Direct lighting vs. indirect lighting

Lighting can be one of the most powerful features in your home. Businesses have long known how to use lighting to create ambiance and increase productivity. With knowledge of indirect and direct lighting, homeowners can effectively illuminate every room in their house.

There are a few categories of interior lighting. Depending on what you want to achieve, one or more of the types may benefit your space. Lights offer increased visibility and safety. They can help set the stage by giving each area of your home a different mood inspired by indirect or direct lighting. If you install the right lighting it can change the whole look of your home.

Comparing Indirect and Direct Lighting

Fixtures that create indirect lighting angle to allow light to bounce off the ceiling and walls to illuminate a room. The equal distribution of light creates a comfortable glow.

Direct lighting is aimed at a focal point or area. Overhead lights are often direct lighting sources. It requires a professional eye to make sure there is proper spacing to create even lighting. If aimed in the wrong direction they can cause shadows or create a glare on your television or computer screens.

Where to Use Indirect and Direct Lighting

Since indirect lighting can help create a warm glow it is often used to create ambiance in a space. A dining area can benefit from indirect lighting to create a softer look and to stage a more relaxing mood. Indirect lighting can be evenly spread throughout an area.

Direct lighting is often used to illuminate a workspace. Kitchens, offices, and any other areas that serve task-specific purposes benefit from this bright source of light. Pendant lights are good examples of direct lighting; the fixture illuminates one specific area.

Highlight the Positive

When a room looks like a shoebox, accent lights can add depth. You can use floor lamps or tabletop lamps to add additional indirect lighting. If you have a small display of dishes or collectibles, a puck light can help draw attention to them. A local electrician can install canister, pendant, and puck lights to suit your needs.

Light UP a Room

Shadows make a room feel smaller. If you have cabinets or shelves that stop just below the ceiling consider adding hidden, indirect lights. Over-the-cabinet lighting can make your room feel impressive. LED linear lights work best for this staging. A professional can install these and any other lights.

Make a Statement

Bold can be confident, resilient, and beautiful. An oversized floor lamp can add light as well as become the focal point of a room. Ask your Phoenix electrician about installing dimmers to your statement lights. These will allow you to customize the lighting throughout the day to match the atmosphere you want to create.

Electrical Lighting Projects are Not DIY

Many homeowners enjoy taking on a do-it-yourself (DIY) project. Electrical systems can be complex and confusing. Without a full understanding of how your system works you risk danger to yourself and damage to your home. These mistakes can be much more costly than hiring an electrician.

Replacing an old light fixture may seem like a project you can handle. However, outdated systems or previous code violations can leave you open to problems. Sometimes a \”simple\” fixture upgrade can require new wiring or circuit upgrades.

Faulty grounding can be dangerous for your family and pets. If you install indirect or direct lighting and don’t get the wiring right, the best-case scenario is higher electric bills. Electrical shocks can be fatal.

Electrical Service

Contact Turn It On Electric to learn more about ways lighting can enhance your home and increase your property value. Whether you\’re looking to make a few upgrades or you’re building a new home, our LEEDS (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified team can work with you to give your home a safer, smarter, and sustainable electrical system.

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