The Importance of Lighting
Do you ever find that you avoid certain rooms, or parts of rooms in your home because they’re just not inviting? It could be that the problem is lighting! A poorly lit room affects everything — mood, productivity, creativity, even your appetite. Lighting is one of the most important features of a room and there is so much to learn! There is a science to good lighting - one could probably even get a Ph.D. in it – but it does not have to be that complicated! You can actually achieve good lighting with some pretty simple planning. Just follow the steps below:
1. Think about what you are using the room for. If you’re mostly relaxing and watching TV, then you probably only need a couple of table lamps on either side of the sofa or on a console table to provide some ambient light. If someone in your household likes to read or do needlework while watching TV, you’re going to need a task light to illuminate just their hands. This could be a table lamp or a floor lamp with an adjustable gooseneck. Great lighting is also very important if you like to read in bed. Table lamps on your bedside tables will do the job nicely!
2. Control the mood and brightness of your rooms by making your lamps adjustable, through dimmer switches or three-way bulbs.
3. It’s important to have easily reachable light switches that control overhead lighting in home entryways and often in bedrooms — places where you might stumble in the dark. Overhead lighting does not need to be ugly! There are beautiful flush mount and semi-flush mount options available. Also - overhead lighting does not have to be in the center of the room. Sometimes a pendant light can be swagged over from a central ceiling electrical box to illuminate a corner, or over bedside tables. Again, dimmers are essential here for creating the desired mood.
4. Don’t forget symmetry! Linda Banks taught me about the importance of symmetry. Put two matching bedside tables with matching lamps on either side of your sofa or your bed and presto, change-o, you’re an adult! Try it; seriously, it works.
5. Create a general ambiance. My friend Meg has a smallish lamp with a shade that lives on one corner of her kitchen counter. This light stays on pretty much all the time. It provides warm, inviting light, serves as a nightlight, and makes it so no one is stumbling around the kitchen in the dark, ever.
I hope these tips help you to create an inviting mood with lighting in your home. Come visit us to see all of our lighting options – we offer a wide range of styles - from big to small, floor lamps to table lamps, pendant lights, and one-of-a-kind vintage lights.
~Rachel