Illuminating Tips for Around Your House

Let’s face it, lighting is not a black-and-white issue. There are endless shades of grey and considerations for homeowners when purchasing fixtures and accents.  There’s the functional aspect (they sure can make seeing easier!), endless stylistic options, natural lighting and considerations specific to your space.  

But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.  

Below are several things to consider when addressing lighting challenges around your house.  

General Best Practices

Lighting is a game of proportions.  What is the size of your room? How are you using the space and what is its function?  Are there any focal points in the room? One way to get a handle on proportions is to measure the space and any focal features. That will help you ensure you have the right number of fixtures, and that those pieces are proportionate to other elements in the space.  

Homeowners will also want to consider the mood they’re looking to create. Select bulbs that provide the right brightness and color temperature for the space. For tall lighting, choose bulbs with high CRI to ensure accurate color representation. On the other hand, dimmers are a great way to set the mood and create a more relaxing atmosphere. LEDs are a popular choice as they are energy-efficient and long-lasting.

Our last general consideration is that lighting is a great, and sometimes unexpected opportunity to create continuity between spaces.  With that in mind, make sure you’re selecting pieces that match the style of your home and its decor. That’s not to say you can’t go wild, but generally speaking, lighting should match your interior design style.

Hallways

Often forgotten, hallways are a great spot to accentuate architectural elements through lighting. One of our favorite tricks is to create a pattern on a smooth wall with fixtures that diffuse light in a fun way. It allows the wall to stick out while also functionally lighting the space.

Lighting Your Bedroom

If you’re like most of our clients, your bedroom is a calming space, a refuge of sorts.  For that reason, we try to keep the lighting soft.

Homeowners can achieve that with a dimmable ceiling fixture that diffuses light upward, paired with bedside lamps or sconces, which provide more pointed, functional light. 

Lighting for the Bathroom

Bathrooms are for business.  Whether you’re achieving the perfect shave or powdering your nose, homeowners and their guests need flattering light to see all the details.  One way to do that is to place sconces on both sides of the mirror, which helps eliminate shadow.

More so than in any other room in your home, bathrooms are a place to think about your fixture’s finish and be consistent…because there’s nothing worse than seeing mirror trim that doesn’t match the light(s) right next to it. Consider keeping that consistent with faucets, handles, hooks, toilet paper holders, and shower fixtures. 

Efficient Lighting

While your fixtures are a hard cost during construction, we also want to consider their ongoing electrical output and the associated costs.  One eco-friendly option is to consider motion sensor lights.  They use less energy than traditional lighting solutions and last much longer, meaning fewer bulb replacements for homeowners.

Motion sensor lights detect when someone is in the area and turn on automatically, eliminating wasted energy from leaving a light switched on when no one is there. This makes motion sensor lights much more energy efficient than traditional lighting fixtures, saving money on electrical bills each month.

Motion sensor lights also provide homeowners with the convenience of bright illumination without manually switching lights on or off. This also eliminates time spent looking for switches in dark areas where the switch can be hard to find.  Consider adding sensors in closets, pantries, vanity toe kicks, and appliance garages in a kitchen.

And while we’re on the topic of motion sensors, let’s also remember their role in helping to deter intruders who might prefer to remain in the dark.  Thieves are often put off when they know someone might have noticed them due to motion-activated lighting.

Lighting shouldn’t be treated lightly.  Our team loves using wall elevations and drawings to help homeowners visualize lighting selections and placement.  Contact Kristina Weaver, if you’d like our help with your next drawing.