Lighting your home is about more than picking out a stylish lamp or two. With proper lighting, you can bring out the best aspects of your living space. Here are some tips to help you find the perfect way to light up your home:
Consider lighting temperature
If you’re looking to set the mood and play up your home’s best attributes, lighting temperature can make all the difference. Warm lights cast a yellowish tone, whereas cool lights have a hint of blue. To help you make the right choice for your space, consider your room’s decor and the mood you want the space to evoke. Rooms with lots of wood feel cozier with warm lights. And if your color scheme trends towards autumn tones like reds, oranges, yellows, and browns, you may find that warm lighting makes your chosen palette look more vibrant and cohesive. When you’re shopping for bulbs, you’ll find these warm lights labeled with a 2700-3000 Kelvin rating, according to Lighting Design Studio. On the other hand, if you favor blues, bright whites, grays, and black, cool lighting can lend a crisp, clean feeling to your spaces. If you’re shopping for cool light, Lighting Design Studio recommends you reach for bulbs labeled 4000-5000 Kelvin.
Include task lighting for your daily activities
Make sure you have the right lighting for your lifestyle’s daily demands. For instance, it’s helpful to have plenty of light when you’re cooking, applying makeup, doing paperwork, or making crafts. For these detail-oriented activities, consider installing task lighting to supplement the room’s lamps or overhead lights. Track lights over your food prep area can make dicing veggies safer and more efficient, whereas wall sconces or vanity lights in the bathroom can make tasks like shaving and makeup application easier.
Set the mood with ambient lighting
Ambient lighting provides a general light source for your room. Ambient light sources are typically overhead lights — and these light sources can be a great way to add some flair to your home. A ceiling fan light offers both air circulation alongside ambient lighting, while a chandelier adds an ornate touch to your decor. For a more modern look, consider a pendant light or recessed lighting. And if your spaces — such as your dining room — pull double duty as a workspace, consider installing a dimmer switch on your overhead lights. This will allow you to turn the lights on full blast for everyday tasks like cleaning and doing bills, or dim the lights for a romantic date night at home.
Use accent lighting to express your style
Wall sconces, miniature pendant lights, and string lights can help you spotlight certain areas and add a personal touch to your spaces. Light up photos, paintings, and wall-mounted displays with ceiling-mounted track lights or wall sconces. You can also use these lighting fixtures to spruce up areas neglected by ambient lighting, or simply place them strategically to add some visual drama to otherwise plain spaces.
For more inspiration on lighting your spaces, check out interior design magazines or visit a furniture showroom to get a feel for what you’d like to bring home.