Beyond the Bulb: How Interior Lighting Design Transforms Your Home
Great lighting is about more than just being able to see in the dark. A well-designed lighting plan can make rooms feel more spacious, highlight your favorite decor, and create the perfect mood for any occasion. This is the art of interior lighting design, and it involves layering different types of light to create a functional and beautiful space.
## The Three Layers of Lighting
A professional lighting design incorporates three main layers:
- Ambient Lighting: This is the overall, general illumination of a room. It's the foundation of your lighting plan. In the past, this might have been a single ceiling fixture. Today, we achieve superior ambient light with a well-spaced layout of recessed lighting.
- Task Lighting: This is focused, brighter light for specific activities. The most common example is under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen, which illuminates countertops for cooking. Other examples include a pendant light over a desk or a reading lamp beside a chair.
- Accent Lighting: This is the "jewelry" of your lighting plan. Accent lights are used to draw attention to architectural features, artwork, or decor. This can be a track light aimed at a painting or a spotlight on a beautiful fireplace.
By combining these three layers and putting them on dimmer switches, you gain complete control over the atmosphere of your home. You can switch from bright, functional light for cleaning to a soft, warm glow for a relaxing evening.
*For more tips on modernizing your home's electrical system, read our Grand Strand Homeowner's Guide to Electrical Safety & Modernization.*
