No matter how lavishly you decorate your home, it will always be incomplete without the perfect lighting. You’ll be surprised at how much lighting (or lack thereof) can change up the entire atmosphere of your space. Not only does lighting impact the look and aesthetics, but it can also impact your mood and mental well-being! We’re here to ‘guide you to the light’ with the best home lighting ideas so you can have the perfect space to kick back and relax in.
The Perfect Home Lighting Ideas to Liven up Your Space
Since the monsoon has kicked in, we’re frequently approaching darker days. It’s all bright and sunny, only for the rain to suddenly kick in, darkness to take over, and your mood to instantly switch from bright and happy to lazy and gloomy. This is why it's vital to pick the ideal lighting for your home, so that come what may, your home still exudes bright energy. Let’s briefly take a look at the effects of lighting:
The Psychological Impact of Lighting
Natural vs Artificial
Natural light tends to make you happier and have a positive impact on your mood. Studies show that with the right exposure to daylight, you’re more likely to feel active and full of life, which is why you should opt for large windows to let more sunlight in! If you’re lucky enough to have a balcony in your home, make sure to spend more time outside soaking in some vitamin C, especially in the mornings.
Artificial lights can also have a major impact on your mood, depending on the intensity, colour, as well as positioning:
Intensity
You don’t want your light to be too bright as the glare can make you feel uncomfortable. Emotions, be they positive or negative, are felt more intensely just by being exposed to bright light.
Colour
Saturated hues will positively impact your mood, while muted hues can bring down your mood. The right colourful lighting is all it takes to take you from sluggish and gloomy to energetic and optimistic.
Positioning
The position of lighting can also impact your well-being. When lighting fixtures are positioned above eye level you tend to feel more on edge, while when they’re positioned below eye level you tend to feel more relaxed.
The Visual Impact of Lighting
Now that we’ve established the physiological and psychological impact of light, let’s get into the visual and aesthetic part of it:
The proper amount of lighting can make your house look more spacious and open. Different types of lighting can have various functionalities. So, before picking out the lighting scheme for your room, decide what kind of atmosphere you’d prefer, as well as what purpose you would like the light to serve. Are you looking for more of a relaxed aura (bedroom) or a more focused one (office)? Would you like to visually focus on specific areas, or would you like to evenly light up your space? Are you looking for more of a vibrant, fun vibe or something more elegant?
Once you decide the atmosphere you’d like to create, you can then figure out what kind of artificial lighting would be apt to create it. When it comes to artificial lighting, there are 3 main lighting layers. Most rooms should consist of a blend of all three for it to be visually appealing and effective:
Ambient Lighting - Also known as general lighting, these lights cover up and provide visibility for most of the interior space. They’re usually a substitute for natural lighting and provide a uniform look to your space.
Task Lighting - As the name suggests, task lighting is to carry out a specific task, i.e. focus on a particular area to isolate it and provide more visibility to it. This lighting is mostly functional while cooking, reading, etc.
Accent Lighting - Accent comes from the word “accentuate”, which is what this lighting does. Its primary function is to decorate and draw attention to certain features in your home. It basically adds a dramatic flair to a particular object or the room as a whole. It can be used over an artwork or any sculpture/object that you would like to exhibit.
Pro tip - You should add a dimmer switch to the lights in your home, so that you can change the vibe as and when required.
Home Lighting Guide for Different Rooms
Hallways
In order for your hallways to be well-lit and welcoming to your guests, ambient lighting should be used. Ceiling fixtures would be ideal for this.
Bedroom
Warm lighting is best for a more cosy feel, that’s why it’s recommended for the bedroom. Warm lighting can also set a romantic mood. LED lights are the best providers of warm lighting. They also save money! Opt for ambient lighting combined with task lighting for the bedroom.
If you have any artwork/bookshelves you’d like to focus on, you can add accent lighting for the same.
Bathroom
We’d recommend cool lighting for the bathroom- blueish-white hues. You can opt for task lighting for areas such as your mirror, to highlight that particular area. You’d want your bathroom to be well-lit and shadow-free to avoid any obstruction. To make your bathroom more visually appealing, you can always add under cabinet lights or recessed lights in the ceiling to give more of an aesthetic look.
Kitchen
If you’re looking to remodel your kitchen, make sure you opt for light fixtures that liven up the space like never before. You should opt for neutral or cool ambient lighting for it to be well-lit as a whole, combined with a bit of task lighting to focus on areas where you might need to pay more attention, for eg. your stove or kitchen counter. You’d want your kitchen to have a more classy and clean look, so make sure not to make the lighting too extravagant!
Living Room
Your living room is where you spend most of your family time, so it’s vital to make sure you have the correct lighting to add a wow factor, at the same time making it seem warm and welcoming. You can opt for low-hanging chandeliers/pendant lights that add cosiness, vibrancy, and an element of elegance to your space. Recessed lights don’t hit the eye and provide a soft glow. Accent lights can be used to highlight photo frames or sculptures.
Home Office
During times like these, work from home is becoming more and more prominent, which means your home office is a space you’d spend quite some time in. You’d mostly want natural light in your space when you’re working, as it energises you and helps you stay focused. In the case of home offices, you should opt for cool task lighting for areas where you’d need more focus, such as the working area.
We hope these home lighting ideas provided by us were helpful and we hope to see you incorporate them into your homes. You can also rely on us to elevate your home, head to our website and book a design consultation with us now.