Best lighting for artwork
Choosing the best lighting for artwork is important for cohesive interior design schemes.
Artwork can define the aesthetic of a room. Whether the décor and style is traditional or contemporary, artwork plays a significant role in creating accents in a room and bringing the design scheme to life. Deciding upon the best lighting for artwork is essential for effective presentation.
Best types of light fixtures for illuminating art
There are many ways in which artworks can be illuminated. At Detail Lighting we advise interior designers and other specifiers on the best types of light fixtures for illuminating art, and how they should be installed to complement the décor and style of a room.
Here are some of the best types of light fixtures for illuminating art:
Picture lights
Picture lights are positioned above artworks. They provide a downward beam of light that is directly focussed on the artwork.
Traditionally, picture lights have been used to illuminate oil paintings so that the light can accentuate the tiniest of artistic details. Picture lights are not ideal for glass-fronted artworks due to the potential for reflections, which can detract from the quality of the artwork.
Recessed lights
Recessed downlights with adjustable beam tilts, typically between 15° and 50°, allow for flexibility in providing focused accent lighting and soft wall washes.
A narrow beam is used for single artworks, with wider beams being selected for groups of paintings or larger artworks.
Linear recessed downlights can be used to create continuous, subtle art lighting. Typically, they should be mounted in the ceiling, 500-600mm from the wall.
Spotlights
Spotlights offer adjustable, focused lighting that brings out the colours, textures and details of artwork. They should be mounted 500mm from the wall to create circular pools of light onto the artwork.
When mounted onto a lighting track, spotlights can be used to illuminate single artworks, or combined with others to highlight multiple pieces.
Track lighting
Track lighting gives interior designers great flexibility. Artworks can be changed as often as is necessary without having to refit the lighting fixture. Instead, the mounted spotlights can be adjusted to illuminate different sizes and styles of artwork.
Wall washers
To illuminate larger pieces of art, or groups of artworks, wall washers are ideal. These can be recessed wall washers or track wall washers.
Wall washers should be mounted around 800mm from the wall to achieve an even wash from top to bottom. As with track lighting, wall washers allow for artworks to be exchanged without having to change the lighting fixture.
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Why buy your artwork lighting from Detail Lighting?
Reasons to buy your artwork lighting from Detail Lighting begin with our lighting design expertise. We have decades of experience in working with specifiers to create lighting design concepts that transform interior design projects.
We understand the impact of artwork lighting, and help designers to avoid common mistakes made when presenting artwork in different environments. Artworks differ in how they should be illuminated, perhaps due to the colours or textures within each piece, or their location in a room. Artwork lighting design is not a one-size-fits-all.
Do you need advice on the best lighting for artwork for your project?
For more information about Detail Lighting’s products and services, please get in touch.
Can we help?
For a no-obligation chat about your architectural lighting designs, please contact us using our online form, by email at sales@detaillighting.co.uk, or by calling 01908 613256.
If you require lighting schemes for your project
get in touch with our team