Lighting is one of the most important aspects of home improvement and interior design. It can improve or destroy the mood of a room by altering its atmosphere, tone and style. A properly lit room will bring out all of the best qualities of a room, while hiding the less attractive aspects of the space. Beautiful furnishings and classy paintings will lose everything that they have to offer if they are not properly lit.
There are three different kinds of lighting and it is important to realize which need more attention. Most people are familiar with the first category, which is general lighting. General lighting, also known as ambient lighting, is used to illuminate the entire room in order to provide visibility. This allows for people to walk around safely through their homes and keeps a room from becoming dark and dreary. General lighting is achieved by ceiling or wall mounted light fixtures, chandeliers and light tracks.
Task lighting is used to perform specific tasks. It highlights areas of the home for activities that require additional light such as reading, sewing, paperwork and cooking. It can be accomplished with track lighting, portable lamps and pendant lighting, as long as it's bright enough to fulfill the task but won't cast a harsh glare that can become distracting.
Finally, accent lighting is used as a form of decoration. It can draw attention to items such as paintings, plants, sculptures and pottery. It may also be used to bring out the texture of your walls or to highlight window dressings. For accent lighting to work, the light must be three times as strong as the general lighting in the room. This is typically accomplished through the use of track lighting, wall mounted fixtures and recessed lighting.
If you are using florescent lights, they should be replaced about once a year since they lose their intensity with time. However, you can save about thirty dollars per year for each bulb that you replace with a compact fluorescent.
Finally, the lighting approach you use should be tailored to each room. For instance, the bathroom needs special attention: a light on the vanity should be used in addition to a general light so that no shadows are cast on your face.