Kevyn Burger, host of HGTV's Buy Smart With Kevyn, meets with lighting expert Jeremy Minsburg for a lesson in lighting basics.
The best way to begin selecting light fixtures is not to think about what kind of fixture you'd like but rather what job you need the light to do. The quality of light needed in a specific setting will determine the type of fixture.
Types of Lighting
Ambient light mimics the sun and fills a space with even amounts of light. This type of lighting is necessary in office and school settings (figure A).
Task lighting provides a direct beam of light for a specific task such as reading at a table (figure B).
Accent lighting is decorative and meant to highlight a particular space, such as a floral arrangement on a table.
Bright ambient lighting is necessary in an office setting but tends to be too harsh for a dinner party. A dimmer can greatly expand the range of ambient lighting. A combination of accent lighting and ambient lighting regulated with a dimmer is perfect for a dinner party.
Types of Light Bulbs
Incandescent bulbs bring out warm yellow tones and are recommended for living rooms and dens.
Fluorescent bulbs have a bluish tint and are the most energy efficient.
Halogen bulbs are the brightest, whitest and most expensive. They cost twice as much as incandescent bulbs but also last twice as long.
The fact that a bulb uses 100 watts of energy doesn't mean it gives 100 watts of light. To get the most light for your money, check the light output number on the box, and buy the bulbs that give the highest number of lumens for every 100 watts of energy used.
| 
)
)
)
