Lighting is one of the most essential elements of interior design. It can change the mood of a room and make people feel more welcomed. Lighting up your room takes skill, however, and you may end up making mistakes.
Choosing the wrong light, the wrong placement, and giving the wrong mood are all rookie mistakes. But don’t worry, down below we have five pro tips on how to light a room. Continue reading to know which light to choose and where to place them.
1. Study the Room
Before learning how to light a room, look around for extra spaces, and study the orientation. If you have a north-facing room, the room tends to be darker and away from natural light.
Keep note of your extra space so you can install lamps or chandeliers. If you have enough natural light, place some dimmers on all your lights.
You should also consider the design of the room if it’s contemporary or modern. This is to pick out lights that match the room’s theme.
2. Consider the Purpose of the Room
When lighting a room, use lightbulbs that have the same color temperature for consistency. The position and color temperature depends on the purpose of your room.
For your living room, place table lamps and floor lamps near areas where you frequently read or work.
For your kitchen and dining rooms, place lights above your tables. Make sure that the lights are smaller in width compared to your tables.
For your bedroom, consider clearing up your nightstands and placing sconces or pendants.
3. Place the Lights Correctly
Lights that are directly face down can look harsh and unflattering. Consider placing lights below eye level or dimming overhead lighting. If you have lower ceilings, install a flush-mount or semi-flush mount fixture.
4. Layer Your Lighting
For each room, you should build up your lighting in layers and blend it well to create the mood you’re looking for. Start with the primary lighting as it provides the overall brightness for the room.
Next is the accent lighting to brighten dark corners. You can use this to highlight artworks or architectural features.
Include task lightings like desk lamps, sconces, and floor lamps to provide focused, direct lighting
5. Choose the Right Bulbs
There are five types of light bulbs: incandescent, LEDs, fluorescent, CFL, and Halogen. Incandescent lights produce warm, inviting quality and provides complimentary lighting to skin. LEDs are similar, but they can light a whole room better and last longer.
Fluorescent bulbs give out a cold, bluish, and harsh light. These lights work best in large areas like the basement or attic. But fluorescent lights are harder to dispose of since they’re made up of mercury.
CFL lights are quiet and have a warm, color-corrected tone. Halogens emit a white light similar to natural daylight.
Choose from the electrical supply and pick the light that suits your taste and the purpose of the room. Note that brighter lights keep you awake and alert, while dimmer and softer lights tend to be relaxing.
Now You Know How to Light a Room
Lighting a room can be tricky, but you can try to brighten up your dark rooms with these designer tips. Don’t stop at the lighting, look around the house for things you can improve to raise the value of your home.
Thanks for reading! Liked our article on how to light a room? You can find more tips for lighting a room and beautifying your home in our other posts right here!
