Lighting design is a critical element when it comes to creating the perfect environment in your home. It is a choice between making it or breaking it. Lighting could very easily determine the ambiance in your home and administer the mood and look of the space.
During the early stages of lighting design, you might have considered several options. Cove lighting might have appealed for that one niche in your living room, track lighting had its fair share of benefits or even stepped lighting for that extra spark.
But where in your home do you incorporate these lighting types? And how are they going to light your home? So, let us explore these options.
Start From Scratch
Residential architects swear by initial planning. The best plan would be that addresses the lighting essentials. At this stage, you might want to think of features in your home that you want to highlight. You must also consider the designated activities for each space.
For instance, in a reading corner, you might not want bright lights. Task lighting with dimming options could be a smart idea along with a classy table or floor lamp. In the case of a kitchen, however, you might want bright task lighting in the food preparation area. The dining area might need hanging light fixtures to enhance the seating.
Preliminary planning is an essential stage where you must ask yourself questions and discuss the design, style, and efficiency of the fixtures. Planning might help reduce errors and last-minute decisions.
Impact of Lighting
When selecting the light fixtures for your home, you must pay heed to the impact of lighting. You should not rush into selecting the first fixture you find. It is a slow dance. It will take time.
Think about how you want the lighting to impact your spaces. Kitchen areas require task lighting. A combination of recessed and downlighting in the dining and kitchen area could make things convenient and set up an ambient environment.
Dimmers could be useful in several spaces. These days energy-efficient dimmers are taking the world by storm because of their sustainability features.
If you want to take it up a notch, you could install stepped lighting under the staircase that creates a cascading effect. However, ensure to keep it sensor-detectable to be more energy-efficient.
Choosing The Right Luminaires
The luminaires you select must be considered from the start. Ask yourself questions such as how many watts do you require, think about the color temperature, and are energy-efficient luminaires an option?
Energy-efficient homes are now the need of the hour and lighting plays a crucial character. Think of using energy-efficient alternatives such as LED lights. Lighting contributes extensively to your electricity bills. LED lights could significantly reduce the energy consumption in your home.
Uniformity Is Key
Residential architects and interior designers generally stick to consistency when it comes to interior design. The same could be said for lighting design.
For the lighting design scheme to harness its full potential, it should be kept uniform throughout the house. That shows efficiency and proper planning. Neutral tones could be highly useful in maintaining consistency.
Creating Symmetry
You could create symmetry in a space by using similar lighting fixtures. For instance, you could achieve symmetry in the bedroom by adding lampshades on either side of the bed.
In the living room, symmetry could be achieved by creating a balance using floor lamps and downlights.
Lighting in Layers
The best way to make a space versatile and flexible is to layer the lighting and use multiple sources. You could create a character in the space by alternating different heights of floor lamps and ceiling lights.
In addition, you could use pendant lighting as the primary source of lighting in the space and dramatize it by accessorizing table lamps.
Channel Your Inner Decorator
Installing light fixtures as decorative elements could help set the mood in a space. If general lighting is already installed, using lights as decorative pieces could provide ambient lighting.
Do Not Ignore the Corners
If you have an awkward corner, one of the tricks to make it appear less awkward is to use a floor lamp. You could look for a lamp that is complementary to the surrounding space in terms of material and finish.
A strategically-placed floor lamp could make the empty corner the showstopper of your home.
Think About the Color of the Light
LEDs exhibit variations in their colors. By experimenting with hues, you could create a mood depending on the utility of the space.
You could play with tones ranging from warm white to amber and create an impact in space.
Less is More
When it comes to choosing pendant lighting for your kitchen island, follow the principle of less is more. All you must ensure is that the pendant functions as a task light.
You must also look at the proportions of the kitchen island to the fixture. Residential architects tend to avoid multiple pendants and stick to one statement piece.
Choose a Focal Point
Not all light fixtures should be of the same size, otherwise, the eyes will search for a visual anchor without finding one. For a large space such as the family living room or dining area, a chandelier makes a decent focal point.
In a small room, you could think of using vintage sconces or a statement floor lamp to instill visual focus.
Select a New Shade
Lighter versions of lampshades could help diffuse the light in a wider circle. A darker lampshade will focus the light on a surface.
Selecting a new shade also gives you the opportunity to try out new colors, designs, and patterns before you redo the entire space.
Exterior Fixtures
Other than highlighting the outdoor features, safety is the primary concern when it comes to exterior and landscape lighting. Floodlights and sconces are the best choices to light up a side entrance or the garden shed. You will feel more secure. Do not forget walkway lighting as well!
Lighting the Living Room
The living space in your home requires a wide range of functional and decorative lighting. For lighting the living room, you could use wall lights to accentuate the walls, pendant lights for depth, and a floor lamp as a decorative piece.
Lighting the Kitchen and Dining Area
In the dining area, you could use adjustable pendant lighting to get the perfect height. For dinner parties, a dimmer could allow you to get a natural ambiance.
Lighting the Bathroom
Wall lights on either side of the mirror are convenient and functional. In addition, a spotlight or a flushed ceiling light would be ideal for the bathroom as they do not take up too much space.
Light it Up! Light Up Your Life!!
Now that you are updated on the best ways to light your home, you will never approach lighting design the same way as earlier. The difference is that now you are technically sound and want to make the best of the lighting system in your house.
A residential architect or a lighting designer would be the best way to choose your lighting pattern. So, let’s get lighting!