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Let there be light—and make it
four types to be exact
Lighting plays a large role in the success of a room.
So many homes I visit are inadequately lit. Sometimes
one lamp in the corner is all there is. Other times,
there are so many lamps that the room looks like a lighting
showroom. The goal with lighting is to create a layered
effect, using four different types of lighting—ambient,
task, decorative, and accent lighting.
Ambient lighting allows you to navigate the room safely
and fills the room with a soft glow of light. Great
choices for ambient light are those that bounce light
off the walls or ceiling, such as torchieres or wall
sconces with opaque shades. A light-colored ceiling
will reflect more light than a dark-colored ceiling.
A ceiling fixture that aims light upward can also provide
ambient light, but one type of lighting is not enough.
A room containing only ambient light can look flat,
with no depth or dimension.
Task lighting provides illumination right where you
need it. For example, a desk lamp will light up your
writing surface, while a swing-arm floor lamp next to
the sofa will provide good light for reading. Overhead
lighting is generally not good for task lighting because
it casts shadows of your head and hands onto your work
surface.
Accent lighting does just that—it accents certain
features of the room. Perhaps you’d like to highlight
an art collection or a beautiful fireplace. Use recessed
wall-washer lights in the ceiling that will direct light
onto those items. Track fixtures can also do the same
thing, but sometimes the track fixtures themselves divert
attention away from the art being accented. It is great
when the light fixtures themselves are somewhat invisible.
Accent lighting should not be the only lighting in the
room, or you may end up with an “art gallery”
effect.
Table lamps, chandeliers and candlestick-type wall
sconces are examples of decorative lighting. While they
do provide a certain amount of light, these lamps are
mostly there to look attractive. Decorative lighting
adds a lot of personality and sparkle to a room. However,
these should not be your only light source. Let a table
lamp illuminate the beautiful accessories you have placed
on your table. The crystal chandelier can be the eye-popper
in your dining room. Combined with other types of lighting,
decorative lighting can fulfill its main purpose, which
is to look good.
Combining task, accent, decorative and ambient light
in a room will assure that your room is beautiful and
functional. When planning your lighting, evaluate the
activities that will take place in that room. Your living
room, for example may benefit from ambient light in
the form of two floor lamp torchieres; decorative light
in the form of a ceramic table lamp on an end table;
an accent light calling attention to the new marble
fireplace, and task light on the little writing table
in the corner. Whenever possible use dimmer switches
to allow for even more lighting combinations.
This article first appeared in Alameda Newspaper
Group papers on March 5, 2005.
Go
back to the list of decorating columns.
All articles copyright 2003-2008 Anna
Jacoby.
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