From setting the mood in your living room to ensuring safety on your front porch, the type of lighting you choose matters. It influences everything from how well you can see and function to the overall look and feel of a space, not to mention how much you spend on your energy bill.
This article is your guide to understanding the different light types available, both indoors and outdoors. We’ll cover the most common fixture types, explain how light is distributed, and demystify some of the terminology you’ll encounter when shopping for lights.
Indoor Lighting: Fixtures and Technologies
The world of indoor lighting is vast, but understanding a few core concepts can help you illuminate your home beautifully and effectively.
Ambient Lighting: The Foundation
Ambient lighting is the overall light in a room. Think of it as the foundation upon which you build your lighting scheme. It’s often achieved with ceiling fixtures like flush mounts or semi-flush mounts.
Ambient light sets the mood and provides basic illumination.
Task Lighting: Focused Illumination
Task lighting is designed for specific activities, like reading, cooking, or applying makeup. Pendant lights over kitchen islands and desk lamps are excellent examples of task lighting.
Task lighting improves visibility and reduces eye strain.
Accent Lighting: Highlighting Features
Accent lighting is used to draw attention to particular objects or areas, such as artwork, architectural details, or plants. Track lighting and wall sconces are often used for accent lighting.
Accent lighting adds depth and visual interest to a space.
Modern Lighting Technologies: LED and Beyond
LED lighting has revolutionized the lighting industry. LEDs are energy-efficient, long-lasting, and versatile, and are used in everything from recessed lights to linear lighting.
Beyond LEDs, innovative lighting solutions like the Ark Ambient Aurora Light and the Sky Lite Evolve Galaxy Projector offer unique aesthetic effects and customizable ambiance. These lights can transform a room into a relaxing oasis or a vibrant, immersive experience.
Ceiling Lighting: A Room-by-Room Guide
Ceiling lighting can be both functional and beautiful. Here’s a breakdown of different types and where they work best:
Flush Mount and Semi-Flush Mount Lights
- Flush Mount: These lights sit directly against the ceiling, making them a great choice when you don’t have a lot of headroom. You’ll often see them in hallways, bathrooms, and closets.
- Semi-Flush Mount: These hang down just a bit more than flush mounts, so they’re better for higher ceilings and when you want a more decorative look. Think entryways, kitchens, and bedrooms.
Chandeliers and Pendants: Decorative Focal Points
- Chandeliers: If you want drama and elegance, a chandelier is the way to go. They look stunning in dining rooms and entryways.
- Pendants: Pendants hang down from the ceiling and provide focused light. They’re perfect for task lighting over kitchen islands and dining tables.
Linear and Recessed Lighting: Modern and Functional
- Linear Lighting: Often using LED bulbs, linear lighting gives you even, consistent light. It’s a good choice for kitchens, offices, and hallways.
- Recessed Lighting: These lights are installed inside the ceiling, saving space and offering a clean look. They’re versatile enough for general or task lighting in kitchens, living rooms, and bathrooms.
Track Lighting and Ceiling Fans with Lights: Versatility and Comfort
- Track Lighting: With adjustable heads, track lighting is perfect for highlighting artwork or specific areas of a room.
- Ceiling Fans with Lights: A classic combination! These provide both air circulation and illumination, making them a popular choice for bedrooms and living areas.
Outdoor Lighting: Distribution Types and Applications
When it comes to outdoor lighting, it’s not just about how bright the light is (lumens). How that light is distributed, or spread out, is just as important, if not more so.
Understanding Light Distribution
Choosing the right light distribution pattern is key to effective outdoor lighting. The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) has established standards that classify light distribution into different types, numbered I through V.
Type III Distribution: Wide and Versatile
Type III lighting has a wide forward throw of light, making it a good choice for:
- Roadways
- Parking lots
- Driveways
Type IV Distribution: Focused and Controlled
Type IV lighting has a narrower forward throw, which helps to minimize backlighting. This type of distribution is often used for:
- Perimeters
- Building facades
Type V Distribution: Symmetrical and Uniform
Type V lighting has a symmetrical, circular or square pattern, making it ideal for:
- Large central areas
- Intersections
- Plazas
Choosing the Right Distribution: Key Considerations
When you’re trying to choose the right light distribution for your outdoor space, think about:
- The site layout: What area do you want to light up?
- Pole placement and mounting height: How will the light be spread out based on where the light fixtures are located?
- Local codes and energy efficiency: Are there any regulations you need to follow, and how can you minimize wasted energy?
Essential Lighting Terminology
When you’re shopping for light bulbs, it’s easy to get lost in the lingo. Here’s a quick guide to some of the terms you’ll encounter:
Watt and Lumen: Power and Brightness
Watt is a measure of the amount of power a light bulb uses. Lumen is a measure of the amount of visible light that comes from a light source.
Color Rendering Index (CRI): Accuracy of Color
The Color Rendering Index (CRI) measures how accurately a light source shows colors when compared to natural sunlight. The higher the CRI, the more accurately the light source shows colors.
Color Temperature: Warmth and Coolness
Color temperature, measured in Kelvin (K), describes how the light appears. Lower numbers indicate a warmer light (think candlelight) and higher numbers indicate a cooler light (think daylight). Warm light usually falls in the 2700K-3000K range, while cool light is in the 4000K-5000K range.
Illuminance and Beam Spread: Light Intensity and Coverage
Illuminance measures how much light falls on a surface. Beam spread refers to the angle at which light is emitted from a light source. A narrow beam spread will give you a more focused light, while a wider beam spread will give you a more diffused light.
To Conclude
Understanding the different types of light is key to creating effective and beautiful lighting designs. Thoughtful lighting can enhance functionality, improve the ambiance of a space, and save energy.
Now that you’re familiar with different light types, consider how you can use them in your own projects.