Lighting is one of the most important elements of your interior design, as it not only gives light to a room, but can also change its appearance, for better or worse. First of all, everyone needs to know a bit more about the two main types of lighting: natural light and artificial light. 1. Sunlight Light is different depending on where you live and the orientation of your room. For example, light from the north is much colder than light from the equator. The amount of natural light in a room also changes depending on the time of day and the season. Window coverings can help you control the amount of light coming in from outside. Interior designer Sara Cosgrove says that curtains, window treatments and mirrors are the best ways to control natural light in rooms where it is low. Furniture with mirrors, such as the Carina bedside table shown above, also works well and can be used for storage. Use curtains lined with thicker fabrics to control the amount of light coming into a room that receives a lot of natural light. Glare is another problem that needs to be addressed. A room that is too bright can appear flat and cold. A window treatment that can be modified, such as slatted, Venetian, venetian or Roman blinds, or plantation shutters, can help you control the amount of light coming in and stop glare without ruining the look of your window. Combustion lights, such as candlelight and firelight, are very atmospheric and shouldn’t be forgotten. See how a roaring fire makes this cottage’s reception lounge area by Inge Moore (of The Gallery HBA) even more inviting. Placed at either end of a mantelpiece or formal dining table, taper candles in elegant candlesticks or candelabras look stunning. Hurricanes or lanterns are an easy way to enjoy the warm glow of candles indoors or outdoors with a more casual look. 2. Artificial lighting There are five main types of lighting in a room: general, ambient, mood, task and accent. Some lights may belong to more than one type, depending on their location, intensity and use. However, knowing the basics of each type can help you plan an effective system. 1. General lighting General lighting is usually direct and needs to be controlled by a dimmer switch so that it can adapt to changes in daylight. A central pendant is probably the most common way to light the whole room, and it can also be an important element of the room’s design. A fancy chandelier or art installation are both great ways to catch the eye and add a visual touch to a room. However, they need to be combined with other levels of lighting, as a central light source alone creates harsh shadows (especially on people) and doesn’t add much life to a room. Most people think that such a simple lighting scheme is far from enough to make a space warm and welcoming. 2. ambient lighting 
The different types of lighting
Sunlight is the most natural way to get light. It’s good for your mind and costs nothing. But it’s also hard to deal with.
You should use artificial lighting to give your space more depth. Warm light, as opposed to bright light, is the most inviting choice for homes. Artificial lighting can be used to highlight features, create zones and change the size of a room. It can also contribute to the overall style of an interior. When planning your lighting project, you should always keep these five types of lighting in mind. Think about where you need it, how you want to use the space and how you can use different lighting effects to achieve the look you want. The different types of lighting indoors
General lighting is the most important part of a lighting plan. It gives a room an even glow and illuminates it for practical rather than aesthetic reasons.
Ambient lighting is the next level of lighting. It works well with general lighting. These two types of lighting have important points in common: they are essentially functional and are used to illuminate an entire room. The main difference between the two is the direction of the light. Interior designer April Russell explains the difference: “General lighting is just that – a light that you can use every day and every night. Most of the time, mood lighting will be linked to a dimming system so that you can change the amount of light depending on the situation. Most of the time, mood lighting is used to make a party more exciting.
Ambient lighting is not direct, so it is softer than general lighting. It generally doesn’t use downlighting, so it doesn’t create shadows that wouldn’t be pretty to look at. Think spotlights or wall lights that flood a wall with light, backlit plexiglass panels or hidden lighting from a coffer that illuminates a ceiling like this cinema room in Finchatton, left.
Architectural lighting, like the mood lighting used here, is often used to change the look or size of a space. Without it, this windowless room would be very dark and cramped. Task lighting
3. Task lighting
Task lighting, as the name suggests, is a light source used for a specific task, such as reading or cooking. Because of the way it works, task lighting requires a higher wattage than most other lighting. To avoid eye strain due to the marked difference between light and dark areas, you should always combine with sufficient ambient light.
The most obvious places that need direct lighting are where people read and work, like this home office from Elicyon. Balanced arm lamps are great on desks, and flexible reading lights mounted near the headboard are perfect for reading in bed. Mirror lighting works well in bathrooms and preparation areas. Task lighting should also be used in the kitchen to make meal preparation easier and safer. For kitchen lighting, you can use under-cabinet lights, recessed spotlights above worktops or a long, low pendant light above a prep island. Direct lighting can also be used to create paths for people walking through a room or corridor. This can be done using directional floor lighting or riser lighting on stairs.
