|
When we buy a home, yes, we probably look at the
lighting in each room, but how much do we really think about? It’s
good, it’s functional, it will do. When you’ve already spent money
on your home, the thought of changing out lighting means more
dollars and more time getting things the way you like them. Perhaps
changing light fixtures becomes one of those “rainy day” or “when
our ship comes in” projects for the future.
When the time does come to address lighting in your home, you should
understand what you have in your home already, and what you can add
through small touches or big projects.
According to an article written in Huff Post in 2017, there are
three basic layers to interior lighting. Getting all three
incorporated into a room will enhance the overall comfort and
aesthetic of the room, and, it may not involve detailed work like
changing out ceiling fixtures.
The three basic categories of lighting are ambient, task and accent.
Ambient is where you will place those ceiling fixtures. The light is
directed in a broad area, meant to light the entire room without
drawing attention to any one area or detail within the room.
Recessed lighting is becoming a very popular form of ambient
lighting, especially in areas such as kitchens where you want a good
amount of light and no shadowy corners. The inset of the light
source keeps the ceiling more streamline, provides great light, and
allows for the addition of ceiling fixtures that act in the category
of task lighting.
However, a well-lit room comes with some consequences. To use
recessed lighting in a sizeable room, you will have to have multiple
units, several hole cuts in your ceiling and a lot of electrical
wiring. For the most part, this is probably not a job for a
do-it-yourselfer, and the cost will add up quickly.
If you need to stick with what you have for now, there is a quick
fix that will change the atmosphere of the room and is perfectly DIY.
Installing dimmer switches that can adjust the amount of light will
add to the feeling of warmth in a room. You can twist the knob to go
from bright and cheery to warm and cozy. Dimmer switches are a
perfect accent tool for great rooms with fireplaces, or to draw
attention to lighting found in your task or accent categories.
Task lighting is just what it sounds like, a light provided for a
specific task such as reading or at the kitchen counter.
In the kitchen, there is a wide array of under cabinet lighting
options. Many are DIY friendly, such as strip lighting that mounts
and plugs into a socket or a peel and stick tap light that is
battery operated. The pitfalls of the mount and plug is that you
have to deal with the cords and how to disguise them or hide them
from view to achieve the best overall finished look. The advantage
is that the lights provide that direct illumination that you need
while chopping those vegetables. Tap lights, the obvious downfall is
the batteries. If you use the lights a lot, you will spend a lot of
money on batteries to keep them going. The nice thing about these
lights is no wiring to deal with and no screw holes in your
cabinets. In the living room or den, task
lighting can be achieved with a table or floor lamp. These are do it
yourself projects where your biggest challenge is choosing which
lamp goes with the room on the whole. Lamps can be quite expensive,
but they can also be found for cheap at local resale shops or
discount stores. If you have lamps that you like, but they don’t
quite go with everything else, consider changing the shade. Today
there are as many lamp shade styles and colors as there are lamps.
You’ll be surprised what a change a new shade in a new color, size
or shape will make in the look of your lamp.
The last lighting category to consider is accent
lighting. Accent lighting is that little lamp on the table in the
corner that doesn’t really do anything but look pretty. It adds a
soft glow with dim ambient lighting and it adds to the overall
appeal of whatever else you have on that table.
[to top of second column] |
Again, these can be expensive investments or not.
The important part of this is to choose the little lamp that goes
with the big lamp used for reading. Making things match adds a
cohesive look to the room and in the end that is what interior
design is all about.
Also in this category are wall sconces. Again, probably not a do it
yourself task if you are going to be direct wiring the wall sconce
into a switch, but worth considering if you have a large wall where
you would like to feature a nice piece of décor such as a picture or
other decorative item. Wall sconces will draw the eye to the other
items on the wall and tie it all together for one nice looking
presentation.
Now, if your ship has come in and your rainy day is here and you’re
ready to invest some big bucks into your interior lighting there are
tons of resources out there to help you decide your design goals.
One article found online is “Eight top trends in interior lighting
design for 2021.” The article is published by a company hoping to
sell you lighting. Even so, some of their ideas and recommendations
are spot on to what we see in home improvement shows and magazines
every day.
One word of caution though. If you think your ship will come in only
once, then beware of following trends or fads. Like tie-dye tee
shirts and bell bottom jeans, trends and fads in home décor will
change constantly and what is great today will be gauche tomorrow.
If you are looking at doing a lighting re-do for the long haul, be
careful to avoid the super trendy fixtures choosing instead
something that has more of a timeless look.
Take into consideration the overall design of the home. If you are
living in a mid-century modern, then atomic style lighting will keep
with that theme, while a crystal chandelier could look out of place.
Farmhouse chic is also a current trend that can be done in a
timeless way. Choose pieces that are simple and not kitschy if going
for the long term fix.
Finally, consider your personal taste. If you don’t like something,
then don’t buy it just because it is trendy. You want to love your
home that love starts with doing it your way to reflect who you are.
[Nila Smith]
Sources
8 Top Trends in Interior Lighting Design for
2021 - Luxury Home Remodeling | Sebring Design Build
Lighting Design Basics -- Ambient, Task and
Accent Lighting | HuffPost Life
Lighting is an important piece of
the interior design puzzle. Lighting design plays a very big role in
how you experience a space.
By Lamps Plus , Contributor
Lighting & Home Furnishings
Ambient, Task, and Accent Lighting (thespruce.com)
Basics of Interior Home Lighting
Design
Flexible, Welcoming Light for Your Home
By LEAH FRENCH
|
