Let there be light. This task has been accomplished by such varied means as candles, kerosene lamps and eventually by the first electric bulbs. Changes have made indoor lighting safer and easier. However, when renovating or redecorating the myriad of choices available can make your lighting decisions daunting.

LIGHTING DESIGN FUNCTION

Before making any purchases decide what you need. Do you have lamps or light fixtures already that you wish to keep? Next, decide what types of lighting your space needs. To determine this ask yourself these questions:

What activities is the room used for?
Do you have objects to which you would like to focus attention?

There are three principal kinds of lighting. Knowing what they are can help you choose lighting suitable to your needs. The first, general or ambient lighting illuminates a whole room or large area. A light attached to the ceiling or a torchiere for a smaller room serve this purpose well. A second type is task lighting. Its purpose is to provide extra light for specific activities. Is a light needed by an armchair for reading or in the kitchen when preparing food? The third type of lighting is accent lighting. Accent lighting brings attention to objects you would like to enhance. Bringing attention to a work of art with a picture light, or to a group of plants with up-lighting can create an inviting atmosphere.