Written by Charitaa Bagry
A well-lit room can change the way one perceives the space. Lights can bring a certain level of theatricality to a space. They can be used as a medium to highlight or focus on a part of your design. Lighting can be used to make your space look bigger and open or small and cosy. They can also help alter your mood. It is not only about adding an element that is aesthetically pleasing. Lighting increases the functionality and completes your design.
There are 3 main types of lighting commonly used:
Ambient lighting – This is the lighting used to generally light up a room, blanketing it with a soft glow enough for basic functionality without creating a harsh glare. Both cool and warm colours can be used depending on the user’s preference. This type of light essentially allows the users to move comfortably through the space.
Accent lighting – This is the lighting used to highlight a particular object, design, form in the space. Its essentially used to draw focus towards a certain point. Usually warm white lights are used for this type of lighting as they make the space feel more warm and comfortable. It can used to highlight an architectural feature or even a piece of artwork and gives a perception of depth.
Task lighting – This type of lighting is applied where one would perform a particular task. These lights help brighten the space so the user is able to perform the task with ease as they help naturally stimulate your brain. Usually (depending on the task) cooler shades are used for task lighting. It is best to avoid using harsh lighting or overly bright lights. Another way to create a space for a task is by using a contrasting light.
The following are the types of lights that can be used to achieve the above-mentioned styles:
