Are you planning a remodel of your home? Well, have you covered all the aspects? We ask because one of the most commonly overlooked items to consider is the lighting! Lighting should be just as important as all the other design elements, because without it, how will you successfully showcase your new and beautiful space? Today, there is even an industry dedicated solely to lighting where there are lighting designers and lighting architects among others. With that being said, let’s take a closer look at how we can implement the different types of lighting into your space and how you can create a positive aesthetic through lighting.

To start, we need to know what the three types of lighting are. Each of these three has an important task to fulfill and is implemented in different ways. They are general lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting.

General Lighting

General lighting is the main light in the room. It typically comes from the main switch you turn on when entering a space. General lighting should give you enough light to complete common tasks, and light up the overall space without needing additional lighting sources.

Task Lighting

Task lighting is light in addition to the general lighting. The task light provides an extra source of light for you to complete specific tasks. Examples would be a desk light to help you see and read paperwork, under-cabinet light to help with kitchen tasks such as chopping, or even a light next to your bed for reading.

Accent Lighting

Accent lighting typically is not lighting that will light up a room or help you complete tasks. This type of light is reserved more for highlighting by creating visual interest. You could see accent lighting inside cabinets to feature pottery, an eyeball light in the ceiling pointing to a painting, or even lighting used to highlight your landscaping.

As you can probably see, lighting provides many opportunities within a space, which is why it is so important to not exclude lighting design from your remodel plans. Working with your designer on your lighting plan (especially if layout changes) will be just as important as selecting finishes for your space!