Types Of Lighting And Their Applications – Expert Guide 

There are many types of lighting that can be used to brighten and make your place unique. Although the applications of each light are different, for instance, you can use ambient light for general illumination. At the same time, task lights provide focused brightness for your kitchen, reading, or workplace. 

Here, I have included several types of lighting and their different applications. So read the article thoroughly–

4 Types Of Lighting  

Let’s explore the common lighting types for different purposes, for instance–

Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting is also known as general lighting. The purpose of this lighting is to illuminate the entire space. Typically, they offer soft, uniform brightness that makes a room safe and comfortable. 

Besides, they minimize harsh shadows and create a welcoming atmosphere. And you can get that illumination through ceiling lights, wall sconces, floor lamps, and even sunlight. This way, the proper ambient lighting sets the overall tone of a room and ensures everything is visible. At the same time, they work as a base to install other layered types of lighting. 

Fixtures you can use for ambient lighting, such as–

• Ceiling mounted fixtures
• Track lights
• LED downlights
• Floor Lamps 
• Wall-Mounted Fixtures

02. Task Lighting

Task lighting is designed to illuminate specific areas where activities requiring focused light are performed. For instance, reading, cooking, and working areas. This type of lighting is typically brighter and more concentrated than ambient lighting. 

And they increased visibility and reduced eye strain during different tasks. Task lighting should be strategically placed to eliminate shadows and glare. This way, you can enhance productivity and comfort.

Let’s see the lighting types that offer task illumination–

• Desk lamps
• Under-cabinet kitchen lights
• Downlights or directional gimbal recessed fixtures

03. Accent Lighting

You can use accent lighting to highlight specific features or objects like architectural details, artwork, decorative elements, and more. This way, they create visual interest and depth by drawing attention to focal points. 

Usually, accent lighting is more intense than ambient lighting. But they used them sparingly to avoid overwhelming the space. As they bring contrast and drama, you can transform an ordinary room into a dynamic environment with different textures, colors, and shapes.

The fixtures can be used for accent–

• Tape and extrusion
• Wall-mounted fixtures
• Track light

04. Decorative Lighting

Along with illumination, decorative lighting serves a functional and aesthetic purpose. As these lighting comes with different patterns, colors, and forms, you can choose the one based on your personality. Also, you have to decide which light angle you want from upwards, direct, and downwards. 

Let’s see the types of decorative lighting

• Wall sconces
• Pendant lighting
• Ceiling fans with light kits
• Table and Floor lamps 

21 Applications Of Lighting 

You can use and apply lighting in many places, from commercial to indoor and outdoor places. Here I have discussed each of them carefully–

8 Commercial Lighting Applications

01. Office

Proper lighting in offices is essential for productivity and ensures employee safety. Also, with ideal lighting, you can minimize eye strain, fatigue, and headaches and create a comfortable environment. 

Therefore, it’s best to choose LEDs for this purpose, as they are energy-efficient, have lower maintenance costs, and support sustainability. Not to mention, well-lit spaces can reduce workplace accidents. 

02. Hotel & Restaurant

Lighting affects hard in hotels and restaurants. They set the mood, increase appetite and comfort, and create an atmosphere. Typically, warm colors are best for them, and you can choose color temperature from 2700K to 3000K. This can help the consumers to feel at home and relaxed. 

Besides, you can use layered lighting designs in a restaurant, like combining accent, ambient, and task lighting to highlight architectural features and decor. Plus, using decorative lights can be the best option for outdoor areas and attract consumers.

03. Shopping Malls & Retail Stores

Commercial lighting is widely used in shopping malls and retail stores. They increase customer experience, showcase products, and drive sales. For this, you can install spotlights, track lights, recessed lights, and more. This way, you can make the places more inviting and encourage consumers to purchase products. 

04. Theatre & Museum

In theatre and museum lighting is important as it changes the atmosphere. However, you have to choose and set the lighting in the right place. For instance, you can install spotlights to highlight a specific area. Similarly, track lights are often used for museum illumination.

05. Garage

The purpose of the garage lighting is visibility, safety, and efficiency. Uniform illumination helps to prevent accidents and support detailed work. Also, lighting makes it easier to locate tools, perform repairs, and maintain vehicles. This way, you can ensure a functional and secure environment.

06. Gym & Yoga Studio

Lighting in gyms and yoga studios should energize or relax users, depending on the activity. For instance, bright, cool-toned lights are suitable for high-intensity workouts, as they boost alertness and motivation. 

In contrast, warm, dimmable lighting creates a calming atmosphere that promotes focus during yoga and meditation. Therefore, you must choose the one that best suits your needs and studio. 

07. Barber Shop, Salon & Spa

Like other commercial areas, barber shops, salons, and spas also depend on proper lighting. However, they have different lighting and color temperature requirements. For instance, you can choose cool lighting for a haircut. 

On the other hand, warm lighting goes better in a spa and for massages. And the right balance of light enhances the overall customer experience.

08. Gas Station & Auto-Repair Shops

Gas stations and auto-repair shops require robust, bright lighting for safety, security, and operational efficiency. Well-lit forecourts deter crime, improve visibility for drivers, and make customers feel safer at night. 

In repair bays, high-intensity lighting ensures mechanics can work accurately. Therefore, energy-efficient, weather-resistant fixtures are essential for these demanding environments.

6 Indoor Lighting Applications

01. Backlit Lighting For Mirrors

You can install LED lighting behind the mirror’s surface to make a soft ambient glow. This setup is ideal for tasks like makeup, grooming, and more. Apart from illumination, these lights offer a modern and refined touch to your dressing or bathroom areas.

