Directional Lighting: Shaping Spaces with Light and Shadow

Directional lighting is, simply put, lighting that provides focused areas of illumination because it can be adjusted to shine in any direction you choose, usually with an adjustment range between 35 and 350 degrees. 

While ambient or general lighting brings a uniform brightness throughout a room, directional lighting can be used as task lighting for work areas as well as for accent lighting to feature objects or artifacts that you really want to shine. Read on to learn how to put this clever and functional type of lighting to work for you. 

When to Use Directional Lighting

Have ever walked into a home where everything seemed to be perfectly lit – with adequate brightness on workspaces and kitchen countertops, as well as beautifully accented lighting on artwork and architectural features? Chances are good that this effect was achieved using directional lighting. 

Task Lighting with Directional Lighting

Directional lighting can be used as task lighting in areas where extra brightness is needed to perform specific tasks. By aiming the light directly at the work surface, you ensure that you can see clearly and stay alert and focused.

In kitchens, this might mean installing adjustable track lights over your meal preparation and cooking areas, to keep your fingers safe from sharp edges and help you see if a salmon dinner is perfectly cooked. Visibility can be further enhanced by under-cabinet lights which, while stationary, also provide much-needed focused task lighting. 

In home offices and workstations, look for a desk lamp with an adjustable arm, which will let you swivel the fixture for optimal brightness as well as bring a classic and timeless look to your office’s aesthetic. 

A cozy reading nook benefits from a wall-mounted library light, so you can curl up with a favorite book or magazine and while away an evening without straining your eyes. Or you can choose a floor lamp with an adjustable head, to create a well-lit reading space with minimal glare. 

In the bedroom, a swing-arm lamp mounted on the wall will also bring sufficient light for reading under the covers as you bed down for the night, without overwhelming the ambient light in a way that seems harsh or distracts from the overall atmosphere.

Accent Lighting with Directional Lighting

Directional lighting can also be used to accent a specific feature that you want to call attention to. By positioning the light source to shine at an angle, you will create a contrast of light and shadow that adds depth. For accent lighting, look for a directional light with a beam that is between 10 and 30 degrees wide (usually noted on the fixture’s packaging). 

 

You can accent architectural and interior design features such as coves, arched doorways, elegant columns, or even treasured pieces of furniture with the warm glow of a spotlight – or choose a modern and striking downlight sconce, which will direct light downward onto the artifact. Or, to turn this idea on its head and create an extra bit of drama, choose an uplight sconce that is strategically mounted on the wall and shines upward onto the highlighted feature.   

 

A similar approach can be used to spotlight artwork such as a painting, series of photographs, or sculpture. By positioning the light source directly above or below the piece, you will create a lovely effect that draws attention as soon as anyone walks into the room and welcomes them to come closer to inspect and enjoy it. A particularly good option for this use is a picture light, which can be adjusted to the perfect 30 degree angle to illuminate your artwork, without causing unsightly glare. 

 

Both of the above uses of directional lighting for accenting can be used in almost any living room or bedroom, to help create the sense of layers of light, working hand in hand with the general brightness of the space to draw focused attention. 

 

In the dining room, designer pendant lights are often hung over the table to create either a modern or classic look, while providing enough light for your guests to see the dishes you’ve prepared. But you can complement or even replace pendant lights with adjustable track lighting to direct illumination onto the table, especially if you choose track lighting that is understated in design and so complements any décor.   

 

Professional designers often install directional lighting in entryways, including spotlights and wall-mounted uplights or downlights to create a welcoming and well-lit entrance. And once your friends and family are inside, directional lighting can be used to illuminate and highlight artwork or photos along a hallway. 

 

Directional lighting can also be used outdoors. Use a single or double adjustable swivel floodlight to brighten a patio or outdoor seating area for quiet and peaceful evenings in the backyard. You can even create a breathtaking effect by positioning a floodlight at the base of a large, gorgeous oak, maple, or other tree and pointing it upward to illuminate the branches from underneath. 

When Not to Use Directional Lighting 

Directional lighting is best not used for uniform general or ambient lighting. This is because its focused beams require a significant grid of installations in order to cover the space, and can easily leave shadows and bright spots that bring an uneven look where you need consistent and diffused light. 

Rooms with low ceilings are also poor candidates for directional lighting, because its fixtures could protrude into limited headspace and so make the room look visually cluttered. 

For interiors with historical or period design styles, directional lighting is not our first choice because many of them come in modern fixtures that could clash with the overall aesthetic. 

Last but not least, remember to avoid glare. When you are installing and positioning directional lighting, be sure that the focused light beams are not causing bright spots on artwork, glossy surfaces, or screens and so causing discomfort and eye strain.

Setting the Mood with Directional Lighting

As you have seen by now, directional lighting can be used to shape dramatic effects using light, calling attention to special areas or objects in a room. But directional lighting can also be used to set the overall mood, in conjunction with ambient light. Light direction helps with shadow placement and, when used correctly, can help add a sense of relaxation or even mystery to a space. 

Choosing the right color temperature of your light bulbs is also an important consideration, because bulbs with a subtle but intentional color tint can make a big difference. All bulbs are rated with a specific color temperature that is measured in Kelvins. Bulbs with Kelvin levels greater than 4,500 are considered to be close to natural daylight, which gives a modern and clean look for task lighting. On the other hand, bulbs with 2,000-3,500 Kelvins create light that is “warm white” with a hint of amber or orange to them, and are fantastic for accenting, reading, and washing walls with uplight or downlight. 

We’re Here to Help

At Visual Comfort, we exist to help your home shine in the most functional and beautiful ways possible. Visit our website to find inspiration and products that will help you get started on your way with directional lighting.

FAQ

What makes directional lighting unique?

It has brighter and narrower light beams than other fixtures, which can be adjusted to shine focused light for any workspace or to accent interior design features that you want to highlight. 

What rooms can directional lighting be used in?

Directional lighting can be used in any room! From kitchens to living rooms, bedrooms to bathrooms and even hallways, you can choose installed fixtures with swiveling heads or adjustable lamps to give light where you need it while playing nicely with the ambient light in the room.

Is directional lighting best for ambient, task, or accent lighting? 

It is not ideal for ambient lighting, because by its nature it has more focused beams and so it can be difficult to arrange the light so it provides overall brightness throughout the room. However, it is perfect for task and accent lighting, because the adjustable beams allow you to direct light exactly where you want it.