4. Setting the mood
General lighting and mood lighting are just as important to the overall look of a room as mood lighting, and a room would look empty without them. It gives a room a warm, welcoming feel by creating pools of light that fill in the shadows caused by general lighting.
It’s also an important part of a room’s style, as it tends to be as concerned with style as function. Table lamps and floor lamps, like the ones in this Parisian salon by Jean-Louis Deniot, are popular choices.
For table lamps, it’s best to have a sturdy side table or console. Otherwise, it can be difficult to hide the wires. Run the wires through a small hole you’ve drilled in the surface or secure them to a stand with tape, a staple or a drawing pin.
Keep sockets close to where you’ll be placing your lights. Here’s another good reason to plan your electricity towards the end of your design work.
As mood lighting is often the layer closest to eye level, it’s important to use a filter to mask any glare from ugly bare bulbs. The same goes for your general lighting, or mood lighting, if you can see the bare bulb from below.
Interior designer Barbara Barry says: “I like to place the light source (the lampshade) just above eye level. It brightens up the whole room and that’s the best thing about it because it doesn’t cast a shadow downwards.”
In the past, tungsten filament bulbs were the most popular option. Today, halogen and LED bulbs are used instead of tungsten filament bulbs because they are cheaper and consume less energy. For mood lighting, choose a low-wattage bulb. High-wattage bulbs are too harsh and unsuitable for mood lighting. High-wattage bulbs also require a large lampshade so that the bulb and the material have enough space.
When choosing a floor or table lamp, pay attention to the size of the shade in relation to the base and the size of the lamp in relation to your other furniture. LuxDeco creative director Linda Holmes says: “Choosing lamps that are too small is a big mistake that many people make. If you’re not sure, always choose a larger lamp. Unless the lamp is going to fit on a narrow console table, of course. In that case, you should always measure.”
There are many other things to think about when it comes to lampshades. Accessories should always be hidden by a lampshade. Hardware that stands out looks ridiculous and spoils the look. Textures can also change the look of a lamp, especially when it’s on. For example, a rougher linen shade will give off a different light to a smooth satin shade.
If most of the light in your room comes from ambient lighting, it’s best to use lighter colours so that the light can shine through as much as possible. If you want a moody, atmospheric look, a darker colour is ideal. The best way to make an expensive object look good is to upholster it in silver or gold.
5. Accent lighting
Accent lighting, like accent lighting, has a specific purpose. It is any lighting that has been added to a room to draw attention to a certain feature.
Accent lighting is used to highlight works of art, sculptures and other objects in cabinets or on pedestals. It highlights the pieces and prevents them from being lost in a space that is not adequately lit.
Accent lighting is similar to task lighting, but because of the way it works, it requires at least three times as many lumens, which means it needs more power.
Light effects:
1. Downlighting
Downlighting is the most common and useful way to illuminate an interior. Most central lights or spotlights are downlights. It casts shadows that are not very flattering, especially on people, and so needs to be balanced by sufficient ambient light.
2. Bringing in light
Uplighting is a much softer alternative to downlighting, as it lets light into a room indirectly by reflecting it off the ceiling and back into the room.
3. Wash the walls
Washing the walls gives a vertical surface a soft, even light. Position the lamp far enough away so that the beam can reach the entire surface.
4. Wall scrubbing
With wall scrubbing, a light is placed close to the surface it is meant to illuminate, bringing out the texture of the surface.
5. Spotlighting
Spotlights are often used for accent and accent lighting to draw attention to a certain part of the room.
6. Perimeter lighting
Perimeter lighting is used to highlight the edges of a room and make it appear larger. Cornice lighting is a good way to achieve this, and interior designers and architects often use it.
Things to do about lighting
Think about how you’ll be using the room and what furniture will be in it. Some furniture will need specific lighting.
Use a dimming system in your lighting design. This will make your lighting flexible.
Think about how rooms relate to each other when planning your lighting system. Sudden changes from light to dark can disorientate you and strain your eyes.
Put wall lights on walls that aren’t as long. This will give the room a more balanced look and draw attention away from walls that are too long.
PAY attention to how a lampshade is lined. The thickness and colour of the lining will affect the amount of light it lets through.
Think carefully about the wattage of the bulb. 60 or 75 watt bulbs are too bright for mood lighting. A 40-watt bulb is much warmer.
DO: always put a diffuser on a bare bulb.
Lighting don’ts:
Don’t use just one main light source, as this creates shadows that aren’t pretty to look at. Instead, use several layers.
Don’t skimp on sockets. Having to use an ugly extension cord is the worst thing that can happen.
Don’t leave wires out in the open. It makes your room look messy and detracts from its overall appearance.