Indoors

Choosing the right lighting

Posted by Renovationportugal.com on

The right lighting makes a difference

With contrasts, you can make rooms seem alive and interesting – even when it comes to lighting. The mixture of light and shadow is important, however, really dark shadows should be avoided. The best thing is to find a good mix of direct, indirect, punctual, and diffused light. It provides variety!

In order to illuminate a room as well as possible, you should pay extra attention to the color of the light and the direction of the rays. Below you can read more about how to adjust the direction of the rays depending on the lighting; general lighting, work lighting, and accent lighting.

General lighting

Ceiling lamps in the middle of the room are the classic and very popular light source in the room. With ceiling spotlights or different light sources whose cones meet each other, you can set stylish accents that present the room in a completely new light.

Work light

To protect your eyes, your desks, work surfaces, and reading areas should be bright and well-lit for reading.

Accent lighting

You use accent lighting to discreetly emphasize certain details in the room. For example, a glass cabinet, a sculpture or a painting. Keep in mind that this type of lighting works best with a dimmer light and with a warm color temperature.

Tips for the right lighting

  • The light sources should be connected separately.
  • Lamps with adjustable or rotatable stands make it flexible.
  • Rooms appear larger if the light is directed towards the wall.
  • You should generally never see the base of the lamp.
  • Candles shining in the upper parts of the room create a harmonious atmosphere.

Color rendering effect

Colors have an influence on our everyday life and directly affect our health. Light has a decisive influence on how we experience the colors of objects. Therefore, consider the color rendering effect when planning. It is best to use lamps that have a good color rendering index. It can make, for example, dishes look more appetizing. Both the color temperature and the color rendering index can be found on the packaging.

Note:

  • Halogen lamps has the best color reproduction (Ra 95-100).
  • LED lamps surpass the color reproduction of fluorescent lamps these days (Ra at least 80).
  • Energy lamps and fluorescent lamps are the worst (Ra 80-90).
  • Color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K) and brightness is now measured in Lumens (lm).