Southampton - Before you can successfully answer the question of how to light artwork beautifully and effectively, it's essential to understand how to use light to your advantage in every room of your home.

Add task lighting wherever you are likely to be doing something that depends on good vision.

As a general statement, most of us, for lack of a better experience, under-light our rooms with too few light sources, or worse, "over-light" with few light sources at very high wattage. The effect is unpleasant and odd, veering from blinding bright, to dim with shadows. Leaving a bulb without a shade has the same unfortunate effect.

What you want is a range of lighting options to fill a room with light without dark corners, so the overall effect is welcoming, comfortable, interesting and lovely.

There are three categories of lighting that, when used in appropriate combinations, will give the most successful results.

Start With Creating Ambient Light, Which Is A Soft, Low, All Over Glow
Background lighting should be strong enough so there isn't excessive contrast between it and bright task lighting. The source could be from overhead lights, standing floor lamps, table lamps and wall lights or indirectly from behind a valance, or screen. Low wattage ceiling lights, or any fixture that hangs or is near the ceiling, are best. Torchieres are in this category too because the light is directed upwards.

Accent or Decorative Lighting using special bulbs can make a difference.

Task Lighting Is What It Sounds Like
Lighting your activities appropriately greatly enhances your comfort. Add task lighting wherever you are likely to be doing something that depends on good vision. Kitchens and bathrooms are a given, but don't forget that your favorite reading chair needs a lamp beside it to avoid eyestrain. Some examples are the lamp you use on your desk when you work, counter lighting in the kitchen, or spotlights above work surfaces. It should provide sufficient lighting for the job at hand, as well as interesting pools of light and shadow elsewhere in the room.

The Third Layer Of Lighting Is Commonly Referred To As Accent Or Decorative Lighting
Its purpose is to call attention to possessions or vignettes, or our topic at hand, hanging artwork. This category includes spotlights, wall washers, up-lights, down-lights, picture lights, candlelight and even firelight.

Which brings us to the heart of the matter. How do you balance the various types of lighting in a room? The most common mistake is to emphasize only the lighting on the artwork, when the best effect for both your artwork and your room(s) is to build up layers of light as described above.

All Light Sources Are Not Created Equal
A purist might insist that any art be seen in natural light. A pragmatist would remind the purist that natural light, with unfiltered ultraviolet and infrared rays will fade any artwork in short order, not to mention the inevitable cloudy days when all light bets are off. Then, there is the actual color of electrical light from various types of bulbs. Incandescent bulbs, with their warm light, enhance the color spectrum of reds, oranges, yellows and browns but flatten out all the cool shades in the blue, green and purple family. Florescent bulbs don't even show the full color spectrum and give off a high amount of UV rays, which are very harmful.

Recessed lights are designed to be flush with the ceiling.

Enter The Wonder Bulb
Regular halogens, are low-voltage bulbs that last longer and are more energy efficient than incandescents. You may already be familiar with the small MR16's commonly used in modern track lighting. Though they generate a lot of heat, designers love these because the color of the light is almost pure white. They are much better behaved than fluorescents in terms of degree of UV and infrared rays they throw off, but not entirely innocent in this regard either. Until now, that is. A low watt halogen-based bulb has come on the market in recent years which redirects damaging UV and infrared rays of light out the back of the fixture, thereby rendering them harmless to any art or object in line for illumination. It offers full spectrum light that is amazing close to natural daylight.

The best lighting solution will come from mixing the light from a regular low-voltage incandescent to bring out the yellows and reds in the artworks and the new and improved low watt halogen based bulb to render the cool green/blue end of the spectrum. This combo will do the most complete job of bringing out all the intended colors and shades in any artwork.

A Bulb Is Only As Useful As The Fixture Directing The Beam
Picture lights from yesteryear were a gesture but not much of a solution. They tended to cause glare and to light top the frame, while leaving the rest of the picture in shadow. Clearly, this is not the most effective way to display fine art.

There are three basic types of fixtures that use low-voltage bulbs suitable for lighting artwork:

 • Picture lights - perhaps the most familiar art lighting solution, their performance has been improved. They hang directly on the frame or might be attached to the wall just above the piece.

With adjustable track and recessed lights there are also a variety of attachments.

 • Track lights - these have movable fixtures that hang on a track attached to the ceiling or high on a wall.

 • Recessed lights - designed to be flush with the ceiling, they are the most discreet but understandably the most expensive option.

Each of the basic three categories have fixtures specifically designed for different tasks. Wall washers are a good example of this. Available in track or recessed lighting they provide even lighting from floor to ceiling. This is a good overall solution if you like to switch out your art from time to time.

With adjustable track and recessed lights there are also a variety of attachments to alter the light pattern such as diffusers that will soften and spread out the light and louvers that help to minimize glare. There is even an interesting device called a framing projector, which has four shutters to create a four-sided beam that can be adjusted to the exact dimensions of any picture or painting. Spot lighting can't be more specific than this.

All light, be it natural or artificial, is damaging to works of art as well as antiques over time.

Think Like A Lighting Master
Though there are several goals to juggle and balance in the pursuit of a lighting scheme to showcase art. The masters apply their trade tricks so skillfully that for the most part, one wouldn't notice the slight but critical differences in either the direction or even type of lighting used, all without being intrusive. Think discreet but effective.

The additional layer of concern for the homeowner is to be sure the solutions are unobtrusive enough so as not to distract from the overall décor of a room. Be mindful to avoid casting too much light, as glare will overwhelm any artistic details.

Speaking of glare, the trick to managing it is to simply shift the light so it hits the intended surface at a 30-degree angle. For pieces with large frames, add five degrees to avoid casting a shadow off the frame. With a flat frameless canvas use a 25-degree angle.

All light, be it natural or artificial, is damaging to works of art as well as antiques over time. For this reason, be especially careful not to shine a bright light of any kind directly onto artwork, especially works on paper. Rotate your pieces to avoid long periods of display under light.

Given all the available options, gather as much information as you can from your local lighting dealers. If possible, scout out the in-house expert to help you make your way to the best selections and installation.

The Finishing Touch
Great home design is a combination of many factors to be assessed and addressed in the most appropriate way to form a cohesive over-all impression of beauty and comfort. Not the least of which is the importance of a well-planned lighting design for every room of your home. A sophisticated, well-designed lighting scheme looks as if an artist has painted with light, creating peaks and valleys of light and shadow that cause the illusion of movement. In the same manner, your artwork deserves so be shown, literally in the best light. You will be richly rewarded with the satisfaction of living in a home that's wonderfully designed in every way.