If you are considering renovating your home’s interior or exterior lighting, you may have started to research some of the many different types of lighting and light fixtures available to you. However, you may not know exactly which type of lighting is most useful around specific areas of your home. This is why, in today’s article, we will be taking a look at the three main types of lighting, their intended uses, as well as a few types of light fixtures that are commonly found in each category.

At The Light House Gallery, our lighting showrooms in Branson and Springfield are staffed by friendly lighting professionals that are dedicated to helping you find the perfect lighting products for your home. With more than 55 years of continued success in assisting residents of Missouri, and the widest offering of lighting products to browse, we know that we have the proper tools and industry knowledge to turn your lighting dreams into reality. Learn about the three main types of lighting by reading more on the subject below!

Task

Task lighting is commonly used for completing day-to-day activities that require a sufficient amount of lighting. Reading, writing, and even applying makeup are all common activities that are completed much easier with ample task lighting. If you find that you frequently experience eye strain while doing any of the activities listed above, there is a good chance that your lighting is not fully illuminating the current task at hand.

There are several types of task lighting, including:

Vanity. There are many reasons why vanity lighting is a necessity for all individuals. There may be times, whether you are shaving or putting on makeup, where you may find that your home’s lighting produces undesirable shadowing. Vanity lighting can help to eliminate shadowing altogether, and is often found in the form of bathroom lighting and overhead lighting used for reading and writing.
Lamps. Eye strain is a common occurrence for those that read often, especially if you don’t have the proper task lighting to fully illuminate your book. Lamps are an exceptional form of task lighting, and can be placed beside beds, next to couches, and throughout other areas of your home where you find that you read or work often.

Accent

Accent lighting is a great way to draw attention to unique elements of your home’s interior or exterior. Water features, pieces of art, book cases, and fireplaces are all excellent candidates for being bathed in accent lighting, and these items can transform your home from ordinary to elegant.

There are several types of accent lighting, including:

Wall lighting. Wall lighting is a great way to highlight unique features of your home, and can help to guide the eyes of your friends and family to features of interest. Using too much accent wall lighting around your home can minimize that dramatic impact that accent lighting can have, so choose wisely when deciding where to install your accent lighting.
Landscape lighting. Showcasing unique features around a landscape is one of the main reasons that individuals use accent lighting surrounding the exterior of their home. Accent lighting is extremely versatile, as it can be used to illuminate mature trees, upscale water features, and colorful foliage.
Spot lighting. A common form of lighting for putting pieces of art on full display, spot lighting draws the viewer’s eye toward your intended point of interest. This is a great way to highlight specific focal points, as spot lighting fully illuminates whatever it is pointed towards while also creating a shadowing effect around your point of interest.

Ambient

Lastly, ambient lighting can make any room feel warm and inviting if properly utilized. Ambient lighting is designed to provide you with just enough light to easily navigate throughout your home, without being too unpleasant on the eyes. This is why many choose warm-colored light bulbs for their ambient lighting, as this type of lighting is designed to be as easy on the eyes as possible.

There are several types of ambient lighting, including:

Recessed lighting. This type of lighting can be found along the ceiling of a home’s exterior or interior, and is installed in a flush mount to maintain a clean and sophisticated look. Recessed lighting is most commonly found in dining and living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms. If you are searching for the most in aesthetics, you can’t go wrong with recessed lighting.
Wall sconces. If you have ever walked blindly down your home’s hallway during the middle of the night, you could significantly benefit from wall sconces. These fixtures can be mounted on the walls of your home’s interior and exterior, and are used to paint your walls with artistic light while providing enough functional light for you to safely navigate throughout your home.
Pendant lighting. Pendant lighting comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, but can be used to add a touch of flair to your home’s personality. You will most commonly find pendant lighting in kitchens, dining areas, and sometimes bathrooms. This type of lighting is hung from your home’s ceiling in the form of chandeliers, crystal shades, and many other styles that are designed to accommodate the current look and feel of your home.

To learn more about Missouri’s best lighting showroom, stop by one of our two locations in Springfield or Branson, or get in touch with our friendly staff at The Light House Gallery today!