Let There Be Light!

When you walk into a room, do you ever stop and wonder what creates the mood?  Most of the time, the mood has something to do with the lighting that is used.  Of course, lighting is necessary to see and has practical purposes. But beyond that, the lighting influences the overall personality of each room in your home.  Dim lighting is appropriate over an intimate dinner.  In other rooms more lighting is needed, depending on what its primary purpose is. The main goal of lighting design is to introduce varying degrees of light into a room, which are called layers. If you only have direct light sources, it will make a space feel dark and gloomy. And if you light the room evenly with no contrast, the room will appear flat and uninviting. Lighting is all about creating interest and visual drama, and these layers of light are parts of the whole that create the ultimate ambiance.

Ambient lighting is used to create a diffused, even light level in a room. Ambient lighting can be created from lights on the ceiling, floor or table lamps.  Overhead light sources can be a lone bright light, such as a ceiling or pendant light, or multiple lights, such as track lighting or recessed cans. These smaller lights all work together to create the main light source, but the difference is that they can be aimed at different areas of the room to get into all of the nooks and crannies.  Most overhead lights use incandescent bulbs, which are inexpensive and come in a variety of wattages. Compact fluorescent bulbs also have come on the scene as “green” alternatives that cost a little more but last considerably longer than their incandescent counterparts.

Accent lights are directional lights whose main purpose is to provide visual separation in a room. They are secondary lights in a room.  They should be three to five times brighter than the ambient light level.  Wall-mounted fixtures, such as sconces, are a good example of accent lights, as are table and floor lamps. Another use for accent lighting is to showcase a feature in a room, such as a painting or a collection. The ambient light is usually dim, which evokes peace and quiet, and the accent lights highlight the paintings, keeping you focused on the art. Typically, a spotlight or floodlight is used to accent an object, though track lights also work in certain applications.

Another type of lighting is task lighting.  This is the primary light in a room. Task lighting is used to increase illumination above ambient levels at workspace or task areas. It is a key element in the kitchen and office, where specific tasks requiring proper light are present. It is also useful in other rooms where projects occur, such as the bedroom.  Halogen lights are ideal for task lighting because they’re energy efficient and produce a clean, clear light that renders accurate colors. The downside is that they tend to burn hot, so computing for hours under a halogen bulb could become uncomfortably warm.

Lighting is essential.  It is a luxury that can enhance the mood and intimacy of a home.  The lighting you choose will personalize your space and light the way!!

Fairmont Homes provides collaborative communication and a unique opportunity for the customer to participate in the co-creation of their dream home. Fairmont can customize to your home site and your personal needs as well as assist with any design-build concepts. Committed to bringing the highest quality service and a better homebuilding experience at a fair, competitive price, Fairmont Homes shares your dream and makes it your reality. Our success lies in our unrivaled customer service, our detailed planning, and our dedication to communication and quality. Unlike our competition, we will offer better hands on experience with quality construction and design.

“10 Ways to Light up Your Home.” TLC. Web. 07 May 2013.

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