Besides, features like anti-fog technology and adjustable color temperatures further increase the usability and comfort of the interior lighting.

02. Kitchen Counter Lighting

In the indoor lighting placement, kitchen counter lighting is important to illuminate the kitchen properly. You can either install the LED lighting under or on top of the counter. This way, you can eliminate shadows and brighten up the place to prepare the meal without much hassle. 

For instance, you can cut ingredients, read recipes, and put the right amount of spices in the food. Through these lights, you can highlight backsplashes and cabinetry and add depth and warmth to the kitchen design.

03. Bathroom Vanity Lighting

If you ensure proper lighting in your bathroom vanity, you can make your daily routines, like doing makeup or shaving, easier. However, you have to place fixtures strategically to minimize facial shadows and ensure even illumination. 

Moreover, LED vanity lights are popular for their longevity and low heat emission, contributing to a cooler, more comfortable environment. These lights can be upgraded to contemporary vanity lighting into a stylish and relaxing sanctuary.

04. Wall Washer And Grazing

With wall washers and grazing lighting, you can convert plain walls into a dynamic design. Therefore, you can use a wall washer in your bedrooms, living rooms, and even dining areas. While grazing comes with a narrow beam and is mostly used to highlight wall surfaces.

05. Staircase Lighting

For an indoor staircase, you can use LED lighting, specifically LED strip lights. They enhance visibility and bring a touch of drama to your home. This way, the staircase becomes a focal point, and you can avoid an unwanted accident at night. 

06. Artwork Illumination

To showcase artwork, the use of track lights and spotlights is better than others. For instance, you can use them to highlight sculptures and paintings. 

7 Outdoor Lighting Applications

01. Parking Lot Lighting

Parking lot lighting is essential to ensure safety and security. This way, drivers and pedestrians can see the surroundings clearly. For this, you can use LED lighting, which is waterproof and has a long lifespan. 

02. Street Lighting

They offer bright visibility for safety and reduce crime and traffic accidents. By using LED street lights, you can get an energy-efficient option and reduce electricity bills.

03. Garden Lights

Garden lights create ambiance and highlight landscape features; floor lights, lanterns, and bollard lights can be used for this. They enhance outdoor aesthetics and offer safety and usability for the garden spaces. 

04. Pathway Lights 

You can choose solar stake lights, low-voltage LEDs, or stylish bollard lights for path lighting. Also, color temperature, like warm white LED lights, looks soft and matches well with plants. And you can set the lights in a zigzag pattern instead of a straight line for a natural feel. 

05. Poolside Lighting

Putting lights around your pool, pond, or fountain can make your backyard feel more special and beautiful. For this, you can use floating LED lights, underwater spotlights, or solar lanterns to light up the water. The light shining on the water looks peaceful and amazing.

06. Up-Lighting For Trees

You can place LED up lights on the ground near trees to shine light upward and show off their shape and bark. This looks especially nice on big trees and decorative plants. And, you can use warm white lights for a natural feel or colored ones for a fun effect. Plus, you can use solar-powered or low-voltage LED lights to save energy.

07. Motion-Sensor Security Lights

Motion-sensor security lights are great for keeping your home safe. They turn on automatically when they sense movement. Also, you can set the time to turn on and off in these types. Therefore, you can install them in driveways, doorways, and dark areas. 

Lighting Terminology Explained

Below, I have briefly mentioned the lighting terminology for you to understand–

Watt & Lumen

Watts measure the energy consumption of a light source, while lumens indicate the amount of visible light it emits. And when you use LED lighting, you can get high lumens with low wattage. This way, you can save energy. However, you have to aim for more lumens per watt for efficiency.

Color Temperature

Color temperature is measured in Kelvin and indicates whether light appears cool or warm. For instance, lower rates like 2700–3000K produce warm, cozy light. Whereas higher values, 5000K+, emit cool, daylight-like tones. So by choosing the right number, you can get proper ambiance and functionality.

Color Rendering Index 

The Color Rendering Index (CRI) measures a light source’s ability to accurately reveal colors compared to natural light, on a scale of 0 to 100. A CRI of 100 means colors appear true and vibrant. On the other hand, lower CRIs can make colors look dull or distorted. Therefore, high CRI (90+) is excellent for color-critical applications.

Illuminance

Illuminance refers to the amount of light falling on a surface, expressed in lux (lx), where 1 lux equals 1 lumen per square meter. It quantifies how well an area is lit, regardless of the brightness of the light source.

Conclusion

As there are many lighting types and you can use them for different locations, you have to choose one carefully. Suppose you want to highlight a certain piece of architecture, you have to use accent lighting. In contrast, to illuminate the kitchen, choose task lighting. 

However, if you want to decorate places, you can select strip lights. And for the best strips, contact Mylikeled. We produce world-famous strip lights using modern technology. Also, we ensure their performance by testing the quality of each one of them.

FAQs

What is a lighting application?

A lighting application refers to the deliberate use of different types of lighting. For instance, ambient, accent, task, and decorative lighting can be used to achieve illumination and aesthetic effects in various environments. It involves selecting and positioning lights to enhance mood and design in spaces like homes, offices, and public areas.

How can I improve the security of my home with outdoor lighting?

Improving home security with outdoor lighting involves installing bright, strategically placed lights. For this, you can use floodlights, motion sensors, and pathway lights. These illuminate dark areas, deter intruders by eliminating hiding spots, and increase visibility around entrances and walkways.