At the Seasons at Sandpoint concierge desk, we are often asked for recommendations on various vendors to help with home decor and repair. Today’s post is by guest blogger Heather Loman, Interior Designer at Sandpoint Furniture Carpet One.
Layers of light play off the natural views and light from your windows
Adequate lighting is imperative to the function and purpose of your home, but good lighting can also go beyond simple function. There are three main components to a good lighting design: ambient or general light, task light, and accent light. All of them serve different purposes but together help unify a room and the objects and people within it.
Ambient lighting is the foundation for any lighting scheme. It is the primary lighting of the room and provides sufficient light for basic safety and illumination. Often, this is provided through an overhead source such as a chandelier, ceiling mount fixture or recessed can lighting. Sometimes, such as in a theater or media room, it can be softer light situated around the perimeter of a room at regular intervals. Few rooms are without an ambient light source of one type or another.
A layer beyond ambient light is task lighting. This can range from decorative low-voltage pendant lights over an eating bar in a kitchen to a tableside lamp situated next to your favorite reading chair. Task lighting is necessary wherever your routinely perform activities such as cooking, reading, scrapbooking, etc . When figuring the amount of wattage needed, consider how much is comfortable to avoid eyestrain or accidents with whatever activity you’re doing.
Accent lighting is yet another layer in lighting design and perhaps the most sophisticated, as it serves a purely decorative function. Accent lighting can be used to highlight a certain work of art, a plant, a dramatic corner or alcove, or even wall texture. The types of fixtures available for this function include track-lighting, can lighting, spot lights, wall sconces and art lights. Accent lighting adds visual drama to a room and allows certain aspects to either be emphasized or recede into the background.
While shopping for light fixtures, keep in mind not only their basic functionality, but also the look they help achieve in your room. For example, a wrought iron chandelier might look right at home in a rustic log cabin, but might be too heavy for, say, a Seasons residence on the water. Look at the fixture both lit and off, as you will be looking at it both during the day when natural light might make turning it on unnecessary, and at night when you need the light it provides. Also, consider the wattage for your space – this is especially important for both ambient and task lighting.
All in all, choosing the right lighting for your home is one of the most rewarding home improvements you can make. It can instantly bring life to a room, help bring out the color and drama of your space and create a haven for you to enjoy your favorite activities.
I’m happy to answer any of your questions in the comments section here, or please feel free to stop by Sandpoint Furniture and I can consult with you on your particular needs.
