Lighting is a necessity of life for most people in the world. Whether it is to create a comfortable space, illuminate a room for functional purposes or just brighten up an otherwise dull and dark atmosphere- lighting plays a major part in how humans interact with their environments. In addition to practical considerations, lamps have been used for centuries as decorative elements inside homes and businesses. For example, consider the many chandeliers hanging from ceilings in upper class Victorian style homes in the 19th century.
Today, there are innumerable types of modern light fixtures that can be designed into interior spaces with great results in creating both functional and aesthetically pleasing environments. This article provides some tips on where best to place lights around your home or business, what kinds of lights work the best to illuminate spaces, and how you can incorporate lighting elements into your decorating scheme to create a more attractive environment where people enjoy spending time.
Lighting Tips – Where To Place Lights In Your Space?
One of the first questions that needs to be addressed is where to place lights around a space. The type of room you are illuminating will determine the best places for light fixtures. For example, if you want better light in a kitchen- focus on having good task lighting just over the countertops, under upper cabinets and under lower cabinets so that people can clearly see what they are working on with their hands while cooking or preparing food.
If you want better general illumination for living or family rooms, the best place to put lights are generally in 3 places: above head height, at seated eye level and along the edges of your space. The first area provides ambient light for the entire room while the other two provide increased visibility for specific areas which people will be interacting with directly (i.e.- seating, TV set etc.)
Lighting Tips – What Kinds Of Lights Work Best To Light Spaces?
The lighting that you use in spaces is also dependent on how much light you need. For example, standard table lamps are fine if you just want some good ambient lighting but not so effective if you need task lighting as well- it will be difficult to read or engage in hobbies close up under their illumination.
If your goal is to create task lighting, aim for lights that are adjustable and can be moved around easily. There are many varieties of these types of lamps available which you can use in your home or business, including:
- Floor lamps (usually adjustable)
- Table lamps (small light fixtures often on an end table)
- Ceiling lights (good for both general illumination and task/work lighting due to their ability to be adjusted upwards towards the ceiling)
There are other types of lighting you can also consider if you want better quality illumination in areas that aren't suitable for up lighting or downward pointing spotlights. For example, track lighting is becoming more popular because it creates bright focused lines of light which move with you as you sit/stand/walk around the room. Another type of lighting that works well is cove lighting which can be used under upper cabinets or other areas where reflected light is desired – these are usually recessed into the ceiling and have a small lip on them so that they reflect light upwards towards a surface.
Lighting Tips – Integrating Lighting Elements Into Decoration
Finally, it's important to think about how you will integrate lighting elements into your decorating scheme so that they look attractive as well as perform their function in illuminating spaces. One way to do this is to use lighting elements as design features where possible- for example, chandeliers and pendant lights over kitchen counters work because they complement the architecture of the space while providing task illumination. Another way is to consider utilizing lighting fixtures that are built into existing decor, for example- sconces on the wall next to a seating area can complement your architecture while providing light for people to read or engage in hobbies.
When you ensure that lighting elements are placed in areas where they provide effective illumination but also aesthetically compliment spaces you will be able to create better lit environments throughout your home or business. With these tips, you'll be able to easily identify good locations for lighting, what kinds of lamps work best in different spaces and how you can integrate lighting elements into decorations so that everyone can have an attractive space with quality illumination they need.
If anyone has any questions about the information provided please do not hesitate to contact us at Calgary Electrical Company, we're a full service electrical company with master electricians for our contractors so we can handle any type of electrical job you send our way!