"Stunning interior design lighting relies on three types of illumination."

Well planned, interior design lighting incorporates multiple layers of light. Illuminating your space in this way produces a rich level of sophistication and ambiance.

There are three main types of lighting:

• Ambient

• Task

• Accent

Layer all three types of illumination in a room for phenomenal effect.

AMBIENT LIGHTING

This type of interior design lighting is the source of general illumination in a space. It’s the room’s overall splash of light. Examples of ambient light include lamps placed around the room, overhead lighting (such as recessed lighting within the ceiling), as well as ceiling mounted lighting fixtures.

Imagine ambient lighting as the basic level of lighting for any room. During the day, sunshine streaming through a window plays this role. Other examples of ambient lighting include:

• Pendant Lights

• Torchieres

• Suspended Uplights

TASK LIGHTING

Task lighting is used to illuminate a specific area for a more practical reason – reading, for example. A desk lamp used to light a work table and an under cabinet light used to illuminate a kitchen counter would be examples of this type of interior lighting.

Task lights are focused on a limited area for a specific purpose. They provide the extra level of illumination that ambient lighting alone can’t adequately provide.

Other examples of task lighting include:

• Swing Arm Lamps

• Wall Sconces

• Adjustable Floor Lamps

ACCENT LIGHTING

Accent lighting provides a way to focus attention on architectural or decorative aspects of a room. An illuminated wall niche or spotlights focused on a painting draw your eye to these features. Track lighting or recessed "eye ball" style lighting can be used to illuminate interesting wall features or simply provide a wash of light across the painted surface. A wall wash can be very dramatic in itself!

Even a simple collection of flickering candles qualifies as accent lighting. Plus, you get the added benefit of a wonderful aroma to further enhance the atmosphere. Now, I'd say that's a great value lighting solution!

With the types of lighting fresh in your mind, carefully examine the kitchen photo above to see how all three types were used together to awesome effect.

A big key to versatile interior lighting, in my opinion, is being able to adjust the level of illumination through a dimmer switch. Most of the new lighting I had installed in my home is adjustable. Dimmer switches are easy to install and give you the power to fine tune the lighting level. I’ve found this can create dramatic, night time effect.

Remember…a well organized, interior design lighting scheme uses all three methods of lighting. Following this approach will make your living space much more functional and inviting.

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