Lighting may not be the first thing you think of when you’re designing a space. But it is an important design element. Lighting is a great and often inexpensive way to create a mood, inside a home and out.

Just as artists use layers to create their desired effect, lighting professionals do too. Jennifer Brassey, owner and lighting consultant with Prospector Lighting Supply, says she advises using layers of light. “You have your decorative lights, which are the pretty fixtures, where you’re lighting up the fixture and not producing a lot of light. You have your accent lights, used to highlight objects such as a picture, sculpture, or wall. Then there’s the task light, such as your under cabinet lighting or lamp on a desk. And you have your ambient light, for the soft, general illumination of the room,” she explained.

Mark Kizerian, an interior designer/partner with LMK interior design in Salt Lake City, agrees. “Lighting, if executed with proper planning and creativity, can create a lot of style without a lot of money,” he says, adding that his firm uses lighting in many different applications to achieve the right balance for their clients. “Our firm avoids the heavy use of overhead lighting that often washes out a space. The functionality is important to have, but does not create the style and ambience that our clients are looking for. To compliment a beautifully designed space, we prefer softer overhead lights with the use of accent lighting: sconces, table lamps, and floor lamps. This type of lighting helps to create a more intimate space for seating groupings and other applications. We also like the use of up lighting various objects and furniture to create a softer and more sophisticated atmosphere throughout the home.”

One’s choices for lighting are almost limitless. A growing trend is toward classic and more contemporized lighting designs, even in a traditional setting. Kizerian says he’s seeing a trend toward a more eclectic mix with cleaner lines that aren’t so heavy handed and over designed. “Thank goodness the days of the pleated lamp shade with tassels are over.” He elaborated.

Another trend is going green. People are concerned about energy consumption, and lights are one place they can cut back. Most people think of compact fluorescent lights as a way to save energy, but there is a movement toward LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting. While significantly more expensive in the beginning, LED lights are thought to never burn out. “A good LED has a lifespan of 50,000 hours, versus about 1,000 from a traditional light bulb,” says Ashley Patterson, founder and owner of the Green Building Centers in Park City and Salt Lake City. Which means you may never have to change one during the time you live in your home. “They’re very efficient, they don’t have mercury, and they’re cooler so they can actually cut back on air conditioning costs,” Ashley explained. “Also, a lot of people don’t understand that there is a small amount of mercury in compact fluorescent light bulbs. If one breaks, it’s hazardous. When they burn out, you should take them to household hazardous waste sites.”

Dimmers are another way to cut back. Simply installing a dimmer on a light immediately cuts 15% off energy consumption without a noticeable visual effect. Timers and motion sensors help, too, and are quite common in exterior lighting. But not all timers are analog or photo cell, according to Keith Rosser, owner of Landscape Lighting Pro. He uses GPS controls on some projects, which are more precise, using exact sunrise and sunset times to control exterior lights. Rosser went on to explain that exterior lighting goes far beyond simply lighting up a path. When done properly, it can enhance the beauty, security and value of a home. “It’s not about lighting every tree in the yard. We create mood and ambience,” he said. “It’s kind of the icing on the cake. Architects come in and create beautiful designs with heavy timber gables, landscapes and waterfalls. We’re there to accentuate that and make it come to life at night. We paint the mood with light.”

But he says they’re very conscious of being dark-sky friendly. Light pollution is a big concern these days, especially in the Park City area. In fact, there are strict ordinance codes in many areas. “We use a lot of down lights and make sure the lighting is soft, subtle and elegant,” said Rosser. “People live in Park City for a reason. We understand they don’t want too much light. We don’t want it to scream ‘notice me!’”

Like a well-designed interior space, exterior lighting expresses something about the homeowner. Rosser’s team works to make each lighting design personal to the home and the owner’s needs, discovering what they’re looking for in their lighting. “In the end,” he says, “it’s all about them. We use lights to make a difference in their life and in their home.”