Illumination is an important part of any design. The source of lighting will alter the feeling and usefulness of a space. There are many sources of lighting including natural direct or indirect light, tungsten lighting, fluorescent lighting and LED lighting. LED light bulbs have come a long way. LED bulbs were once too costly to be considered part of interior design options for the basic consumer. Advances in technology has changed the cost of producing usable white light for the home. Light Emmitting Diodes offers many advantages and are a greener choice for lighting.

The initials LED lights are light emitting diodes. transform energy to light. They last much longer then tungsten bulbs and because of the solid state, handle shocks and jolts better. The lights are little and hardy. LEDs run the range of the color spectrum into non-visible light like infrared and ultraviolet with out the need for filters. These qualities make LED lighting attractive for many projects.

LED lights send a narrow beam that is excellent for task lighting, like workbench lighting or kitchen work station lighting. The illumination of a wider area can be accomplished with reflectors and strip lighting. Book cases and cabinets are great examples of areas that LED lights can be employed. LED’s are great for safety lighting and are used in airplanes, theaters and other places where lights can help illuminate passage ways without causing light bleed. These same principles can be used in home lighting for stair cases, walkways and closets.

One of the great advantages of these lights is the ability to paint areas with specific light and a variety of colors. Using LEDs in interior design for space lighting is becoming affordable with a variety of applications. Similar to track lighting these lights can focus on very specific areas. In addition, some LED lights can actually change color according to the need and desire of the home owner. The walls of a space can shift color depending on the resident’s mood. With neutral walls the lights can alter the hue of the room. Matching the colors of paint and lightrequires some experimentation and foresight. The room needs to be able to stand up to natural light as well as artificial light. Small patches of the wall can also be lit or shaded. Light sculpting creates a sense of texture and depth onto a one dimensional wall.

LEDs can also be employed special decorative purposes. Door knobs can illuminate to indicate occupancy or vacancy, faucets and shower heads can change the color of water. Heat sensitive diodes can even indicate if the water is hot or cold. LEDs can be programmed to room temperature, shifting the color to help create a better ambiance. If the room is cool, the lighting can shift to warmer colors and vice versa. There are many applications for light emitting diodes with more on the way. Interior designers will use LEDs more as the price drops and applications increase.