Using the right type of lighting in your home can significantly enhance the interior design of each room. Being creative with lighting can illuminate specific areas and provide a cozy, warm atmosphere. It can even appear to alter the size of a room. Natural daylight is the most effective light source you can incorporate into your home, but electric lighting is always a necessity. There are several ways you can improve a sophisticated interior decor by choosing functional, but inspirational lighting.
Ambient Lighting
Every room needs to have an adequate amount of lighting to enable you to see clearly. This general or ambient lighting is usually provided by lamps hanging from a central point in the ceiling and supplemented by lights fitted to the walls. As an alternative, you could ask your electrician to install recessed lighting that provides a vertical pool or beam of light. Whichever style you choose, a room with bright, ambient lighting usually looks interesting and inviting.
Illusion of Space
An important element of interior design is to create a large, open space that conveys a sense of calm. You can achieve this by limiting how many pieces of furniture you include and de-cluttering the room effectively to prevent it feeling restrictive. Painting the walls in pale colours can also make the room appear larger. The effect can be further enhanced with ambient lighting reflecting on the wall surfaces to give the impression of a much larger space. By contrast, you can make a spacious room appear warm and cozy by combining soft, dimmable lighting with a dark color scheme. As the lighting creates hazy pools of illumination reflecting on the dark walls, it will make the room appear smaller and more welcoming.
Directional or Accent Lighting
Imaginative interior design often includes focal points such as an ornate piece of furniture, a large, ornamental vase or an artistic painting. By adding directional lighting, you can increase each object's level of interest by simply illuminating it. Some picture frames include small, integral lights specifically for this purpose. Alternatively, track lighting fitted to the ceiling is a versatile choice as the individual lamps can easily be positioned to illuminate one or more objects.
Practical Lighting
Successful interior design must combine an aesthetic, artistic style with practicality. Illuminating work spaces such as a writing desk or a small home office requires functional lamps that emit a strong, bright light. A well-designed kitchen will usually have large, pendant lights above an island unit. Another option is a series of spotlights that cast a clear, bright light exactly where it's needed. Some kitchen cupboards placed above countertops often have inbuilt lights to provide additional illumination.
Types of Lighting
There are three main types of lighting you can choose from.
Incandescent lights use a tungsten wire filament to create a bright, ambient illumination. They can often be dimmed very easily to make the atmosphere of the room more cozy.
Fluorescent lighting uses a tube containing gas, mercury and phosphorous to emit a clear, bright light. It's frequently used in kitchens and for recessed lighting. Compared to incandescent lighting, fluorescent lights are about one-third less expensive to run and have a longevity of about twenty times longer.
The most economical illumination comes from Light Emitting Diodes or LED lighting. It can last up to fifty times longer than an incandescent bulb and uses far less energy than either of the other forms of lighting. The small, versatile bulbs can be used imaginatively to create different lighting effects. They also provide a range of colors that can help to enhance the features of your interior design.
Portable Lamps
Using a couple of portable lamps that stand on either the table or floor can provide additional, practical lighting wherever it is needed. They can be fitted with dimmable bulbs to help your room achieve a particular mood or atmosphere. Convenient desk lamps with cantilever arms are especially useful as they can be positioned with great accuracy whenever you require additional illumination.
Conclusion
Interior design relies on imaginative lighting to enhance the special features and style of a room. By using lighting that complements the colors on the walls, you can easily create an illusion of a more spacious room or a cozy corner.
Directional lighting is perfect for making an ornamental feature seem more interesting and stylish. Practical lighting that's bright and clear is essential in work spaces such as a kitchen.
Choosing economical LED bulbs can help to add many different colors and atmospheres. However, these are not always peoples first choice. And remember to be safe and always contact a fully qualified electrical contractor when you enhance your room's interior design with versatile lighting.
Author Bio:
John Keohane is the owner of JK Services, an electrical contractor who helps many homeowners with their lighting needs.
