Whether you want to update furniture, replace floors or remodel your home, updating your lighting should also be included in your to-do list because how you light your room can make a big difference in terms of its functions. Good lighting will increase your task performance, provide safety, and add to the atmosphere. Lighting plays an equal role as other interior design aspects, such as furniture, artwork, and colors. Lighting is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to give the same room a whole new look. However, people usually make purchase decisions for the lighting before they analyze the functions of different layers of lighting and draw a lighting plan. This article explains how to use different kinds of light to illuminate your space and provides suggestions for saving energy.
Think in layers
A perfect room should have a mix of light sources at different levels. A single light source is dull, less functional, and inflexible. Too much intensive light does not help with the cozy and warm tone for your room and could make you feel dreary. On the other hand, too much dim color does not help with your productivity and could strain your eyes. In general, you need at least two layers of light to brighten a room properly. Asking yourself what mood you want to create, what activities usually occur in each room, and what decorative elements you want to emphasize will help you with planning your home’s lighting.
Ambient Lighting
Ambient or general lighting is the fundamental light source you should consider because it provides a comfortable level of brightness and creates an effect that is inviting and warm. The light should illuminate the space evenly and be bright enough for simple tasks and safe movement. Ambient lighting is also referred to as mood lighting. When applied correctly, it will create a warm glow and relaxed atmosphere, which helps you release stress and create a friendly environment.
Task Lighting
Unlike ambient lighting that is needed in every room, task lighting should be placed in specific areas of the room to add brightness. When you want to perform specific tasks, such as read a book, apply makeup, prepare food, or study, you may want to consider the lights that help you focus and get things done. Task lighting provides intense and direct light to enhance clarity and help you with detailed work.
Accent Lighting
Lighting that is used for direction or to highlight specific features or areas is called accent lighting. For example, accent lighting can draw your guests’ attention to your favorite items in your room, such as plants, paintings, architectural designs, sculptures or a fireplace. Accent lighting fills in the space that general lighting can’t reach, adds a pleasing variation of brightness, and serves as a perfect ornament to enhance the level of your design.
Be electricity savvy
In addition to increasing functionality and showing your home’s beauty by making use of lighting techniques, energy cost is another big consideration. Lighting accounts for about seventeen percent of average household electricity use. However, there are several easy ways to reduce your energy consumption and conserve lighting costs without compromising lighting quality or convenience.
Lighting Control: Dimmers
You may wonder how you can manage so many levels of light separately. Well, if you replace the toggle or rocker switch with a dimmer switch, your lighting plan will become more flexible. It is a simple project, which costs only around thirty dollars, but the investment will be worth it in the long-term. Dimming systems give you the ability to vary the brightness and create various moods. You can use dimmers to alter the intensity of the light according to the occasion. Whether you enjoy the subtle effect from the ambient light, seek out a pleasant atmosphere for a dinner or want to use task light for work temporarily, a dimmer switch will always satisfy your request. More importantly, a dimmer switch helps you save energy and increase the bulbs’ lives. For example, if you dim your lights ten percent, an incandescent bulb will double its life, and the electricity cost will be decreased too. This feature also minimizes how often you need to change the hard-to-reach fixtures.
Energy-efficient Bulbs
What bulbs you use is important because different bulbs provide various color temperatures, which influence the appearance and feel of a room. You should also seek out a durable lighting choice and consider the energy efficiency. Among various kinds of traditional bulbs including incandescent, halogen, and fluorescent, the LED (light-emitting diode) bulb is the most cost-effective and long-lasting choice. The slightly higher up-front cost of LED bulbs may make you feel intimidated in the first glance, but you should also consider its long-term effects. For example, LED bulbs can save up to eighty percent per year in energy costs and can last up to twelve years. Today’s technology allows LED bulbs to have similar color characteristics, such as warm and yellow light, to incandescent. In addition, make sure to choose an LED bulb that is compatible with the dimmer switches. If you know the model or manufacturer of your dimmer, you can check the website from the dimmer’s corporation and look for the list of compatible LED bulb types.
Wattages and Lumens
In order to identify how efficient a light bulb is, one must clarify the difference between lumens and watts because a light bulb’s efficiency is measured by the power output divided by its power inputs. Lumens represent light output, which indicates how much light a bulb emits or how bright the bulb is. Watts measure the amount of energy a bulb uses. In other words, bulbs with the same wattage may put out very different amounts of light, and different types of bulbs consume vastly distinctive amounts of energy. Now, you can compare the efficiency in terms of lumens per watt for traditional incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) and LED light bulbs by a simple calculation. For example, comparing the lumens for a traditional incandescent bulb, CFL, and LED, you will find the energy they use is forty, ten, and five watts when the brightness level is 450 lumens. Therefore, in addition to considering your lighting needs when selecting a light bulb, make sure to choose the lowest wattage and the most efficient bulb. Also, looking for Energy Star-qualified bulbs will help you ensure the best levels of energy efficiency.
Sunlight and Fixtures
Coordinating both natural light and artificial light should be taken into consideration because making the most of natural light can also decrease the energy cost and save the environment. To take advantage of sunlight or maximize the effects of the fixtures, you can add more windows, install glass doors or skylights, or take down unnecessary walls. These techniques will filter light from outside into your room and direct light from one space into another. The key is to make your room an open place, enable the ability to borrow light, and invite even levels of illumination. On the other hand, you should also be careful of the shadow the light creates. If you do not direct the sunlight or place the fixtures in the correct place, it creates a problem rather than a solution because you cause an unwanted shadow. You may want to choose a long overhead light or skylight because that will better help with illuminating your face than a small light above. More importantly, you may want to avoid distracting glare and shadows when considering the task lighting. It’s best to prevent the body casting a shadow over the work surface by considering the position of the window or fixture and placing it in front of the person who performs the task.
Lighting is one of the most powerful elements in interior design. Improving the lighting of your home will enhance your property as well as bring personality and beauty to your room. You can create any atmosphere you desire by considering the layers of lighting. You can also apply these strategies to each of your rooms to create a sense of enchantment. Lastly, be aware of the need for sustainable energy practices, and save energy to benefit both you and the environment.
Ning Qin
Home & Yard Magazine