Tips for Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting refers to general lighting that usually lights up an entire area or room.Ambient lighting is a general illumination that comes from all directions in a room that has no visible source.Whether it’s a floor lamp or chandelier, every home needs ambient lighting.This type of lighting is in contrast to directional lighting.

Ambient lighting plays an important role in the life of a home.Ambient lighting sets the mood for the space, and this can include natural lighting, accent lighting or candle light. Add ambient lighting to each room to provide an even wash of light.

Ambient Lighting:  Ambient lighting differs from task lighting in a way that, its purpose is to provide an equal flash of light throughout a room as opposed to concentrated light for a specific job. This type basically ensures that a room is comfortable and that its inhabitants make their way around the room without tripping on unseen obstacles.

Ambient lighting fills the undefined areas of a room with a soft level of general light, enough for someone to navigate through the room.

An ambient lighting plan may comprise both artificial light from light fixtures as well as natural light from the sun that comes in through windows.The mood of a room greatly depends on the way you organize ambient lighting.Even the style of the actual fixtures can influence the atmosphere in substantial ways.

Bedroom

The bedroom can be a tricky area to light since it is a room of function and relaxation. Plenty of light is needed for dressing areas with bedside table lamps to create soft ambient lighting for relaxing and practicality.A bedroom should retain its romantic and soothing qualities.The most classic setup for a bedroom is a single fan light with incandescent lamps, but more contemporary lighting solutions can provide a more even illumination and give you additional freedom in controlling the mood at any given moment. This can be achieved using a series of recessed lights, track lighting, or pendant fixtures along with some well thought out wall sconces that are controlled independent of the overhead lighting. Installing a dimmer for the overhead fixtures allows you to further adjust the brightness and mood. Installing a large chandelier can produce a very dramatic effect, but for that you need to remove the ceiling fan.

Bathroom

Ambient lighting plays a much less significant role in the bathroom than task lighting.Practical needs to be given consideration as people need to have a good light source for shaving.Generally this can be achieved by spotlighting or having a specially designed shaving light on an angled style bracket. For relaxation candles are still popular, however the latest designs styles include wall lights placed either side of a mirror.Nevertheless most of the people choose to light the bathroom with recessed ceiling fixtures or a small chandelier.Pendants can also be used effectively in the bathroom to provide a more contemporary look.

Living Room

This is the room which comes into its own when creating beautiful lighting effects.Decorating with central lighting is an old fashion now.These days, wall lights and an array of table lamps are preferred. The size of the lamps will depend on how much light you want and the size of the room.The living room is a great area for utilizing natural light from windows since most everything that takes place there is typically not private.This option provides a very natural, broad-spectrum light and even has the potential to keep a room warm during cold times.

A single fan light may work great in a living room in a country or classic style.Using a combination of recessed down lighting, decorative sconces, and desk and floor lamps can generate a modern and intimate atmosphere.Be sure to put different switches for the different types of lighting and to use a dimmer control of the overhead lighting.

Kitchen

Kitchens are quite often illuminated by fluorescent strip lights.Many modern kitchens opt for halogen spot lights and under counter lighting to produce sufficient, directed light to where it is needed most. In a way this style of lighting creates its own ambient lighting in a practical way.

The kitchen is the one room where one must find a versatile lighting solution that functions as both general lighting and task lighting since separating the two within the walls of the kitchen are practically impossible. The most classic setup for the kitchen is a long light fixture with fluorescent bulbs, but this option is not ideal for task lighting purposes.Fluorescent lights are well suited for providing ambient light in the kitchen area for their wide dispersal of illumination and low heat output.A more better option that works well is a track lighting system with halogen lamps.This option is quite flexible since each head can be individually adjusted and additional lamps added at any time if the initial light is not enough for kitchen activities.

A popular, modern option for kitchen is to install fluorescent lights on top of the cabinets, providing an inviting, clean glow to the overall appearance of the kitchen.

Dining Room

This room needs to have different lights to suit different occasions.Family meals with children should be well lit without being too bright.Occasions like, friends get-together or romantic evenings require much more subdued lighting effects.These can be achieved by using wall lights, floor lamps or table lamps placed on dressers and of course a romantic dinner requires candles.The most common setup for the dining room is a single light fixture, usually a chandelier, centered over the table.This provides enough general lighting and gives the room a focal point.The dining room is yet another place where you want full control over the intensity of the lighting, so make sure that you use a dimmer.

Hallway

This part of your home needs to a balance between practical and ambient.Practicality is an essential aspect simply so that you can see your way in and out of your home safely.It is quite common to find flush or semi-flush fixtures in hallways. But the hallway is a place where you can get creative with general lighting. A series of wall sconces or uprights on each side can produce an interesting mood and open up a narrow hallway.If your hall is decked with artwork, using track lighting and adjusting the heads to shine on each painting is great way to combine ambient and accent lighting.Softer lighting can be created by either having wall lights or a table lamps placed on a table or shelf.

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