subject: What Type Of Light Bulbs To Use For What Lighting [print this page] Nowadays, there is a science and an art to lighting up homes, schools and offices, among other indoor and outdoor places. Designers, architects and engineers do not just install lights randomly since the principles of beauty, functionality and energy efficiency should ideally be followed.
Unless, of course, the purpose is to intentionally torture the wits out of someone with ugly, impractical and inefficient lighting, then go right ahead.
Fortunately, you don't have to be a professional designer to achieve great lighting in your home. Your first step is to know the three types of lighting indoor areas, namely, ambient, task and accent, so that you are better able to decide which lights and lighting fixtures are best for what area. Well, you can always go the good old-fashioned trial and error route but this is expensive, inconvenient and impractical no matter how you look at it.
With that being said, here are a few useful tips when using lighting fixtures specifically bulbs when planning for the perfect lighting in your home's indoor spaces.
Ambient Lighting:
The most common type of lighting, ambient lighting is also called general lighting simply because the lights provide for illumination to the general area. This is true for indoor spaces like the living room, bedrooms and kitchen, as well as the laundry area.
You are aiming for lighting that provides for a comfortable, practical and beautiful level of illumination without the glare. Think of natural light using artificial light and you have the idea. Your main goal is to install light bulbs and tubes that allow individuals in the room to see, walk and perform activities safely and comfortably.
Ambient lighting is most commonly achieved by chandeliers, lights on ceiling fans, recessed lights on the ceiling, track lighting systems and wall sconce's. However, you must not stop with ambient lighting alone because this is only the base lighting system.
Task Lighting:
As its name implies, task lighting assists in the performance of specific tasks. These tasks will differ from one indoor area to the next so the lighting fixtures as well as their placement used will also be different. The tasks can include reading and writing in the living room and bedroom; grooming in the bathroom, preparing and cooking food in the kitchen and working on hobbies in the workshop.
Keep in mind that the light bulbs used in task lighting should be free from glare, shadows and other distractions while also being sufficiently bright to prevent eye strain during long hours at a task. This can be achieved with the use of table, desk, and swing arm lamps as well as under counter, pendant and recessed lights.
Accent Lighting:
Don't forget the third layer of lighting either, accent lighting. It adds dramatic impact to the indoor area by creating pockets of visual interest. Thus, you can use accent lights to draw attention to works of art, conversational pieces and other beautiful things around the room. These beautiful things can include the texture of the walls, the treatments on the windows and even the outdoor landscaping.
Use candle bulbs, wall sconce's and light bridges, among other options, when going for accent lighting.
So, when you are logged on to an online site browsing through a catalogue of light bulbs, think of how each one will fit into the abovementioned types of lighting before making your purchases.
