Layers of Light Tutorial

Today we have a guest post from our friends at Pegasus Lighting.  Pegasus focuses on creating “learning experiences in lighting”.  Emily Widle is their resident how-to girl, and she has volunteered to share some valuable lighting tips with our readers.

Today’s lighting experience involves how to layer light to create functional and appealing lighting designs.

Redesign Your Lighting Like a Pro

Unless your home was custom-designed with a lighting expert on hand, you probably have some room for improvement in the lighting design department.

If you want to go the DIY route, there’s just one all-important rule to remember: Think in “layers of light.”

It’s the first rule in lighting design; and as simplistic as it sounds, it’s what every professional lives by.  Far too many homes rely on one layer of light per room: a ceiling-mount fixture in the kitchen, recessed cans in the living room, lamps in the bedroom.  Sound familiar?

Even if you have multiple lights in a room, it’s important to incorporate multiple lighting types.  You’ll enhance your home and make every room more functional.  Learn the three lighting types and start designing like a pro:

General Lighting

• Role: Provides a room with overall illumination.  Meant to create a comfortable ambiance so that you can see and walk around safely.
• Applications: Recessed lights, Ceiling-mount fixtures, Cove lighting, Over cabinet lights, Indirect lighting

Task Lighting

• Role: Provides focused light needed for specific tasks (i.e., reading in the living room, preparing food in the kitchen, applying makeup in the bathroom, etc.).
• Applications: Under cabinet lights, Pendant lights, Wall sconces

Accent Lighting

• Role: Creates visual interest; adds drama; enhances paintings, wall hangings, or architectural details.
• Applications: Display lights, Picture lights, Track lights, Adjustable recessed lights, Step lights, Rope lights, Cabinet lights

Remember, it’s best to incorporate all three layers in a room in some way.  Happy remodeling!

Thanks Emily!  We’re pretty excited to learn that we’ve been doing this right all along!  Our new bathroom has recessed lights, wall accent lights, and hanging pendant lights.  Whew.  We are lighting layerers!