Top 10 Tips for Lighting Your Home

Lighting in the home is as important as the furnishings,  controlling natural light as well as using electrical lighting such as incandescent light bulbs.

To optimise the lighting in your home, compact fluorescent bulbs are used for most applications that have several advantages over ordinary incandescent light bulbs.

With the light fixture, you can create drama, illusion, and art, so selecting the right light source, in recent times, LED (Light Emitting Diode) which are energy efficient, are fast becoming more popular.

When planning your lighting, think about the function of each area and use lighting to create different zones in a room.

For example, cooking requires more concentrated lighting so you would use bright downlights, whether built into cabinets or design-led pendants, which work well.

For reading, adjustable and directional lighting like a desk lamp is ideal or a large spot floor standing over an armchair or next to your bed is what you should look for.

Again, choose your lighting carefully for the best result.

Use layer lighting and use multiple light sources to make a room flexible and versatile.

Create a conversation, using different heights with side lamps as well as floor standing and ceiling lights too.

Opt for dramatic light pendants as your main source of lighting and pair them with statement table lamps to create an atmospheric mood.

This is where you create a character as well as feeling and the amount of light can be adjusted for different times of the day or year. Before deciding where to place your lamps, test in various locations to get the best effect.

Changing the size and dimensions of your room, repositioning the furniture, using lighting direction can have amazing results.

For example, try installing an adjustable ceiling downlighter above the dining table to add enough warm light but not so that it overwhelms the setting with a glare.

There is all manner of ways where you can add lighting direction to your environment using traditional lights or LED lights as both offer the same effect. Where LED lighting exceeds, over the long term, is far more efficient and cost-effective.

Choose bold designs featuring sculptural shapes, interesting textures, or coloured glass to make a style statement, even when the light is switched off.

Think of your lighting as an art piece or sculpture, like a design-led finishing touch. Light is a good way to illuminate an aspect where it is fitted or placed thus merging modern with traditional environments.

Putting an industrial-style lamp or a graphic mid-century form in a traditional stucco setting injects excitement, equally an Art Deco chandelier in a stark, modern plan.

Create symmetry (or conscious asymmetry) with lighting, using pairs of table lamps on either side of a bed or wall lights on either side of a statement mirror or piece of art.

Just adding two lights aside of an object makes it stand out, focusing and drawing attention to the centerpiece for example, the bed.

Again, you can achieve better lighting control using specialised lighting such as LED, the benefits of such are lower power usage and very little or non-existent heat generation, and lower electric bills.

Create a focal point using either a chandelier or a large pendant. Hang it, for example, over the centre of a dining table to draw people into an inviting dining scene.

Its simple lighting ideas such as this can make all the difference in your home by simply planning what areas you wish to focus on either in the dining room, bedroom, lounge, or kitchen.

In fact, anywhere can be used for focal lighting, and with the many designs out there you’ll be sure to find something that fits your desired environment.

Wall lights and spotlights work well to accent or highlight interesting features in the room, such as art or artifacts, you can make any uninspiring picture dramatic and exciting.

Using the right design and colour, you can make virtually anything. within a given environment. look warm and inviting using various features and design.

The use of LED lighting has become very popular, primarily because of the vast uses, not just in saving money, but the array of colours.

Neon lighting is in high demand and has been named the hottest trend of 2020 and likely to grow with popularity.

You can buy a whole range of light-up neon posterboards to add some high voltage wit and rebellion to your walls some are 50s, 60s, and 70s designs adding a large dollop of nostalgia too!

Again, it’s all about your environment, by adding neon lighting, gives the room that little something extra, something different to your home, making it your own personal space.

Today, lighting is a technology we can play with, from using fibreoptics to bend with space, scrolling LEDs, and projection.

Think about the surfaces you are lighting and try reflecting or faceting to create a unique kaleidoscopic effect.

Plan the space that you intend to introduce lighting, focus on the structure and room design and then wrap your lighting design into it, around or over it.

With the advancement of lighting technology, you’re lighting designs are only limited by your own imagination!