Interior lighting increases visibility and productivity
Lighting your home's interior serves many purposes, and there are a variety of ways in which it can be done. Different styles of lighting focus on various lighting effects; task lighting focuses on lighting for efficiency and productivity by keeping the light directed toward specific areas for specific activities, while daylighting focuses on the use of natural light to cut energy costs and provide a more natural environment. Whichever lighting style or combination of styles you choose, the interior lighting will have several effects on your home.
Safety and Visibility
The primary purpose of any interior lighting, should be increasing visibility in the area. This has the effect of increasing safety by allowing anyone moving through the room to see hazards such as objects on the floor, sharp corners of furniture, or pets. Most sighted people depend heavily on the sense of vision for navigation, orientation and balance, so indoor lighting allows for ease of movement throughout a space even when windows are not present or do not allow light to enter naturally.
Increased Productivity
The invention of electric light increased people's ability to work after sundown by providing a brighter, steadier light than candles or oil lamps were able to maintain. Modern interior lighting allows for all kinds of work to be done at any hour of the day, rather than requiring work to stop when natural lighting becomes inadequate.
Atmosphere and Mood Enhancement
Lighting can have a strong effect on the mood in a room. Interior lighting can be used to increase the feeling of energy or positive moods when it is bright, or to increase relaxation with dim lighting. Colored light bulbs or color filters placed in front of the bulbs in lighting fixtures can also change the mood of a room. Lighting an entire room with diffused (soft) lighting can eliminate shadows, which may have the effect of making the inhabitants feel tired or bored because of the lack of contrast. Alternatively, hard lighting creates shadows, and can be used to increase the prominence of architectural elements such as crown moldings or pillar details. This can create interest in the shapes of the room and increase alertness.
Tags: lighting allows, , , your home