Elevate Your Interior Design with Strategic Lighting
Lighting is one of the most important factors to consider when it comes to interior design. A proper lighting can make an ordinary room look extraordinary. On the other hand, when lighting is not done properly, it can undermine the appearance of a luxurious and elegantly designed room.
There are a variety of lighting options available to you when you want to choose one for your room. These different types serve different purposes so you have to understand everything about them before reaching a decision during your renovation.
You will have to consider various factors and determine what kind of effect you want for each of your rooms and then decide accordingly. Here, we will describe the different types of lighting options available, their pros and cons, and all the associated information.
There are five kinds of interior lights which are described below:
General Lighting
General lighting is the type of lighting that is not directed at any particular surface or wall. Its main function is to illuminate a room without taking into consideration any of the textures, shapes, furniture, or other aspects of the room.
This is usually achieved through a light or bulb installed in the center of the ceiling or on any wall. To make it a bit more appealing, a chandelier can also be used. However, this is the simplest form of lighting which does not help in uplifting the appearance of a room.
If you want to project a more welcoming and elegant outlook of your home, it is better to replace this kind of general lighting with any of the other lighting options available. Check out our portfolio to learn more.
Ambient Lighting
Ambient lighting is sort of indirect lighting which is not as harsh as a spotlight or general lighting. It is a very soft kind of adjustable light which does not put strain on your eyes. It helps in illuminating a room in a uniform manner. It is also commonly used in Scandinavian interior design.
It is usually a type of dimming light where you have the option of dimming it according to your preferences. This type of lighting can be used alone or in combination with direct lighting.
One of the biggest advantages of ambient lighting is that it does not create shadows like in the case of direct lighting. It creates a very dramatic ambience which is bound to attract any person who walks in the room. For ambient lighting, you can use any of the following types of lights:
Recessed Lights
Cove lights
Ceiling lights
Pendant lights
Wall lights or scones
Track lights
Mood Lighting
This is the kind of lighting that creates an extra bit of drama, whether it is used alone or with general or ambient lighting. It creates pools of light that offer a very warm and welcoming outlook. It helps to add interior design style and elegance to any room while remaining as a subtle lighting choice.
This type of lighting is achieved through the use of lamps. Table lamps and floor lamps are the most popular choice. You can place table lamps matching with the other items in the room.
Table lamps can be placed on your side tables, mantles, and consoles according to the interior design of your home. Of course, placing them near an electrical socket is of utmost importance, otherwise, the wires will clearly be visible. This will give a shabby and untidy look.
In addition, the height placement of table lamps should be considered. They should not be so low that the glare from the bulb inside the lamp from the top of the shade catches your eye. The level of the upper part of the lampshade should be just above the eye level so that all the light and shadow are in the downward direction without any glare.
Similar is the case with floor lamps. The lampshades should also be chosen according to your room design. The texture and color of lamp shades will allow the amount of light they let pass through them. Very thin fabric will cause glare to the eye and should be avoided.
Choose light colors for lampshades if you want more light to be dissipated. You can use dark lampshades if mood lighting is not the only source of light in the room. Dark shades will offer a moody and warm look which goes well with other forms of indirect lighting.
Task Lighting
Task lighting is used to project the light at any particular place to achieve certain tasks, such as the study room. These kinds of lights are usually used for reading, writing, cooking, etc. It is direct and focused on any given area.
It is also quite intense which is achieved by using high wattage lights. This lighting is combined with other forms of direct or ambient lighting. There are several ways through which task lighting could be achieved.
If it is to be used for reading on a table, a reading lamp or a balanced arm lamp can be used. If the light is to be used for reading in bed, flexible reading lights can be installed in the headboard of the bed.
Task lighting is also used in the kitchen in a number of ways. You could have a spotlight over the stove to provide you with maximum light while cooking. A pendant light or a spotlight can also be used above the counter or kitchen island during meal preparations. Under-cabinet spotlights are also used to create this kind of lighting effect.
Read more: Top 4 Kitchen Interior Design Ideas Singapore 2022
Task lighting, when used in the washroom or dressing areas, is usually achieved through vanity lights and spotlights. These are mostly installed just above the mirror and can be adjusted with the hand.
Task lighting can also be used in the lawn or garden to create a pathway through directional lights. Similar lights can also be used underneath the stairs to illuminate the pathway while creating a unique and dramatic look.
Accent Lighting
Accent lighting is similar to task lighting whose main objective is to focus the light on a certain area. However, in the case of accent lighting, the area to be illuminated may be some artistic work, or a wall hanging, or a particular furniture piece.
This is especially useful in rooms that have indirect dim lights which create a dim atmosphere in that room. However, you might want a particular feature of the room to stand out within that dim light. This can be achieved through spotlights or track lighting. This kind of lighting helps in enhancing the appearance of that particular feature.
Track lights can be used above a wall hanging or painting to illuminate it and cause people to pay attention to it in an otherwise less lit room. Spotlights can be used above sculptures or art pieces to enhance their appearance.
Decor items on shelves, pedestals, and cabinets can also be enhanced by using spotlights and track lights. Accent lighting is usually easily adjustable so you can change their angle to achieve the required effect.
Few More Subtle Lighting Tips To Spice Up Your Home Lighting
When you walk into a home that’s warm and inviting, it’s not always clear why. However, much of it may have to do with the lighting. the right lighting can make a sofa more appealing, the architectural accoutrements more impressive, and the kitchen more cozy. In this way, bigger does not always mean better. In fact, adding or changing a few small fixtures, such as portable lamps, can completely transform a room’s ambience and interior design scheme.
With the proper light bulb and shade, a lamp can provide effective task lighting, while also serving as an important decorative element in a space. It is important to highlight that a lamp should be a part of the overall whole, not the end-all, be-all of light in a room. One or two lamps cannot effectively illuminate a large space if they are the primary light source, which is why you should think of table and floor lamps as accessories to a room that create layers of light.
Layering Your Lights
Layering of light means there are multiple types of lighting fixtures in a single space. For example, in addition to recessed and decorative lighting at the ceiling, table and floor lamps can provide lighting for dark corners.
The hard part may be in picking which lamps work best for the space you have and choose from the plethora of types and interior design styles available. Check out this page for more details on lighting and its importance in interior design.
Not Your Parents’ Light Bulbs Anymore
It used to be that table and floor lamps typically used incandescent bulbs, until the introduction of LED light bulbs, which now provide a better option. LED bulbs are five to six times more efficient than incandescent bulbs, and can last 25 times longer, making them both money and energy savers.
It is important to choose the correct colour temperature of the bulb. Incandescent and halogen bulbs all have the same warm colour temperature, which is a measure of how visually warm or cool a space appears. LED bulbs are available with different colour temperature ratings, and consumers sometimes make the mistake of choosing a colour that appears too cool or bluish.
In case you are confused about the many bulb options, the bulb package labels include detailed information about light output, wattage consumption and colour temperature. Choose a colour temperature in the 2700K to 3000K range, which should match the colour of incandescent halogen bulbs.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned kinds of interior lights help to uplift and enhance the appearance of any room or its features according to your preference. You may choose a different kind of interior light in your bedroom and a different kind in your living room. The different kinds provide you with ample options to choose the one which best suits your requirements and preferences.
Should you need any help with your home interior design, Swiss Interior is one of the recommended interior designers in Singapore. We provide renovation, condo interior design, and HDB interior design services, as well as HDB renovation packages for homeowners in Singapore.