Task, accent or lighting?

Light is one of the most important elements of interior design, both in terms of aesthetics and functionality. It is even one of the key criteria when determining the value of the property. Before changing your lighting design, it’s a good idea to understand the different types of lighting, their strengths and effects, so you can best decide how to illuminate your space in the best and brightest way possible.

General lighting

Natural light is a major contributor to our day-to-day well-being. If your home is low on natural light, try increasing it by using large mirrors strategically placed in front of windows and choosing furniture with reflective surfaces – metal, glass and light colors on shiny surfaces can work. To complement natural lighting, we turn to artificial lighting.

While we need artificial lighting to simply see and function around the house, the potential of artificial lighting to transform our home is huge and is often a missed opportunity in most interiors. While there are many things to consider when designing interior lighting, here’s one top tip: never rely on just one light source.

Illumination of the task

Task lighting is needed to illuminate a specific area or even a closed corner to perform a specific activity – or task. Task lighting can usually be found in offices, where desk lamps are used to help you work, but also around sofas and couches in the living room, where floor lamps and table lamps help you read, and of course on bedside tables for evening relaxation.

In addition, task lighting also refers to the lighting on the bathroom mirror, sink, oven and stove in the kitchen, as its purpose is simply to illuminate the space where practical daily activities, such as cooking, take place.

Accent lighting

Accent lighting, on the other hand, is a form of decorative lighting that focuses on a specific area or object to emphasize its aesthetics, add a sense of depth, and create a pleasant atmosphere in interior design.

Accent lighting can be created using hidden LED lighting on stairs or in the corners of the ceiling. It is also very common to use accent lighting on shelves to illuminate books and other artefacts, and of course paintings on the walls or beautiful plants around the space.

With all that said, accent lighting isn’t just for illuminating beautiful objects. When done correctly, accent lighting can turn even a boring hallway into an exciting space, creating a contrast between light and dark and structuring the entire space.

Ambient lighting

Ambient lighting is a form of general lighting that provides a comfortable level of illumination without excessive glare. In addition to the main functions of lighting, ambient lighting enhances the feeling of warmth and depth of a room or space. While you don’t need to illuminate a specific limited area when using ambient lighting, you do need to think carefully about where to install the lights, shades, and fixtures you choose.

Last tip

Since we said you shouldn’t rely on just one source, always consider each room and each space in terms of primary light, secondary light, and even third light. Make sure you enable the dimming option and make sure your switch connections allow you to control these lights separately so you can create different lighting scenarios.

Whether your living room is hosting a cozy movie night, a romantic evening, or your kids playing on a winter Sunday afternoon, each of these scenarios will require very different lighting schemes. In summary, avoid placing one light source in any space; not only can it tire the eye, it also lacks depth and style, and in many cases isn’t even practical.

Since light is an important factor in interior design, it is best to analyze which areas of the house you want to light and for what reason. Smart task lighting, strategic accent lighting and elegant ambient lighting should work together to update your interior and facilitate your daily activities and interactions in the most natural yet luxurious way.