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Task lighting is that lighting which allows you to carry out your "tasks" around the house - for example, reading, knitting and playing the piano. All of these tasks require you to concentrate on the work at hand and in order to do this work you need good light. Task lighting is more often than not provided by fluorescent overhead lights and can be supplemented by other lamps, commonly adjustable table lamps which the worker can adjust to a more suitable angle. Adjustable lamps can be desk lamps, as well as floor lamps, or other portable lights that can be clipped onto shelves or other surfaces.
Accent Lighting is lighting that is used to focus on an art object such as a painting or a sculpture, or any other object that you want to highlight. Perhaps even to highlight a coffee table or a certain corner of a room. Picture lights for example, can be used to highlight a painting. A hanging pendant or a table lamp can be used to highlight a small table. Sometimes it can prove difficult to obtain the exact effect you are after because lamps have different sizes of beams and trying to make the beam fit the object is not always easy. Low voltage lights or spotlights are other good ways of using lighting to highlight objects.
As well as having lighting pertinent to a particular use or task, the other side of the coin is to look at the types of light being emitted by different light fixtures and to see where this light might be better used. We briefly examine neon, fluorescent and low voltage lighting although there are obviously many other types of lighting available.
Whilst we are more accustomed to seeing neon signs and lighting in malls and streets, neon lighting is becoming more popular for special effects lighting at home. The ability to bend the neon lighting tube into different shapes at will is the principle reason why this type of lighting was so prevalent in the signs and streets for many years. The downside to using this type of lighting fixture is that it uses a high voltage and is quite vulnerable to breakage - hence for this reason it is not recommended to have neon lighting in children's bedrooms. Whilst neon lighting can be very efficient and cheap to run once it is installed, the initial cost of buying this type of lighting is relatively expensive.
Fluorescent lighting is a cheap and efficient lighting form. This is because fluorescent light uses about five times less electricity than its incandescent counterparts but still gives the same amount of light. Also, this type of lighting is longer lasting and doesn't radiate as much heat from the tube.
Fluorescent lighting is a popular choice for task lighting. Low voltage lighting is another popular lighting choice as these lights do not give off a lot of glare and can still be used to provide sufficient light for your surroundings. Also, this type of lighting is cheap and efficient and the low voltage bulbs last a lot longer than the conventional GLS bulbs. An added bonus is that that low voltage bulbs tend to be quite small, which means they can be tucked away inside small light fittings designed for a variety of purposes.
Being aware of what types of home lighting you need and also knowing about the light that is emitted from light fittings can help you to plan your indoor lighting more effectively.
A lot of people are concerned with keeping their homes looking nice. It probably seems to most homeowners that every day presents a new task for them to complete in order to keep their house in top form. This especially true when the sun is out and shining, illuminating every inch of their property, but what about when the sun goes down? What about the way their house looks at night?
With so many household tasks to juggle it is easily understandable why many homeowners overlook the fact that their house is still visible to the neighbors and any other passerby at night. Nighttime gives you a whole new range of options to consider when deciding how you want your house to look. Using lighting, you can illuminate only what you want, and at whatever intensity you desire. Thanks to today's low voltage lighting systems, lighting up your house comes with more options than ever.
Low voltage exterior lighting comes in a wide range of designs to help suit your tastes and help create different lighting effects. A low voltage system also offers several advantages. The biggest one of them all is convenience of use. Except for the one transformer that must be connected to a 120-volt circuit, the entire system runs on a cost effective and safe 12-volt current. Low voltage wiring is also lightweight and can either be laid on the ground or buried beneath the surface.
In contrast, if you were to use a 120-volt system (the same type of system that supplies power to your home) you would have to use the same precautions installing your lighting as those of a licensed electrician, as well as the expertise. A 120-volt system will also have to be installed according to code and may require a buried conduit. Also, once it is installed, it is permanent, so you will never be able to move it; however, by using low voltage, you can easily relocate the system should you need to, or if you just want to change your lighting scheme.
Low voltage lighting can be purchased in kits or as individual fixtures. Using a kit is best because you get the correct transformer, wire and fixtures all in one box. The kits range from $20 to $100 and are very convenient for the do-it-yourself homeowner.
On the other hand, buying individual components provide a wide range of options that allows homeowners to customize the exterior lighting; however, he/she will have to determine the proper wire gauge size and transformer capacity; thus, both options come with their own set of drawbacks.
Thanks to low voltage lighting, taking care of your home is now literally a 24 hour job. However, it is worth it. The right lighting scheme in your front yard can give your home's exterior a memorable ambiance people won't soon forget.