Since energy efficiency is paramount in lighting decisions, LED lighting has caught on in people's eyes!
Photos by: Unsplash
People are now beginning to realize that they can achieve just as much quantity and quality of light with LED lamps as with conventional light bulbs. In addition, you benefit from massive cost savings. While the initial cost can be a bit higher than what you would spend on traditional light bulbs, the low maintenance and operating costs more than make up for it. So how can you use LED lighting in your home?
Use of LED lights at home
Positioning lights has never been easier, whether you work with Lepro RGB LED strips or opt for the same old ones. But guess what? LED lights serve pretty much the same purposes as other types of lights. In most rooms you will need three types of light:
- Accent,
- Environment and
- Task.
All of these lights serve their different purposes and cannot be ignored in favor of the other. Take Lepro 50ft RGB LED strips as an example. These LED lights can work wonders for accent lighting and also contribute to work and ambient lighting. But what do all these categories mean and how can you hack them all?
Accent lighting
Accent lighting falls into a decorative category and is used to draw attention to a focal point. For example, if you have a piece of art on your wall, you want to light it up and make sure that people's eyes are drawn to the piece of art. Using task and ambient lighting is not enough to create this dramatic effect. Instead, you want a light that just focuses on the artwork and shadows the areas around it. This is why art exhibitions often rely on this form of lighting to present their works of art. This type of lighting is common in collections, displays, highlighting architectural designs, and even wall washing. You can use it both indoors and outdoors to achieve your desired look. Which LED lights can you use for accent lighting?
Recessed lights
In the past, many people viewed recessed lights (also known as can lights) as ceiling lights. While they often sit flush against the ceiling, they work for other parts of the room too, including the floors and walls. For a wall wash effect, you can't go wrong with these LED lights. In addition, LED lights emit minimal heat and can remain in the cavities without damaging the electrical components.
Track lights
These LED lights are much more visible than recessed lights. Because of this, you can get more out of them by using multiple parts at the same time. Their aesthetics make them visually appealing, and while they can add value to works of art and other spaces, they can also serve as visual focal points. Line them up in a room of your choice. If you place them around a kitchen island, for example, you will create an ideal dining area in your home.
Ambient lighting
It's almost impossible to find a room that doesn't have ambient lighting (aka general lighting). It is characterized by a glow that spreads through space, touching almost every surface and making every aspect visible to the human eye. To put it better, ambient lighting creates a natural lighting mood and is often like daylight. This lighting does not draw attention to a specific point in the room, but ensures uniform lighting in the room. Because of its effect on the entire room, you need to pay attention to the color temperatures. When you illuminate bedrooms, living rooms and other relaxation rooms, you tend to have warmer temperatures. When it comes to lighting kitchens, bathrooms, and home offices, however, you should opt for cooler tones that promote productivity and make rooms much safer. You can think of ambient lighting as an easy way to create a mood in rooms.
The LED light options in this case include:
Pendant lights
Have you ever seen pendant lights fail to illuminate a room? These lights, which are also available in LED options, come in a variety of styles and sizes. You can even choose how you place them in the room, which increases their versatility. For the ambient lighting, choose clear or light shades that bathe the room in light. They can be used anywhere from the kitchen to the bedroom, and your creativity can help you decide what feels best for your space.
Overhead lighting
You can install flush or semi-flush ceiling lights in your kitchen, bathroom or outdoors. For a submerged feel, you can opt for the flush look or opt for exposing the case and having a little mess in aesthetics. Again, opt for light shades to create an ambience. Please note that recessed and track lights also work as ambient lighting. However, to create a consistent look, you'll be using them throughout the room, unlike accent lighting where you focus on a specific area.
Workplace lighting
While accent and ambient lights are great in their right, they can't hold a candle to task lighting to accomplish certain tasks. For example, if you want to read a book in the living room, it is difficult to do so because of the accent or ambient lighting alone. Instead, you need directional light that focuses on the book to make it easier for you to read. The same goes for cooking, cleaning, or doing other chores that require your focus. Why work lighting? Brain stimulation! LED work lights are great for creating a contrast that signals your brain to be much more attentive to its surroundings. This attention to detail can help you avoid costly mistakes. While you can always use pendant lights for workplace lighting, let's consider another LED light that has become very popular lately:
Under the cabinet lighting
Do you sometimes struggle to pay attention to what is going on under your kitchen cabinets? This makes sense because this section is often shaded. LED lights under the cabinet illuminate these corners and give you more control over your tasks. They also make your kitchen more visually appealing.
Which of these five ideas would you like to try out?
