Contemporary Lighting Styles

What is Lighting?

Lighting is one of the essential subjects when we study its Interior Design and Decoration, but what is lighting?

The definition of lighting is as the illumination of our homes or buildings to create comfort in our activities, both indoors and outdoors.

Examples of the use of lighting inside buildings, such as reading, writing, seeing the surroundings, and so on, can be achieved with general lighting design (General Lighting). However, when lighting is used for activities involving visual effects, displays, aesthetics, and art (paintings, sculptures, etc.), it is often referred to as specialized lighting design (Special Lighting).

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Types of Lighting include:

1. General Lighting

General lighting is lighting designed to illuminate the entire space. Lights used for general lighting do not have focused light; they emit light in all directions from the source without any obstruction.

2. Directional Lighting

Directional lighting is designed to illuminate specific objects or areas. Lights used for directional lighting have focused light beams. Types of directional lighting include ceiling lights (downlights) that are often placed in the ceiling to emit narrow beams of light towards the floor. The light source is intentionally recessed into the ceiling and fitted with a reflector that can be directed either towards the floor or the wall (Wall Washer). There are also lights placed on the floor or ground level (uplights) that are used to illuminate ceilings, walls, or large trees.

1. Uplight 

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This wall washer uses the 'uplight' method to illuminate the walls of the monument at night. LED wall washers offer spectacular scenic effects and can change colors thanks to RGB DMX technology. LED wall washers can be used internally or externally and are shaped by specific LED bar technology that allows for a blade of light effect.

sumber : xlian.me

The image above shows wall washers using the "uplight" method to illuminate the walls of a monument at night. LED wall washers offer spectacular scenic effects and can change color thanks to RGB DMX technology. LED wall washers can be used indoors or outdoors and are formed by specific LED bar technology that allows for a blade of light effect.

2. Downlight 

source : timbeyers.me

The image above shows a residential lighting decoration using "downlight" lighting design.

A brief explanation of downlight: Downlight is a type of lighting where the light direction comes from above and illuminates objects below. It functions as uniform lighting. The light comes from lamps embedded in the room's ceiling, with the light protruding outward, entering the room, attaching to the walls, or in the form of pendant lights.

By adjusting the angle of the light, downlight lighting can create different atmospheres when used as local and decorative lighting. One common example is wall washing, where light is directed onto the wall, revealing the texture and color of the wall, creating depth.

3. Directional / Frontlight

source : remodelista.com

For this one, it is lighting with a frontlight method. This type of lighting is usually designed to highlight paintings hung on the walls of the house. The light direction comes from the front of the object, and this lighting technique is recommended to be evenly distributed on the room's walls because the light is evenly dispersed, making the picture/painting appear as it is, unless you want a particular part to stand out, either brighter or darker."