A good overall lighting plan should take into consideration what you are trying to accomplish in each room; activities, mood, focal points, highlights, etc. Lighting typically serves four main purposes: ambient lighting, task lighting, accent lighting and decorative lighting.
Ambient lighting is a central source of lighting that provides an overall non-specific illumination of a room, such as larger ceiling or wall mounted fixtures, recessed or track lights.
Task lighting is needed for more specific activities. It provides a higher level of directed light in a dedicated area, such as a floor or desk lamp.
Accent lighting is most often used to highlight, add drama or flair to a particular item being displayed. It is recommended that your accent lighting provide three times as much light on your focal point as the general lighting surrounding it. Track, recessed or wall mounted fixtures typically work best.
Decorative lighting is often added to enhance the décor of your current space and to create a more intimate setting. LED flameless candles and decorative chandeliers are two great ways to add decorative lighting.
Whether large or small, chandeliers add character and depth to any room. It is very important to determine the right size of your chandelier so that it will not take away from your overall room design. To determine the proper size, take the length and the width of a room and add those two numbers together to determine the approximate diameter of your chandelier.
Make sure you identify which purpose each room serves and select your lighting accordingly. Lighting is important to add warmth and functionality throughout your home. Contact a lighting professional for all of your lighting needs.
Information contributed by The Light Place. Visit their lighting gallery on Level 3 of Hickory Furniture Mart.