A well-lit home is essential in creating a workable living space. A suitable lighting plan might seem complicated, but it's surprisingly easy to pull off. Here are three easy steps to help you achieve proper lighting at home.
Multiple sources of light can illuminate a space
Combining light sources is key to brightening up your living area and creating a space that looks as inviting as it is functional. To achieve this, you need to follow three key elements: functional lighting, accent lighting, and decorative lighting.
Step one: Functional lighting
Functional lighting is the basis for a brighter home. The idea here is to choose light sources that go well with the room's primary function. For example, installing recessed lights in the kitchen provides the ideal lighting for tasks that require good visibility, like food prep. For your bedroom, a ceiling light would be the perfect option to help you pick out your #ootd. Meanwhile, over in the dining room, a pendant fixture puts just the right finishing touch on the space.
For optimal functional lighting, the type of light you choose should always keep the room's size in mind, ensuring there's an adequate amount to fill up the entire space so you can go about your daily activities without hassle. This lighting alone should be enough to provide sufficient light without needing to depend on another source.
A quick guide to choosing the right bulb
You want the brightest ambiance possible, which means you need the right bulb. Determining the right fit for your home is easy. Just look at a box of lightbulbs! On it, you'll find a unit of measurement called a Kelvin (K), which refers to the temperature of the light emitted by the bulb. For functional lighting, I suggest using a 5000K bulb that simulates a neutral light to go along with your daily tasks. For accent lighting, a warm light measuring 3000 to 1000 K is excellent, depending on the type of ambiance you're looking to produce. For decorative lighting, you've got carte blanche and can use whichever bulb you please.
For your home, try to avoid choosing a light that's a little too blue (7000 K and up) because that can cause the room to feel cold or sterile.
Step two: Accent Lighting
Accent lighting helps you enjoy your home in a more relaxed way. The goal here is to warm up the living space and serve as a great secondary lighting source.
With accent lighting, the goal is to create complementary sources of light that go with activities taking place in that space. In the living room, place lamps on either side of the television to make the room feel a little cozier. This kind of lighting is ideal for when you want to curl up on the couch and watch your favourite show. Lights placed beside your bed in the bedroom provide you with just enough lighting to read quietly without having to bathe the entire room in bright light. A light placed right over your sink in the kitchen is convenient for when you want a glass of water in the middle of the night (but don't want to wake up the entire house).
Another easy way to achieve accent lighting? Add a dimmer to your light switch! Sometimes, due to limited space, there isn't enough room for another lamp, so adjusting the intensity of light is a great way to create a warmer ambiance.
Step Three — Decorative lighting
If you're looking for a way to emphasize a particular object in the room or add an ornamental element, decorative lighting is the way to go. An example of this would be to affix a wall light above or near a painting to accentuate it. Or, a uniquely-shaped lamp would be cute in a child's room. If you want to create a playful element in a room, try a neon light!
The goal with decorative lighting is to have fun and let your imagination run wild! The beauty of this source of light it's purely for the aesthetic, and it doesn't have to serve a functional purpose.
By adhering to these three steps, you'll get that beautifully lit home you've been dreaming of, and you'll achieve it in a manner that serves both a functional and pleasurable purpose. Now comes the fun part: choosing your light fixtures. If you're unsure where to start, this article can help 7 Basic Rules for Selecting the Right Home Lighting Fixture.
