All good artists know the effect of light and shadows and how it can dynamically change the mood of a piece of artwork. Lighting is a critical component of an artists arsenal….and so it is with residential lighting. Proper lighting in residential applications can dramatically change the “mood” of your room much like a painting or photograph. Experience is key to properly lighting your home. We currently have over 100 years of combined knowledge ready to assist you at Sumter Lighting and Home. Any skilled lighting consultant knows that there are numerous sources of light in residential applications. Properly layering this light is the key to a great residential lighting design. Much like an interior designer mixes color, texture, and pattern to create the “feel” of a space; a lighting consultant mixes ambient, task, and accent lighting to create this same desired effect.

Ambient lighting is generally an overhead fixture that floods a space giving general light to that space. It is most often achieved by recessed cans, ceiling mounted fixtures, chandeliers, track or any combination thereof. This is the base upon which we build the lighting plan. Ambient lighting provides the overall lighting to a space and is therefore a very critical component to the lighting design.

Task lighting is just as it sounds…it is the next layer of lights to assist in tasks. Think bathroom, kitchen, office space, etc. This lighting is an extra layer to assist you with daily functions such as grooming, meal preparation, sewing, reading, etc. Task lighting fixtures include vanity lights, pendants, under-counter lighting, floor lamps, table lamps, and track lighting. Without proper task lighting we cannot effectively perform many of our critical daily functions.

Accent lighting is used to highlight objects such as artwork, sculpture, or landscape. The goal here is to highlight the featured subject thereby allowing it to be the focal point. In almost all cases you don’t want to see the actual light fixture…you want to see its effect on the intended object. Great examples of accent lighting are adjustable recessed, track, uplighting, and directional landscape lighting fixtures.

Finally, lighting control systems such as dimmers are the last critical component of any great lighting design. There are certain times that you need your lighting to be at 100%...but we all know that there are times when you need to dim the light. Dimmers are critical to not only setting the “mood” in a space but they can also save you money and prolong the life of bulbs used.

The best lighting plans incorporate all 3 levels of lighting working together to make your home shine.