseplants, paintings, sculptures, or carved cabinet doors.
The rule of thumb for accent lighting: it should always be about three times the general illumination level. Accent lighting should never be the focal point and is instead meant to work without being seen. Accent lighting can be provided by recessed and track lighting, chandeliers with dimmer switches, or wall sconces.
Task lighting
Task lighting directs light for specific everyday tasks like reading. It’s used to enhance visual clarity and prevent eyestrain. If you like to read books on the sofa, you’ll want to invest in a lavishly designed floor lamp or table lamp. A good task light should be free of distracting glare and shadows.
An example of task lighting would be an adjustable-arm task light. Such a fixture gives the user maximum control over the intensity and proximity of the light to a specific area. Task lighting is also commonly used on a kitchen worktop. If you’re someone who spends a significant amount of time working in the kitchen, then task lighting is essential.
Adding the three layers of lighting
Using the kitchen as an example, let’s consider the three layers of lighting to make any kitchen look warm and desirable. The first layer is the ambient light — ceiling lights, downlights, or pendant lights.
The second layer is accent lights. These could be lights to showcase a certain art piece or pottery, or they can be used for your custom cabinetry. As we spend more time entertaining and casual dining in open-concept kitchens, accent lights add depth and character to any kitchen.
The third layer is task lights. These work well on worktops, around the kitchen sink, or above stove areas. The three layers of kitchen lights complement each other and offer you and your guests a great experience.
So unless you have a very small kitchen area, you should always consider adding multiple layers of lights — just like in any other functional room in the home.
Conclusion
Armed with an understanding of these three basic types of lighting, you have plenty of options and combinations for your interior lighting. Play around with different light fixtures to create a unique backdrop for your home, and you’ll be surprised to see the huge difference it can make.
Renovating your home? Check out our renovation packages for the most popular options. And as long as you consciously employ different layers of lighting in any room, you can have the same effect as a luxurious 5-star hotel room — right in your own home.