All of the Lights: Making the Best Lighting Choices for Your Home

Have you ever walked into a room and your whole mood changed? That might have been the lighting! Regardless of how beautifully designed or decorated a space is, proper lighting is the lynchpin for tying the whole room together. Without suitable and adequate lighting, a room can appear lackluster or downright unwelcoming. Children may even find it scary, and unless you want to discourage them from entering that room altogether, you should probably make it comfortable.

So, let’s explore the effectiveness of good lighting in a space, as well as the different types of lighting that you can consider for your home.

LIGHTING IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT WHEN CONTEMPLATING YOUR HOME’S INTERIOR DESIGN AND DECOR.

Bad lighting can affect the setting and apparent size of a room. The same holds true for good and ample lighting. Interior decorators will tell you that lighting can make a room feel welcoming or repulsive, tiny or grand.

The position of light sources should complement your space’s décor.

Where we position lighting (and the types of lights selected) should depend on the colour scheme, size of the space, style of furniture, and the accessibility of natural lighting. Once you’re able to synchronise all the various components of decorating, you’ll find that your home is not only functional, but also aesthetically pleasing and comfortable.

There exists a wide variety of interior and exterior lighting options that homeowners can choose from to suit their tastes and requirements.

Here are nine lighting options that can lift your space from drab to fab!

RECESS FIXTURES –

These are indoor lights that are fully contained inside walls, ceiling, or floors. Fixtures that overhang from your walls, floors, or ceilings are not recessed. Recess fixtures are designed to be installed and be levelled with the surface for a sleek finish. The wiring and other components are tucked away, and the bulb appears to glow from within the opening.

Not only are pendant lights lavish and classy, but they come in a wide variety of styles and are easy as one, two, three, to install! These lights hang from your ceiling similarly to chandeliers. However, they’re not as bulky or extravagant. This makes them perfect for the chic and elegant homeowner.

WALL SCONCES –

These lights are used to brighten your hallways and side tables and extend from the wall. You could even install these by yourself. How’s that for savings!

ACCENT LIGHTING –

The purpose of accent lighting is to highlight or accentuate. Focus your accent light on anything you wish to bring attention to, such as a beautiful work of art or your favourite piece of furniture, to make them stand out in a room. This will draw the eye when guests visit for the first time and is a great conversation starter.

LED LIGHTS –

Known as being highly energy efficient, this type of lighting is great for indoor spaces and is an effective substitute for traditional light bulbs. They boast longevity by remaining functional for thousands of hours. Some LED lights even provide colour-changing capabilities via remotes or apps. If you’re looking to set the mood, or change it up a bit, go for LEDs.

Outdoor lighting brings about many of the same functionalities as interior lighting. However, one of the most important functions of outdoor lighting is its safety purpose. It offers a sense of security for homeowners, especially at night. Outdoor lights usually stay on longer than indoor lights because they are usually used to replace natural light throughout the night. Therefore, LEDs are the best choices to go for. Here are some options to consider:

SPOTLIGHTS –

These are lights that generally focus in one direction. They can vary in terms of intensity and coverage. They’re regularly used to emphasise outdoor features such as statues, plants, patios, or anything you can point it at.

FLOOD LIGHTS –

These are the most useful types of landscape lights for large areas. They’re spotlights, but with a higher brightness and coverage area. They’re typically used to illuminate driveways and patios.

GARDEN LIGHTS –

You’ve spent days, even weeks, creating and then nurturing your precious garden in all its blooming glory - it’s only right that they’re always on display! One way to feature your green-thumbed achievement is to install garden lights. They come in an assortment of colours, helping you to continue showing off your garden after the sun sets.

STRING LIGHTS –

There’s nothing more beautiful and festive than string lights in a back or front yard as night-time falls. They’re ideal for looping through soft or hard landscapes and are often incorporated during social gatherings, such as birthdays or holiday parties. They help create a gorgeous ambience for your most valuable photographic memories.

Though time won’t allow us to delve further into the other lighting possibilities, consider yourself now informed enough to take a trip to the hardware store to purchase lights that suit your operational and design needs. “In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.” – Aaron Rose