Lighting Ideas for the Home

Go Natural

• Make as much use of natural lighting as possible. The level and intensity of sunshine in a room alters it dramatically. Whichever room you pick, use windows or doors as a light source. In smaller rooms, remove window treatments that obstruct the light. Consider replacing a solid door with one that has frosted or stained glass in it. This will allow more natural light to enter the room. Have a skylight installed. Not only will it bring daylight into any space, but it will add a stylish look to a room.

Ambient Lighting

• Ambient lighting is the general light source in any room. This can be obtained with standard fixtures mounted into the ceiling. Most common is a light source in the center of the room. Think about installing a set of recessed lights instead. Add a dimmer switch to adjust the softness of the illumination or control the mood of lighting. Feel free to experiment with ambient light. Supplement it with other sources, such as accent lighting, for a stylish and practical system.

Accent Lighting

• Accentuate a design feature, an area of a room, or a favorite object with accent lighting. This style of lighting focuses on a single area, drawing attention to it. It adds both shade and depth and gives texture to a room. Use wall sconces or table lamps with wide shades. To highlight paintings, consider installing track lighting. Bulbs should have a broad beam, like that of a floodlight, to reduce the amount of glare. Highlight glass with light from above or behind, using fluorescent strips or halogen bulbs.

Task Lighting

• Task lighting is used to illuminate specific work. You may be reading, sewing, shaving or cooking and in need of an extra source of light to help you perform the task at hand. You might choose lamps that may be angled in ways that suit your need. Long-stemmed lamps with high maneuverability are ideal. Alternatively, consider a clip-on spotlight that can be placed anywhere. Task lights are available with fluorescent, halogen or tungsten bulbs.