Lighting is often something that’s overlooked until the final stages of your building or renovation project. The range of lighting options is huge and can quickly become overwhelming. How do you get it right? Good lighting will make your house feel warm and homely, while bad lighting will make a house look harsh and unwelcoming. The best way to choose the right lighting for your home is to consider the purpose of each room, and then select lights accordingly.
Work areas
Any work areas of the home should have what’s known as “task lighting”. Task lighting is lighting that provides enough light for you to see what you’re doing, whether it’s chopping vegetables in the kitchen, or working in your home office. Some rooms will require task lighting at times but softer lighting the rest of the time – for example, bathrooms, or a dining room that doubles up as a homework space for the kids. For these rooms, choose lights with dimming options, or use lamps that can provide soft lighting when you want the room to be relaxed.
Mood and ambiance
Mood lighting creates ambiance in your home. It enhances the style of a room and can transform it into a space that is more relaxed, inviting or cosy. Mood lighting options often include floor and table lamps, with both traditional and modern styles to choose from. Try to use a combination of lighting styles to create layers of soft glows in your living room, dining area or bedroom.
Decorative lighting
Decorative lighting is like jewellery – it can dress up or dress down the overall look of a room. Here is where you can be creative and show a little flair. Hang chandeliers to create focal points, for example, over your dining room table, or in a large entryway. Use sconce lights to highlight artwork on walls, or to flank a mirror in the bathroom. Don’t be afraid to play around with different styles when it comes to decorative lighting, whether it’s a chandelier in the kitchen, or a floor lamp in the entry hall.
Thought starters for each room
- Dining room – make the table the focal point of the room using a chandelier or pendant light. Use indirect lighting, like table lamps, elsewhere in the room to give the space a subtle glow.
- Living room – overhead lights should be dimmable, while three out of four corners should be lit using table lamps and floor lamps.
- Kitchen – overhead lighting is important, with lower sources to light work surfaces.
- Bathroom – sidelights and sconces should flank mirrors, while an overhead light will fill in any shadows.
- Bedroom – overhead or recessed lights should be angled away from the bed to reduce glare. Place reading lamps next to the bed, and a small lamp with a low wattage bulb on a low table.
If you’re still not sure how to choose the right lighting for your home, ask an expert. Ross North Group is Perth’s leading provider of house and land packages Perth. Ross North Group offers over 50 architecturally designed homes as well as tailored house and land packages that cater for every homeowner. Every Ross North Group comes with a choice of complete fittings and finishes so you can create your dream home. If you’d like to find out more, call Ross North Group on 08 9431 8150.
