Lighting does more than simply provide illumination; its layered effect can dramatically change the way your home looks and feels. There are basically four different functions of lighting; ambient, task, focal and decorative.
Ambient Lighting
The first layer of lighting in a room is ambient. Ambient light is the general light in a room that lets you see where things are when it’s dark. In the day time people often open curtains and let the sun work as their ambient lighting. At night and when the sun isn’t shining overhead lights are typically the ambient light source. Ambient lighting is essential but not usually as effective as you want it to be and it typically doesn’t really add any decorative elements.
Task Lighting
Task lighting is the next layer of lighting and it’s purely functional. You’ll notice this most in your kitchen when you have under the cupboard lights to help you see as you work on the countertops. Task lighting is also evident with reading lamps or desk lamps used to brighten just the space below. Task lighting should have its own switches and used only when needed as its just wasted energy otherwise and can disrupt the more decorative aspects of lighting.
Focal Lighting
The next layer of lighting in your home is focal lighting. Focal lighting is more decorative than functional and is used to highlight certain areas or aspects. You’ve probably seen focal lighting in art galleries or museums where a particular light is used to draw attention to a work of art. This technique isn’t just for public buildings but can be quite effective in your home as well.
Decorative Lighting
The final lighting layer is decorative lighting, which is purely for aesthetic purposes and actually isn’t used in many homes. By simply adding a layer of decorative lighting to your home you can create more visual interest and fun. Some decorative lighting can come in the form of really unusual lighting fixtures, lamps that make you smile because of their architectural lines or overhead lighting that is unexpected or twinkle lights strung in an unexpected place.
Decorative lighting can also have more to do with the light itself than with the fixture. Lights come in all different colors and you can adjust them to create a mood. Consider backlighting a shoji screen with different colors to create a unique mood or atmosphere in your bedroom.
The most effective decorating schemes use all four types of lighting together, bringing one light up when needed and letting others slide into the background when they’re not in use. With all four lighting elements you can create multiple effects that give your decorating scheme new life and excitement.
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