Indoor lighting: a different mood for each room

There are many types of indoor lighting, used to create a whole range of effects. Depending on the room, you may prefer one or more lighting types.

Different lighting types

We have selected the main lighting types used for interior design. This enables us to advise you on the preferred techniques for the main living areas.

General lighting

General lighting is designed to provide the light necessary for an area as a whole. Its role is to completely illuminate the room. The diffused halo is uniform, thereby reducing shadows and contrasts.

Direct and indirect lighting

With direct lighting, the light is aimed directly towards the surface you need illuminated. It diffuses light downward, below the horizontal surface on which the light source is installed. In doing so, the beam is directly oriented towards the object, without any obstacles. This allows for clean illumination, without loss of light. The main drawback is that this type of lighting tends to create shadows.

With indirect lighting, the light is directed towards the wall or the ceiling, whereby lighting is achieved by means of reflection. As a result, the light reaches the object in a more subdued manner. Indirect lighting creates soft lighting by reducing contrast and glare.

Accent lighting

The aim of accent lighting is to draw attention to the lit object. Generally used in shops, its purpose is to highlight the product. It is often created using light sources and lamps with tight angles (between 8 and 45 °), in order to focus the light beam on the item in question.

Task lighting

Task lighting is aimed at ensuring greater comfort and safety for various household activities, in response to a specific and targeted lighting need. It is generated by lamps that produce direct lighting that is generally intense and focused.

Localised lighting

Localised lighting helps to highlight certain parts of a room, whilst also avoiding shadows. This type of lighting is used to showcase paintings or decorative objects for instance. In general, low-intensity light bulbs are used to avoid glare and excessive contrast.

Atmospheric lighting

Atmospheric lighting is used to create a certain atmosphere. It can also be modulated to create a specific climate tailored to the purpose of each room or to suit circumstances and moods.

Each room gets its own mood

Depending on the rooms in the house, different lighting types may be used to create specific moods.

A cosy atmosphere in living areas

For living areas, such as the living or dining room, yellow (incandescent) or red lights are used to create a warm vibe. Which explains why we prefer using general or atmospheric lighting.

This effect may be accentuated for floor lamps or small desk lamps. Small projectors may also be added in order to showcase decorative objects or paintings.

A warm atmosphere in the kitchen

To create a welcoming atmosphere in the kitchen, suspended lighting is ideal to reflect light off the counter top. To heighten this ambiance, why not fit small lights or even a broad-beam lamp that will illuminate the entire counter top for instance.

Lastly, you can fit a few spot lights around your work areas to see better when preparing your dishes.

Soft and comfortable for your bedroom

For the bedroom, we usually opt for atmospheric lighting. In general, you should choose a main source of light, and then structure the rest of the room with localised lighting such as a spot light or desk lamp. For added convenience, it may be preferable to be able to control the lighting from both the bedroom entrance and from the bed.

Bright light in the bathroom

 In bathrooms, it is a good idea to go for fixed lights, such as ceiling-mounted spot lights. Light fixtures can be incorporated on either side of mirrors to avoid shadows and to properly light the face. In all cases, electrical appliances must be kept away from water sources.

Uniform lighting in offices

In the office, it is important to illuminate rather than to blind. Uplighting is ideal for lighting without glare and for diffusing ambient light, whilst avoiding reflections on computer screens.

Moreover, spot lighting can work a treat in work areas so as to illuminate specific objects and avoid tiring the eyes. For a workshop or workbench, fluorescent panels attached to the wall and hidden behind screens will diffuse uniform light.