The Definition and Importance of Lighting Design
Advice & tips from Kelowna Electricians at Epic Electric Lighting is an essential feature in every room of your home, but it’s often overlooked from a design standpoint. This is a mistake, because lighting isn’t just about illuminating a space; it’s about creating an ambiance….
Advice & tips from Kelowna Electricians at Epic Electric
Lighting is an essential feature in every room of your home, but it’s often overlooked from a design standpoint. This is a mistake, because lighting isn’t just about illuminating a space; it’s about creating an ambiance. Whether you’re looking for a style that is warm, functional, or inspiring, lighting is an essential component. So when buying a new home, commissioning a renovation, or just looking for a change, it’s important to shed some light on getting it right.
LOCATION LIGHTING
First off, what actions do you perform in the room you’re lighting? Cooking, reading, watching TV, playing? This is important, because the placement and scope of your lighting needs to be a reflection of what actions take place in the room. Bright lights are good for rooms where games are played and manual tasks are performed, while softer lights are appropriate for relaxing and reading. Secondly, the formality of a room is also important in the development of a lighting concept. A formal dining room can be accented by an elegant chandelier, while a family room designed to look welcoming and comfortable may be better suited for table lamps or subtle ceiling lights placed in strategic locations. Lastly, you need to ask yourself how you want the lighting in a room to make you feel. Soft, warm lights can evoke a feeling of calm and relaxation, while in the kitchen you may want brighter lights for safety reasons and to keep you better focused. Choosing the right lighting for a room cannot be underestimated: it can set the mood, or ruin it.
TYPES OF LIGHTING
Ambient light is a soft glow that blankets your space just enough for you to function without causing a harsh glare. Ambient light is often considered the ‘natural light’ within a room, except that you create the ambient light by making the lighting as natural and ‘neutral’ possible.
Accent light is often considered ‘directional’ light, which is light aimed at an object or feature. This lighting is a way to make something stand out in a space, and can comprise flood lighting, spot lighting, track lighting or even wall sconces – basically any object or feature you want to highlight. However, accent lighting does require at least three times as much light on the focal point as the general lighting around it, which can add to the complexity and cost of its setup.
Another type of lighting in a room is task light, which is directional light aimed at a specific task, such as reading, writing, or working on your computer. This is a way to provide more light on a specific area to perform a task that requires more light than ambient light can provide, and task light accomplishes this without wasting energy trying to illuminate the entire space. Desk lamps, light strips, ceiling pendants, and appliance lights are all examples of task light. When aiming a task light, make sure the light source is shielded from the viewing angle to reduce or eliminate the direct glare of the source.
When designing or remodeling a room in your home, ensure never to overlook the importance of the lighting. Having the right lighting helps illuminate all that’s important about your home and the people who live within its walls.
For more energy saving tips and electrical advice, follow Epic Electric’s blog. From repair and maintenance, to lighting and heating, to complete installations, we have the experience and expertise to get the job done in a reliable and cost-efficient way.