When you start thinking about the interior design in your home, be sure to think about your lighting. The light fixtures in your home play a big role in bringing a room together and creating the right feel for your space.
Think about how you will use each room in your home and what types of lighting you may want for each. Then, explore all these great options.
Lighting Basics
It’s important to start with a basic understanding of the types of lighting you usually find in a home. Most rooms come with some type of lighting on the ceiling. The half sphere flush mount style is one you’ve probably seen before. Pot lights are recessed into the ceiling to offer overhead light without disrupting the line of the ceiling. Surface mount LED Mag Lights have become popular as well.
While not as common as it used to be, track lighting is sometimes used in kitchens and bathrooms. A track mounted to the ceiling features several lights that can be pointed in different directions. Track lights allow you to control the angle of lighting in your room so that every corner has light.
There are also more decorative fixtures such as chandeliers and pendant lights. These are valued for their dramatic look in addition to the light they provide.
Creating Ambiance
Use your lights to create ambiance in a space. One of the best ways to do this is by choosing under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen or tray lighting on the ceiling. Today’s open-concept floor plans often mean that the kitchen is visible throughout the day and night. Leaving the lights on all the time would waste energy, but you don’t necessarily want a dark void when you’re relaxing in the living room. Under-cabinet lighting could be the solution you are looking for.
Lovely Chandeliers
Modern chandeliers aren’t all about sparkling crystal. Any group of lights that hangs from a single spot is considered a chandelier. Some of these look more like stars or collections of candles. Some even have a drum shade over them to diffuse the light. Chandeliers look nice in the foyer or over a table in the dining room and/or dining nook. The style of light you use must fit the space – including your table - be sure to work closely with a professional to select the one that’s right for you.
Dramatic Pendant Lights
Chandeliers tend to be tightly focused on one place. If you have a long table, a chandelier might not fit well. The ends of the table will be left in the dark. Enter pendant lights. These lights hang from the ceiling, but you can have several of them. Many people like to use these over the kitchen island.
You could also include pendant lights in the bedroom on either side of the bed. To do this, you must know the size of your bed and the exact place you’ll put it in the room. Otherwise, the placement of the lights will be off.
Wall Lighting
Some styles of lighting attach to the walls rather than the ceiling. This style looks great in a hallway. They are a bit more eye-catching than pot lights. You could also have wall lighting in the bedroom by the bed.
Lighting in the Bathroom
Think about including a variety of lighting in the bathroom. A bright light around the mirror is nice for putting on makeup, but you probably want something softer when you’re taking a bath. Some people even choose to have under-cabinet lighting or a dimmer switch in the bathroom to make nighttime trips a bit easier.
Including Lamps
Built-in lighting that comes with your home is great for everyday use, but layering the lighting helps you achieve that put-together look. You’ll probably want to include some lamps in the living room or the bedroom. They’re great for those times when you want to relax and don’t need the entire space lit.
Lighting is key to a great-looking home. Fortunately, there are a variety of styles that are both beautiful and functional.