Everyone knows that poor lighting doesn’t look very appealing. It’s also not very good for our eyes. But that’s not all; poor lighting can actually harm your mood and mental health. Believe it or not, insufficient lighting and vitamin D deficiencies have been linked to depression, while bright light is shown to help improve moods and energy levels.

This demonstrates just how important having the correct lighting for the home is. When properly considered, it's a stunning interior feature that also benefits your overall health. At Taskers, we understand how much lighting can transform your home from both an interior and a practical perspective. So, we’ve pulled together this guide on effectively enhancing your home through the art of illumination.

Types of lighting

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There are various types of lighting, all used to fulfil different functions and create a harmonious blend of brightnesses. When used correctly, they can transform any space into a peaceful or uplifting space; when used incorrectly, they can either over-illuminate or under-illuminate. Both can cause fatigue, eyestrain, and headaches - which no one wants. Here are the different types of lighting and how you can strike the perfect balance of them in your home.

Task lighting

Task lighting is arguably the most important for daily life and your functionality, and by nature, they require bulbs of a higher wattage to produce the level of light needed. The job of task lighting is to provide enough illumination for you to take care of any activities or tasks you may have at home, like looking through cupboards, cooking, grooming yourself, reading or anything else intricate that requires a high level of visibility.

These tasks require a bright light to stop your eyes from straining to try and see, which can lead to eye strain and headaches, not to mention accidents if you’re working with anything sharp as you would be in the kitchen or on slippery surfaces like in the bathroom. Some good examples of task lighting are bright floor lamps, desk lamps, ceiling lights (like those in an office/living room/kitchen) and under-cabinet lights.

Ambient lighting

Once you’ve taken care of all the areas that need task lighting in your home, ambient lighting is the next thing to consider. Task and ambient lighting share a few similarities, yet they both serve slightly different purposes. Task and ambient light both light up whole areas. Still, ambient lighting is typically softer, less bright and often connected to a dimmer switch for the added versatility of adjusting the brightness. Ambient lighting is more for added style and, as the name suggests, ambience. They can also come in various colours for added texture, so it’s excellent for enhancing and tying together a space. Typically, you’ll find ambient lighting in all the same areas as task lighting, but it’s more diffused; it’s often found in hallways, coffee tables, bookshelves and around seating areas. Ambient light gently bathes your room in soft light, and some examples of it include chandeliers, lamps and wall lights.

Accent lighting

The function of accent lighting is to draw attention to specific features within a room. This could be anything from spotlights that shine on artwork or lights that highlight items on shelves to wall lights that cast a glow on alcoves and guide lights on a garden path. This light highlights specific features of your home that would otherwise be in the shadows with precision rather than lighting up an entire room. You’ll typically find accent lights in wall, spot and track lighting.

Decorative lighting

Lastly we have decorative lighting. Decorative lighting ties everything together and is more of an interior feature when compared to other types of lighting. Unlike ambient or task lighting, decorative lighting is purely used for aesthetic and stylistic purposes to add an extra layer of visual interest to your space. This can be achieved through various decorative light fixtures, such as chandeliers, under-furniture LED lighting, or any other statement piece that complements the overall design scheme of your home or office.

The best way to tackle lighting your home is to start room by room, considering all the tasks you’ll need to be able to execute, the mood you want to create, features that will look great highlighted and any extra scenery that can be added with decorative lighting. Then, you can easily plan what you need for each room. After you’re done, your home will be tasteful, functional and great for your mental health!

And if you’re looking for home decor, furniture or beautiful lighting options to enhance your home, look no further. At Taskers of Accrington, we offer the most distinct and exciting house furnishing shopping experience in the North West. Our newly refurbished showroom includes themed displays, lighting, and room sets showcasing lounge and dining furniture from top brands like Tetrad, G Plan, Calligaris and Cattelan Italia. Get in touch today by calling us on 01254236262, and a member of our friendly team will be happy to help!