Lighting 101

Have you ever walked into a friend’s house or a restaurant and thought, “Wow, this place looks great!” but you couldn’t tell what was different from when you saw the place in daylight? Simple. It was the lighting that caused your reaction.

Lighting, when done well, has an elusive quality. Without even understanding it, you react to the lighting of a space. The effect can elicit feelings of calm, ease, order and warmth. It entices you to absorb the details around you, bringing the space to life, literally making it shine and begging you to take notice.

Proper lighting is important in every room of your home and can add that extra touch of ambience. A successful lighting design should be dramatic, yet functional, and will include multiple light sources. There are three types of lighting to consider when designing your lighting plan:

Task Lighting: A bright light source used to illuminate areas where tasks are performed.
Accent Lighting: Used to focus attention on a particular object, detail or area.
Ambient Lighting: Diffused light that fills the voids left by task or accent lighting.

Creatively using these light sources helps set a mood, but the success of the design also depends on the proper bulbs, fixtures (both design and function) and the controls. It is important to know the type of light you want—cool or warm, concentrated or broad beam—so that you can make the appropriate selection to achieve your desired outcome.

Fixtures come in a variety of types: from chandeliers and sconces, recessed and track lighting, to table and floor lamps. In styles from contemporary to traditional, materials can include various metals, blown glass, carved wood and painted porcelain. Some manufacturers have created collections of similarly designed pieces for continuity of design.

Lighting designers refer to multiple types of lighting as layers. And encompassing all types of different lighting—layering—will bring new dimensions to your home that you might have not seen. Experiment with different layering options, and watch as the lights go on. You will lighten up in a whole new way!

Call the professionals at Northstar Lighting Design at 303-792-0999 for expert advice on the best lighting for your home. Whether this involves going through plans, doing and in-home consultation or helping you select an individual lighting fixture, they can help make your lighting project easier and more successful. Northstar Lighting Design carries over 130 different manufacturers, and can provide customized services you need.