Well lit homes are a treat not just to eyes but also to the senses. Lighting consumes your mind and your senses, and therefore plays an important role in setting moods and enhancing the already set moods. But lighting schemes and fixtures are a blunder if talked about in terms of trends. Each of us are different and that is how we want our homes to be. Different; distinct; like us. Also differently sized and designed homes need intelligent and utility-based, custom lighting. Today, decorative lighting is a blend of functionality and aesthetic appeal. Different areas of the house- living room, bedroom, dining room, bathroom, kitchen, hallways, corridors, gardens- need different illumination fixtures, depending on the requirement and feel of the place.
Talking about the indoor lighting in this post, there are many types of light sources that may be used singularly or even in combination to find the perfect lighting for your space. There are different types of fixtures that serve different purposes, like:
UP-LIGHTS
Up-lights are used to draw the focus of the room to a particular part of a wall. These fairly inexpensive, easy plug-ins, work best on floor, behind a plant or behind a decorative piece or for highlighting a wall hanging or a painting.
UNDER CABINETS
These are used to focus light on a workspace. This type of lighting is typically used in kitchens, or study rooms, to focus on the worktables. Under cabinet lights work with other lights to provide layered illumination.
BACK LIGHTING
This is a lighting technique that helps in diffusing light through translucent materials like acrylic panels, stained glass or textures on similar lines. This is also a popular trend especially in apartments giving a feel of depth and largeness.
AMBIENT LIGHTING
Ambient bathroom lighting is generally fill in lights and acts like a substitute for natural light for dark patches. These lightings are fixed with a central fixture, most of the times a surface mounted ceiling light. It gives a soft glow around a specific area. Commonly used in bathrooms.
DIMMERS AND MOOD LIGHTING
Selection of dimmers and mood lightings depends on the mood you want for a particular room. For example you may like your reading room to be well illuminated and peaceful. So it is best to go for white soft lights that will not only give your room a bright look but will also be soft on the eyes. On the other hand your bedroom can have dim and romantic lighting to give a feel of intimacy and romance.
All these types might have different subtypes or may be different names but they broadly sum up the lighting options, in terms of utility. Under them is a distinctly crazy and extensive range of home illumination items. But apart from contemporary lighting appliances and fixtures, we have also been using a mix of contemporary and traditional illuminants like candles, lamps with and without shades, chandeliers etc.
This is just an introduction to what kinds of lightings are in vogue and how should they be chosen. We promise to follow with a sequel that will delve into each of indoor home lighting decors and also explore the outdoor lighting options. And as i said in the beginning, “there are many types of light sources that may be used singularly or even in combination, to find the perfect lighting for your space.” Finding the perfect lighting decor for your space will be a result of your instincts and a random play of various permutations and combinations.
