Choosing Functional and Appealing Lighting for Your Home
Lighting can make or break the appearance and comfort of a room. In terms of home lighting design, light fixtures must be considered an essential feature instead of finishing touches. From simple accent lights to elegant chandeliers, your choices make a functional role and influence the ambiance of a room. If you want to get it right, put lots of research into your decisions including getting your light fixtures at a Union Lighting Shop. Also, you must know what to achieve with every fixture and bulb you choose. The following are tips to help you pick lighting that matches your space and provides your home with utility and functionality:
Understand the Various Kinds of Lighting
Every kind of lighting serves a purpose.
- Ambient lighting. This lighting is meant to illuminate a room, so you can easily move around and see what you are doing. It includes flush mount fixtures, recessed can light, and track lighting.
- Task lighting. This type lights up a particular portion of a room for a certain purpose. It includes under-cabinet lighting that makes kitchen countertops more visible and a standing lamp placed next to a desk.
- Accent lighting. Although this also works like task lighting, it offers targeted light to a location you wish to use. It includes dimmers.
Begin with a Focal Point
When you light a room, ensure there is something your eyes can focus on. You need to have a focal point to maintain the effect you wish to make. Lighting focal points include crystal chandeliers, a contemporary fixture over your dining table, and pendant lighting above the kitchen island.
Balance Out the Size and Scale
Size and scale must also be considered when achieving lighting aesthetics. An overly huge lamp or fixture will take away the beauty of a room rather than add to it. In general, you would begin with the room’s diameter and work out the fixture size from here. Ensure the fixtures are not bigger than your room’s size.
Layer the Lights
If you want to creatively play around with your room’s dimensions, take lighting seriously. Do not stick to one kind of lighting. Mix and match various shapes, bulb wattages, and styles. You may need a minimum of three light layers in the majority of rooms. A small room will require a small fixture.
While lighting your house is not difficult, you may need to play around with fixtures and effects to get it right. If you have a tight budget, consider using lighting placeholders that can be upgraded once you have the budget.
