BRIGHT IDEAS
In a market full of so many designs, seeing your home in the right light can make all the difference. Our expert goes room by room to tell you what works.
Great lighting can truly make a space come alive and poor lighting can lead to even the most amazing designs falling flat. Much like a pair of shoes that can make or break an outfit, lighting is the key to good design. Lighting comes in different forms and depending on the area that you are illuminating and the functionality of the space, it is crucial to choose the right kind of lighting. Here are tips on how to make the right lighting choices.
Living Room
In any home, the drawing is a multi faceted space. It’s a place to gather with friends and family and have conversations, a place to watch TV in most homes and also a place to lounge, relax and read. A great living room should use a combination of the following three types of lights. Recessed Lighting They are small in profile and fade into the ceiling providing the bright glow that can replace natural light. Consider using these when you’re entertaining in a large open plan living/dining, playing board games or hanging out with a large group of people. Ambient Lighting It provides the soft warm glow that gives a space that cosy inviting feel. Table lamps, floor lamps and pendant lamps with warm light provide this moody effect in a space. Use ambient light to form a lighting triangle where light emanates from the three corners or sides of a room. This is a design hack designers swear by. Task Lighting They are focussed lights that are useful for reading nooks, throwing light on a great piece of art. Use table lamps or even floor lamps in a reading nook with a shade that offers more focussed light. For highlighting a picture or art, a down light on the wall is a great idea.
Dining Room
Many lights can be used here. From chandeliers for a more traditional look, to drum pendants or large domes for a more classic transitional statement, to exposed bulbs for a modern chic look, the options are endless. The light over your dining should be large enough to provide proper illumination. A good rule of thumb is to have a light fixture that’s at least half to three quarters the width of your dining table. Similarly, the height of the light fixture should be between 33’’ to 38’’ from the tabletop for optimal lighting.
Kitchens
The cook room predominantly uses recessed lights that give the space clean bright light all day long. Consider simple recessed lights in the ceiling. Placing lights under the cabinets provides task lights, which are useful for everyday chopping, baking and cooking. Decorative lighting in kitchens by way of a pendant or a small chandelier is a great way to add that wow factor.
Bedrooms
Bedrooms are private and should feel like a sanctuary or a getaway. Ambient and task lighting are important here. Bedside lamps either by way of table lamps or even hanging lamps in cases where space is a constraint, are a great way to combine both these aspects. They provide ambient light to the overall space but also act as task lights if you want to stay up and read a book. Bedside lighting is also what brings warmth to a bedroom and is a great way to bring in a décor element to tie the space together. Closets are best fit with recessed lights so the space can function well.
Entryway
This is an area that is often ignored. Given that the entryway is the first impression to your home, great lighting here adds a lot to the look and feel of your home. A hanging pendant light is ideal for this space to throw soft light on the area. You can also add some recessed lighting if your entryway occupies a lot of square fooatge. In a large foyer or entryway a dramatic pendant or chandelier is another great way to bring in some drama and make the space look striking.