The right lighting can make or break a room. Don’t know what to pick to illuminate the art on your walls? Want to know what kind of lighting works best for different rooms? Luckily enough for you, there are a plenty of tips online to give you a crash course in home lighting choices. So before you shop and buy one, be sure to keep the following things in mind:
-
Be unconventional. You’ve probably seen a lot of pendant lights in many homes, most commonly over kitchen tables or breakfast bar areas. But that’s not the only spot you can use pendant lights. Houzz suggests using lighting in places that aren’t their normal location. Given the concentrated brightness these fixtures bring, you could use them as reading lamps in your study area or as task lighting in your living room instead of consigning them to kitchen use alone. Don’t let conventional thinking limit your choices. Be creative.
-
Lighten up hidden spots. Consider the dark areas in your home. Do you have great alcove space that you’ve always been dying to take advantage of, but your poor, dull lighting has been getting in the way? Not anymore. By installing a pendant light or two in that space, you could finally liberate the dim and dark nooks and crannies, corner spaces, alcoves and wall niches in your home.
-
Use it as a design accent. Want to bring some much-needed pizzazz to your rooms? You could use pendant lighting to improve your interior decor. To make life easier, visit sites like Lumens to shop for pendant lighting by style or category. See if putting a medium and large pendant in your living room will create the dramatic effect you’re looking for. Get task lighting over the kitchen island for those times that you need to chop the vegetables or entertain company. What about adding in some contemporary drum pendants or bowl pendants for a visually arresting touch? Go for the classic and traditional or add an edgy vibe with a transitional piece. You could also go for a design that adds a unique note of whimsy and fun in your space. Whatever design, mood or personality you want, your choice in lighting pieces can easily reflect that.
-
Check your lighting layers. A room that has excellent lighting typically has three layers. You start with the overhead lighting, which is the basic lighting. HGTV calls this ambient lighting and built to house all the art you’ve always dreamed of displaying. However, that kind of lighting may look silly inside a small bathroom and make the space feel too cramped instead of cozy. After that, you’ve got your accent lighting, which is what you use to isolate, emphasize or put a particular focus on a distinctive design element you like, whether it’s a painting, bookcase or just your stairs.
-
Pick functional and decorative. For great lighting, make sure you choose fixtures that work on the functional and decorative level. Don’t think you need to sacrifice all hope for one to achieve the other. If you have trouble looking for a piece that fits in with the rest of your decor, don’t rush through it. With so many fixtures to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect piece.
-
Dim your lights. There are days when you might like your fixtures bright. But other days and moods in the week will surely follow. Besides, being regularly exposed to over-bright lights tends to put considerable strain on the eyes. So unless you’re installing lights over the operating table, there’s no need to use excessive lighting at all hours of the day. Use multitasking lights instead. With these lights, you’ll be able to dim down your lights for those times when a soft, ambient glow is all you need.
So if you’re planning to change a couple of light bulbs or two, why not consider overhauling your lighting instead? It might just give you the home makeover you need to bring zest, style and new life to your rooms.
