Architectural Lighting Vs Decorative Lighting

A room’s lighting is what drives one focus to specific sections in an interior space but to achieve this, you need to understand how to best distinguish the light fittings involved in the lighting process. Different bulbs are designed with different wattages and designs but more to these are the categories in which they are grouped, Architectural and decorative lights. To create a successful balance between lighting and architecture, you need to consider the aesthetics, function, and efficiency of the lightings and the space. The combination of these 3 key considerations when observed, a perfect interior is no option.

• Aesthetic : In aesthetics, emphasis is aimed at the emotional impact the balance of lighting and architecture will have on occupants. This is key for mainly retail locations, hotels and restaurants.
• Function : The functionality of the lightings used must be observed, making sure it serves its most important purpose. If it is an accent light, the occupant should be able to see the textures and features on the target item, it task lighting, one should effectively perform the targeted task with ease. This helps to continuously create a feeling of reassurance to the user or occupant of the space.
• Efficiency : This can be done by assuring the majority of the light is reaching its target and there is less wasted light. Reducing the amount of wasted light will make the building more efficient. An easy way this can be done is to install LEDs instead of fluorescent lighting. Because of the technology, there is less wasted light with LEDs than fluorescent due to the directional nature of LEDs.

DECORATIVE LIGHTING

These are designed to be seen, to draw one’s attention into their display due to its unique beauty. It adds a lot of beauty to a space as a major reason for its installation alongside complimenting to ambient and task lightings within the space.

When to best use decorative lights.
Less lighting on ceilings. The decorative lights help supplement on the lighting in a space. Just incase one wants to maintain few lighting points on the ceilings, pendant lightings can be a great additive. Glass pendants usually hang down from the ceiling, adding elegance to the space.
Lamp lights also play a good supplementary role in such scenarios as they emit light in interior corners/ target locations identified like tassels, a fringe, a contrasting braid, or an interesting patterned design.

ARCHITECTURAL LIGHTING

Architecture fully relates to the art or practice of designing and constructing buildings making it a more general concept in building design. Architectural lighting works to serve and enhance the architecture, not merely as an accessory. So, architectural lighting is an intersection of art (architecture) and technology (lighting). The architecture being illuminated or lighted may be commercial or residential. This lighting mainly draws focus to an actual item or space. However, there is no real fitting involved. Its main purpose is to draw attention to the art below it.