The Role of Lighting in Decorating

Within the realm of interior design, lighting plays an intricate part. It is the element that can set the entire tone in the room creating a range of emotions for you and your guests.

American artist, Louis Comfort Tiffany Understood this concept when handcrafting his precious Tiffany lamps. Comfort had a fascination with illumination and his revelatory work in stained glass led him to find new ways to combine electric lighting into his well-known designs. In 1885, while working on the Lyceum Theatre in New York, Tiffany managed to use electric lighting and his distinct designs for a unique lighting experience. In 1899, the stained glass artistisan introduced his nature-inspired, intricate Tiffany lamps that have set the mood in homes for decades.

Using Tiffany style lighting, you can create a number of different moods in your home. Tiffany's dragonfly designs offer an whimsical feel for any room of your house. His early efforts lend a more masculine attitude to a room. Other Tiffany lamps display classic, grace and beauty emphasized by floral patterns.

Let your mind free and think about how each room in your home will be used. This will help you to decide what type of lighting you should purchase while still fitting into your budget. There are four general types of lighting to consider, and they each serve a purpose.

Ambient lighting provides illumination for the entire room. When choosing ambient lighting, you may want to think about installing a dimmer for flexibility. Some examples of this type of lighting are: recessed downlights, cove lighting, valance lighting sconces, track lighting, chandeliers and portable fixtures.

Task lighting is ust that. It is intended to help in completing the task at hand such as cooking, school work and grooming. To assist you, it should be glare free, and effective without cause strain on the eyes. Task lighting includes: valance lighting, pendant lights and portable fixtures such as desk lamps.
Accent lighting focuses on illuminating an object like a painting, a sculpture or an architectural element of your space. It is provides more illumination than ambient light. Wall washers, sconces and track lighting are examples of accent lighting.

Natural lighting comes through skylighting and windows depending on the time, season or weather. It varies in intensity and brightness.

Lighting makes you feel safe and comfortable in your home. When changing the lighting in your home, it's best to develop a plan covering the purpose, the desired mood and how you want to emphasize decorative and architectural elements. The style of lighting such as sconces and lamps can enhance any room. This concept was truly influenced by the works of Tiffany, and his vision helped the way we light our interior world today.