One of the highlighting features of today’s modern homes is lighting. Lighting is more than just a simple tool of illumination that we use on a daily basis. It adds mood, atmosphere and elegance to a home, and enhances the overall interiors of the place. Deciding what type of lighting is best for home can be quite confusing. Whether you want to improve the lighting for a specific room or plan a whole-house lighting makeover, keep these room-by-room lighting tips in mind.
Right lighting scheme for each room –
Lighting scheme should be chosen according to a room’s needs. The secret to successful lighting design is to mix different layers of light in each room. To begin with let’s start with your living room.
Living room –
This is the place where people tend to gather for long stretches of time, and indulge in different activities like watching TV, having conversation, reading or playing board games. Therefore, the concept of layering is very important in living room. The type of light includes natural light, lamps, pendants and overhead fixtures.
Highlight the architecture of the room with accent lights. Use task lighting (reading lamps) to spotlight your work areas. Finally, enhance the interiors of your home by adding decorative lights, such as chandeliers and lamps. Install dimmer lights to tone down too bright ambient lighting in the room. Stylish colorful lighting towers are also a good option to create dramatic effect in your living room.
Kitchen –
As one of the busiest rooms in any house, your kitchen requires careful consideration of task and ambient lighting. Task lighting is basically for work areas- countertops and sink. Both natural and artificial light are required to carry out activities in the kitchen.
Make sure that the work areas have enough light and install dimmer lights in dining area. For ambient light, the basic kitchen lighting design includes central ceiling mounted fixtures, undercabinet fixtures for the cabinets and pendant providing task lighting over the island.
Bathroom–
Lights in bathrooms are commonly recessed lighting. In bathroom, the light should be at head level, for example bathroom scones on either side of the mirror illuminate the room to carry out tasks. Use soft, warm incandescent bulbs instead of cold, blue tones of fluorescent tube.
Bedroom –
Dimmer switches are a perfect addition to your bedroom as they can be adjusted to suit the requirements as well as your mood. For bedside reading, wall-mounted light fixtures with adjustable arms are a good choice. Ambient lighting can be provided by floor lamps, architectural lighting and a pair of wall sconces.
Other general tips for home lighting –
Whatever lighting fixtures you choose for your home, make sure they are energy efficient as it will save energy bills and electricity usage. Always choose high quality light fixtures as they look better and will last longer. No matter how many types of lighting fixtures you use in your home, make sure to optimize daylight. Natural light is the ideal complement to the interior décor of your home. Choose the colors of the light wisely so that you can accentuate the special features of every room.
Harry is a passionate blogger and works for PR Power, a supplier of lighting towers in Australia.