Light fixtures complete a home, not just because of the illumination they provide, but also the mood and essential functions they serve. If you have a penchant for home design, you’d know there should be at least three types of lighting in a space, namely ambient, task, and mood.
Ambient is your main lighting, such as your chandeliers and overhead bulbs. Task refers to lamps or any light fixture intended for practicality instead of aesthetics. And lastly, mood lighting, as its name suggests, sets the mood in a room, giving off either a warm or cool illumination, and is mostly for aesthetic purposes.
But if you want to elevate the look of your whole abode, and to take your self-care routine up to the next level, you’d need more than just those three types of light fixtures. If any of the lights we’ll discuss below piques your interest enough for you to run to the nearest home improvement store, be ready to call a licensed emergency electrician as well because you need them installed ASAP!
1. Chandelier
Because a chandelier delivers more aesthetics than function, they tend to be expensive, and not within the budget range of an average consumer. But a chandelier is definitely worth saving for.
For one thing, it creates a focal point in a space. It draws the eye up, taking attention away from the less appealing parts of your home. A chandelier also balances out a room, adding interest and dimension to the ceiling, as opposed to overhead bulbs that are bland and boring.
2. Pendant Lights
If you have a kitchen island, you really can’t miss out on pendant lights. They’re the next best thing to a chandelier. They’re not just an accessory, but an essential feature that will instantly make your kitchen more lux. But aside from the kitchen, pendant lights also work great as lamps. They’re the perfect option if you need task lighting, but don’t have available outlets for desk lamps.
3. Wall Lights
Wall lights, or sconces, make a space more elegant, and they work well as task and mood lighting too. Since they’re mounted to the wall, they’d utilize vertical space, making them a great task lighting option for small spaces. If you have a long hallway or blank walls on either side of your front door, that’s also a great place to install wall lights on.
4. Ceiling Fan Light
During the summer when your electricity bill racks up, a ceiling fan light will be your savior. Newer ceiling fan motors use less energy and don’t heat up as much as older motors. It’ll reduce your need to set the thermostat of your A/C too low, and of course, make your overhead lighting more appealing and practical.
5. Dimmers
Isn’t it frustrating when you just can’t get the level of brightness or dimness you desire? Thanks to dimmers, you don’t have to deal with that inconvenience anymore. They’re perfect in bedrooms when you’re trying to get sleepy, and in vanity tables, where the perfect amount of lighting is crucial for doing your makeup.
6. Light Therapy Lamps
Light therapy or phototherapy is a common treatment for seasonal affective disorder, a.k.a. “winter doldrums”, which usually affects people when the days become shorter during the fall and winter. In addition, light therapy may also replace the medication for seasonal and nonseasonal depression, bipolar depression, and pregnancy-related depression, according to Michael Terman, Ph.D., director of the Center for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms at Columbia University Medical Center.
If you always toss and turn at night, light therapy is worth considering as well. Research revealed that people battling insomnia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dementia, and Parkinson’s Disease may also benefit from light therapy. The mechanism behind its therapeutic effect isn’t exactly elaborated yet, but it has something to do with changes in light exposure, which can alter levels of melatonin and serotonin, the hormones that regulate our sleep and mood.
There is also a skin treatment called LED Light Therapy, which uses varying wavelengths of light, including red and blue, to treat acne, reduce inflammation, and slow down the effects of aging. However, you can only have such therapy in dermatology clinics.
What you can have at home are light therapy lamps. They look just like ordinary desk lamps, or a light box that shines down at your eyes from above. You may also use them as task lighting, beauty lighting, etc., and they’re far better than other types of bulbs because they’re UV-free and mimic daylight.
Note, however, that light therapy is best used during the day, and after you’ve consulted with your doctor. People with sensitive skin or eyes may not find light therapy very friendly, so never skip the doctor’s appointment.
Nonetheless, these six types of light fixtures will surely make your space more chic and practical. And you can have them all without spending a ton!
