Beyond illumination, the types of lights used in events also have the power to spark lasting impressions. Event lighting can transform an ordinary indoor or outdoor space into an extraordinary setting, making your gala, birthday party, product launch, or corporate conference memorable and spectacular.
Lighting and AV technology are crucial factors that can make or break your event. People tend to be more forgiving towards a few technical issues or glitches, but bad event lighting could reflect poor planning. Guests would simply have a hard time appreciating your event programme if they can’t see properly or are blinded by harsh lights.
Every event planning checklist must include choosing the right lighting. To help streamline your decision-making, here is an enlightening guide on the different types of lights used in events, along with examples of how and when to utilise them.
5 Main Types of Lights Used in Events
1. Ambient Event Lighting
2. Task Event Lighting
As the name suggests, task event lighting provides light over a particular area, enabling guests to perform a specific task. These types of lights used in events can come in the form of table lamps arranged across buffet and dining tables.
If you have a dimly-lit space for effect during a presentation, task event lighting will enable members of your staff as well as your caterers or servers, to go on with their duties efficiently. Basically, task event lighting can be brighter than ambient event lighting or just enough to carry out a certain activity.
3. Accent Event Lighting
Accent event lighting is the wow factor intended to draw your guests’ attention toward a feature in the room, like grand entrances, statement pieces, artwork, decorations, or plants. These types of lights used in events can be both decorative and functional, such as spotlights that direct everyone’s gaze on a podium or lectern for speakers, and wall or track lights that are lined up on pathways.
To effectively use accent event lighting, you must find the right balance between the most suitable position and intensity of light. For instance, you can have maximise lit furniture for the bar or as a backdrop, signaling people where to look to get food and drinks or view the product being launched.
4. Intelligent Event Lighting
Intelligent event lighting refers to light fixtures or systems that can be set, controlled, or automated to match your event theme or programme. These types of lights used in events range from static to moving lights that employ innovative laser or LED technology.
You can incorporate intelligent event lighting into your space by choosing and projecting colours guests will associate with the brand, company, purpose, or objective of the event. You can also try asking your event lighting rental provider if they can colour-coordinate their offerings.
5. Architectural Event Lighting
Architectural event lighting applies to light elements or effects that showcase a building’s features or augment the aesthetics of your venue. Moreover, these types of lights used in events can boost ergonomics as well as the overall look and feel of your decor.
Since architectural event lighting is usually intended to adorn large spaces or irregular surfaces, it would take a considerable amount of time to plan and ensure that these fixtures are energy-efficient, durable, and safe. Some event lighting ideas you can check out are lanterns with cutout patterns, gobo plates placed in front of light sources that cast shapes and shadows, hanging or floating lights, and facade or wall-mounted spotlights.
Functions of Event Lighting
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Provides Illumination and Focus
The primary purpose of all types of lights used in events, and anywhere for that matter, is to provide illumination, enabling us to see what we’re doing and where we’re going. Additionally, it also directs our focus on something or someone, which can serve to hide certain elements or structures from plain sight. Choosing the right event lighting will allow you to captivate your guests as you strategically channel their interests toward a main attraction, presentation, speaker, or performance.
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Sets the Tone and Atmosphere
The types of lights used in events have the capacity to set the tone and atmosphere in your room or venue, impacting your guests’ moods or perceptions. Your event lighting setup is key to sustaining their engagement. It’s about using the right combination of lights to enable your guest to comfortably interact with each other and appreciate their surroundings.
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Evokes Emotions
The colour, and intensity or brightness of event lighting can evoke emotions from your guests. This is where colour theory, or the psychology of colours, comes into play when picking a theme and choosing among different types of lights used in events. For instance, red can radiate passion and stimulate appetite, blue can be calming or cooling, and yellow can represent warmth and happiness. In the same way, static lights can help with focus. On the other hand, dynamic moving lights can be exciting, especially when synced to audio, so people feel like dancing and vibing to the music.
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Safety and Security
In relation to different types of lights providing illumination for us to see what we’re doing and where we’re going, you also need event lighting that can boost the safety and security of your guests and venue. For people to feel safe and secure in your event, there should always be a light source that allows them to be aware of their surroundings.
Final Thoughts on Different Types of Lights Used in Events
Part of designing a unique setting is being able to create an effective and cohesive lighting ecosystem with different types of lights used in events. Event planners need to find the right balance and combination of ambient, task, accent, intelligent, and architectural lighting not only to illuminate the venue but also to project a certain atmosphere and elicit emotion/s while factoring in safety and security. Should you ever need help styling your event with furniture or lighting rentals in Dubai, know that our multilingual team at Desert River will be more than happy to assist you.