Modern Lighting - Keeping Up With the Times

People in building and architectural circles frequently talk about modern lighting, but what does that mean? Does it mean using something other than gas and fire to light your home? Does it mean using high tech light bulbs in an office? The term modern lighting means lots of things. Generally modern lighting refers to the style of lighting as well as the light source being used.

Looking at the Style Component

Lighting styles have come a long way from what they were in the early 1900s. Heck, they've even changed from what they looked like in the 1960s and 70s. Lighting styles change for two reasons - function and style. Right now modern lighting style includes interior lighting that uses recessed halogens and polymers for chandeliers rather than old school wrought iron chandeliers.

The newer lighting styles are lighter and cleaner looking than their older counterparts. Many of the fixtures are clear and designed with clear cut styles in mind. The modern home is simple and basic with clear lines and modern lights are created to fit in with this look.

Just because the modern style right now is clean cut, doesn't mean that the over large styles of the 60s and 70s are gone. In fact, many light stores also have lamps that fit this need. They may carry a lamp with a green shag lampshade or a big bubble lamp that's meant to hang from the ceiling. If you don't particularly care for modern lighting styles, you should be able to find a style that does fit your needs.

Keeping Up with the Environment

Another reason lights change over the years is because of technological and environmental innovations. Lighting has changed in accordance with human awareness of environmental impact. For example, we transitioned from burning wood and gas to make light to electricity thanks to technological advancements. That was a good move for the environment as well. However, this change in light source also changed the way lamps looked.

Now we're starting to use energy saving light bulbs. As these become more popular, modern lighting tastes might morph into light structures that are more accommodating to the energy saving light bulb.

My Lighting Pro is one of the leading lighting information resources online. We cover all topics ranging from contemporary lighting to halogen track lights.

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Modern Light Fixtures

Lighting has undergone a revolution in the past twenty years. Unfortunately lighting manufacturers have not been so successful in educating their customers in how to take advantage of these exciting developments.

It is perceived that only the professional designer is equipped to benefit from these technological advances and that they are quite beyond the humble home owner - but nothing could be further from the truth.

The fittings may have changed, but just as we learned about the performance of low-tech lights, we can also come to understand how the latest models work. Perhaps the most intimidating factor to come to terms with is the sheer quantity and variety of fittings, added to which the multitude of bulbs can easily confuse. To help simplify matters the basic groupings are listed below.

Downlighters

As its name suggests, a Downlighters directs a beam of light downwards, thus focusing attention on the lower part of the room (a useful tool when you wish to distract attention from a too-high ceiling). The width of beam - narrow and intense or wide (flood) - depends upon the lamp and reflector installed, so the one fitting can be made to perform in various ways.

Downlighters may be surface-fixed (to ceiling, wall or track), semi-recessed (where there is limited space above the ceiling) or fully recessed (preferable if you wish to 'lose' the fitting).

Uplighters

Uplighters can come in the form of free-standing models for floor or table as well as pendant and wall-fixed versions. As you might imagine, they produce the opposite effect from that of a downlighler - that is, they direct light upwards.

They are especially effective when used to illuminate a beautiful beamed or decorative ceiling. A free-standing model, placed on the floor or on a table (miniature versions are available), can be used successfully to cast a beam of light on an adjacent wall - invaluable for lighting pictures when picture lights and wall washers are not a practical alternative.

Wall Washers

A wall washer is a type of downlighter which, instead of directing light immediately below the fitting, casts a beam of light to the side. Positioned in a ceiling at approximately lm away from an adjacent wall, it will flood that wall with light. Where you need to light a large wall hanging or collection of pictures, this fitting would provide the perfect answer.

Spotlights

Perhaps more popular in the past when it was considered fashionable for such fittings to be visible and very much part of the lighting scheme, the use of spotlights in modem residential interiors has somewhat declined and they have been superseded by more discreet fittings. However, they are an excellent highlighting tool and, being highly directional, allow you to change your lighting arrangement as the room use changes.

Michelle hes been managing her own successful interior design business since early 2000, and has been publishing home and living room design ideas and tips since 2005. On her modern ceiling fans blog, Michelle recently wrote about the effective use of outdoor ceiling fans to bring extra comfort to outdoor dining.

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