Lithting can be separated in to three basic types:

Ambient or general

Task or Work

Accent, Mood or Display

A good design will use all three types to light an area or room according to its function and style.

Is the one that replaces the sunlight, feeling the room with overall illumination, allows you to move around the room safely.

If your general lighting is indirect, much of the Illumination results from light that bounces off the walls, ceiling and floor. To make this indirect lighting more efficient, the colors must be pastels or clear colors as they reflect the light in a much better way than dark colors. Matte finishes are preferred.

Specific activities take place in a room. This light permits to perform a task without eyestrain .

Good task must be properly positioned to avoid causing glare or casting unwanted shadows.

The amount and type of light changes depending on the task to be perform.

The rule of the thumb used by experts is to keep the surrounding area at least one third as bright as the work surface.

Task lighting can be provided by recessed or track fixtures, pendants, table or floor lamps and undercabinets lightings.

When lighting long areas such as kitchen counters with fluorescents, the accepted rule is to provide 8 watts per foot of counter length.

Accent Lighting

Accenting requires a light source that will throw at least 3 times more light on the object or area to be accented than the general lighting in adjacent areas. Proper positioning of the light is as important as its intensity.

As a rule, designers recommend that the fistures be aimed at a 30 degree angle from the vertical to prevent their light from interfering with the line of sight and to avoid reflection on the surface of an object.

With 3D art objects, sculptures, vases or art pieces use two or more light sources aimed at different angles to create a more desirable accent.