Types of Lightning in Commercial Interior Design

Posted On Monday, 13 March 2023 21:23

Office buildings, hotels, retail stores, warehouses, hospitals, and other commercial buildings heavily rely on good lighting. It creates a positive customer experience, reduces electricity bills, contributes to the design, and even improves mental health. No wonder why more businesses want to have the best and the most efficient lighting. 

Over the years, the industry has become as diverse as ever before. In this article, we want to share different types of commercial lighting by visual effect, technology, and design. When turning to a custom lighting design and manufacturing company, you will be armed with the necessary information and know exactly what you need.

Types of Commercial Lighting by Visual Effect 

Visual effects influence how your customers, visitors, partners, or employees feel about the space, and choosing the right illumination can be a real game-changer. Here are common types of commercial lighting by visual effect:

  • Natural. Also known as daylight, it uses windows, skylights, and other types of glazing to reduce artificial illumination. The main benefits include energy saving, proper psycho-physical balance, and reduction of artificial fixtures.
  • Ambient or general. It creates enough light for people to move around the space comfortably and trouble-free. Ambient illumination also helps to reduce costs. The most common types of general fixtures are track lights, chandeliers, and all sorts of ceiling lamps. LED illumination with warm light is one of the most popular options.
  • Accent. Recommended to have 150 - 500 footcandles, accent illumination uses focused light to emphasize shapes, textures, and objects. Accent lighting adds dramatization to the space and makes it aesthetically attractive. This type is often used for artworks, fireplaces or textured walls.
  • Task. As you get from its title, task illumination helps your employees to work on a particular assignment. It should maintain a proper level of productivity, as well as reduce the risks of visual impairment and migraine development. Depending on the task, this type of lighting might have somewhere around 269 - 1076 lumens.

Types of Commercial Lighting by Technology 

Progress doesn’t stop and we witness the appearance of new technologies that significantly improve illumination. Popular types of lighting used in commercial spaces by technology are:

  • Incandescent. The most commonly used type of illumination, incandescent light has such obvious advantages as prevalence, diversity, and familiarity. It can provide multiple light tones and is rather cheap. But incandescent light is not energy efficient and bulbs must be replaced rather often which becomes a headache for owners of large commercial spaces.
  • Halogen. Similar to incandescent illumination, halogen light is a bit more cost-effective and better in terms of sustainability. It is good for focused illumination, especially for working on time-consuming tasks. But halogen bulbs heat up quickly and flammable items should be kept away.
  • Fluorescent. These lamps are used when spaces require even illumination levels: in offices, hallways, or classrooms. They are more energy efficient and live longer but cold light can ruin the overall impression at design expos, boutiques, and other sophisticated spaces.
  • Induction. If you want to reduce energy consumption, using an induction light is the right way. It is very efficient and can illuminate spaces 24/7 without any heat or breakdown. But induction lamps contain high mercury levels which can impact other electronics in the area. Plus, they produce lower outputs and you might need more lamps to illuminate the space. Most induction light owners have switched to LED lamps.  
  • Metal halide. These lamps are a great option for those who want to get high-quality illumination and are not scared of electricity bills at the end of each month. Metal halide light is omnidirectional and can illuminate particular zones or tasks. The downside is that they need time to warm up which can be inconvenient and annoying.
  • LED. More than half of businesses use light-emitting diode light, as it combines all benefits of the methods mentioned above. LED lamps have lower hardware and electricity costs, live longer, and come in numerous shapes. They are also sustainable and can be maintained without any worries if you partner up with an official LED provider. 

Types of Commercial Lighting by Design 

Functionality is always a priority but choosing the right design should be on the agenda as well. Here are the most common types of commercial illumination by design and where you can use them:

  • Pendants and Chandeliers. They create a certain atmosphere and contribute to a positive first impression. Usually, these lamps are attached to the ceiling by chains or rods. They can have from one to hundreds of bulbs. These fixtures are great for targeted lighting and creating an inviting, even fancy atmosphere.
  • Track Lights. Placed on the ceiling as well, track lights are a horizontal line of multiple bulbs. They have lots of functions from general illumination to targeted lighting at exhibitions or concerts. Track lights have a modern design and can be a great interior addition.
  • Recessed Lights. If you own an ample open space, you probably know how difficult even lighting can be. Recent fixtures solve this problem because they are installed into the ceiling at an equal distance. They are usually installed at office buildings, retail stores, or other commercial spaces with high ceilings. Recessed fixtures also eliminate the risk of injuries because there’s nothing hanging from the ceiling.
  • Flood Lights. They illuminate large outdoor areas like parking lots near warehouses, malls, or cinemas. Thanks to powerful white light and built-in motion sensors, flood illumination boosts security for the personnel. It can also be used to highlight signs, pieces of art, or advertisements outside the building

Conclusion 

Lighting is one of the most important elements of commercial interior design. Choosing the right illumination based on your space reduces costs, boosts sales, and makes your employees happier. After reading our informative guide, you know what the main types of commercial lighting are and can easily make the right choice. To take your business to a brand-new level, contact a lighting company to get everything done by professionals.

Rate this item
(0 votes)

Realty Times

From buying and selling advice for consumers to money-making tips for Agents, our content, updated daily, has made Realty Times® a must-read, and see, for anyone involved in Real Estate.

Joomla! Debug Console

Session

Profile Information

Memory Usage

Database Queries