Essential Advice for Lighting your Home
Lighting is an important aspect to consider when it comes to building, decorating or refurbishing a home. The lighting in any home needs to be specially designed, not only for the type of house (large, small, apartment, etc.) but also for the activities that we do in each room.
When we talk about lighting, we’re not just talking about electrics. We’re talking about everything from the most technical aspects to the choice of light bulb, type of lamp, type of light, and so on.
Making mistakes when it comes to lighting our homes is more common than you might think. Usually, these mistakes come from a lack of planning, and from a lack of understanding of the basics.
We’ve got some basic advice that you should keep in mind when refurbishing.
Types of light
Before we give you some advice, we’ll first take a look at the different types of light you can have in your home.
On the one hand, we have natural light. This is any light that comes in through your doors and windows.
This is a type of light that you should try to maximize in your home by using curtains that let in as much natural light as possible.
The amount of natural light in your home will depend on the direction your windows are facing.
Another type of light we usually find in our homes is general lighting. This is usually the main light source in any room. Generally, this means ceiling lamps.
As for ambient light, it’s worth remembering that it’s great for living rooms or places where you like to relax. It acts as a secondary light source.
Finally, we have functional lighting. This is used for things such as studying, or for lighting reading corners.
Usually flex lights or desk lamps, these are auxiliary lights.
Tips for getting the perfect lighting
One of the basic principles of great lighting is consistency.
So, it’s essential to combine different types of lamps, and put them in just the right place.
Consistency is fundamental. Using this basic principle, you will be able to avoid over-lighting your home.
Over-lighting, or an excess of light, can have a very unpleasant effect on the eyes and on your decor, as it can make a room seem plain and stark.
Plus, over-illuminating your room wastes a huge amount of electricity.
2. Getting the right size
When it comes to lighting, size is important.
One of the fundamentals of decoration and interior design is ratio.
This means that the first thing you need to consider is the size of your room. This will determine the size of the elements within that room.
If your room is smaller in size, choose a lamp that is in proportion. Buying a large lamp will actually make the room seem even smaller.
If you want to install a hanging lamp, remember that you’ll also need to consider the height of the ceiling.
It’s really annoying to have to worry about hitting your head on your lamp.
If you have low ceilings, please don’t choose a large ceiling light.
3. Types of light
When it comes to the lighting in your home, you’ll also need to think about the different types of light that are available. The type of light that works best will depend on the room.
Warm light is ideal for rooms where you like to rest and relax.
Cold and white lights, on the other hand, should be used in rooms where there’s more activity, like for example the kitchen, bathroom or office.
The intensity of the light is also important. One good option is to use a dimmer switch.
Dimmer switches will allow you to adjust the light for any activity, allowing you to get exactly the amount of light you need and save energy.
4. Multiple lamps
You can boost the light in your home by using a combination of different lamps.
As well as helping you see better, they’ll also help your home feel more complete.
It’s important to identify the areas of the room you want to illuminate so that you can do it more subtly.
In the kitchen, for example, integrated track lighting and hanging lamps are a great option. However, be careful to make sure that shadows don’t impede your vision. To do this, you need to avoid placing lights directly above your workspaces.
For bathrooms and walk-in closets, proper lighting is essential. One great idea is to install lights around the mirror.
5. Quality
Good lighting doesn’t only depend on putting your lights in the right place; it also depends on the products you use.
Nowadays, saving energy is one of the most important aspects to keep in mind when it comes to deciding between one type of light bulb and another.
Above all, we recommend choosing good quality products. We often choose cheaper products to save money, but in the end, they usually don’t give the desired result.
Conclusion
As you can see, getting the right lighting for your home takes time.
Don’t leave choosing it until the last minute. In fact, it might be a good idea to start thinking about the lighting before you start refurbishing your home.