You’ve selected fabrics and finishes and pored over paint colors to create interior décor that reflects your personality, so don’t skimp when it comes to lighting design.
In addition to its aesthetic value, lighting is an essential ingredient to the wide variety of tasks we perform daily from reading to selecting clothes and preparing meals. And the right mix of lighting, including natural light from above, can improve your home’s energy efficiency and your mood.
Lighting types
Every home needs a little of each type of lighting to meet your needs throughout the day.
- Task lighting focuses light into a specific area, for tasks that that require more illumination.
- Accent lighting shines a light on decorative elements, such as art or architectural features.
- Ambient lighting provides general lighting for everyday activities.
- Natural lighting from above makes a home feel open and inviting, while also providing ample light for reading, cooking and other every day activities.
Creating emotion
When considering lighting options, think about how you use each room and how the lighting needs change throughout the day. When placed on north or south facing roofs, skylights provide optimal, daylong natural light from above, bathing rooms in light that fills in corners and makes spaces feel bigger. Use natural light from above to create an open, cheery feeling that doesn’t take any electricity to achieve.
When the sun goes down, consider electrical lighting that will create the mood that fits your style. For a cozy feeling in the living room where a sofa and stuffed chairs form the focal point for family games, TV watching and quiet time, consider floor lamps with energy efficient bulbs in warmer light tones.
In the kitchen, try bulbs that replicate natural light to make cooking easy on the eyes.
Bedrooms benefit from natural light from above during the day, and a combination of lamps and overhead lighting at night.
Lighting design is an essential element in creating spaces that are functional and aesthetically pleasing. Take time to come up with some bright ideas for your home.
