Lighting Types and its Applications / Effects
Lighting design goes far beyond choosing appealing fixtures and plugging them in. Creating contrast is the main goal of lighting design and is achieved by introducing varying degrees also know as layers of light into each room: General or ambient, accent and task lighting:
General lighting, also known as ambient lighting is considered to be the all-purpose type of lighting that enables you to see and walk around safely by radiating a comfortable level of brightness. It comes from indirect sources that bounce illumination off the ceilings and walls. Ambient or general lighting is best provided by a combination of wall sconces, cove lighting, lamps, or inverted pendants. It can also be accomplished with chandeliers, ceiling lightsand with outdoor or landscape lighting outside your home.
Accent lighting (also called feature lighting or highlighting) adds drama to a room by creating visual interest. Accent Lighting requires at least three times as much light on the focal point as the general lighting around it. This usually is provided by track lighting, recessed lighting, or wall mounted fixtures such as picture lights. Lamps with opaque shades are good ways to achieve accent lighting.
Task lighting is lighting which is focused on a specific area to make the completion of visual tasks such as reading, sewing, cooking, grooming easier It needs to be bright enough to prevent eyestrain and should be free of distracting glare and shadows. It can be provided by recessed and track lighting, pendant lighting, lamps and installing bathroom lighting fixtures and under cabinet lighting in the kitchen
Decorative lighting comes from fixtures chosen for their attractiveness - chandeliers or candlestick wall sconces, for example. They add sparkle to a room, but don’t count on them to provide usable illumination.
The impact of color and lighting conditions on the emotions and performance of people is gaining greater importance in our urban societies. Studies show that light deprivation alters brain chemistry, which causes fatigue. For people who are outdoors for a significant part of each day, the quality of indoor lighting to which they are exposed may be of little consequence. Their needs for natural light stimulation may be adequate. But for people who spend almost all of their time indoors, and with outdoor exposure limited to morning and evening light, there may be a need for artificial lighting that is supplemented with light stimulation in the spectrum areas of energy deficiency especially blue.
While high doses of UV light may contribute to health-related problems, the doses received from the lights from an 8 hour day are the equivalent of less than 15 minutes in the sum. This level is well within the ranges recommended for most individuals. So heed the experts advice and experience natural indoor lighting today, raise your spirits, save our eyes and see what you’ve been missing! Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
About Kristen Crosby
Kristen is an avid design blogger who loves DIY projects. She gets her inspiration from fashion and music. Connect with Kristen, or find more home decor inspiration from Arcadian Home on Google Plus!
