How much goes into creating a comfortable home environment? Lighting plays a bigger role than you might think. While most (88%) of consumers prioritize personal style in their lighting choices, a little more goes into the decision. The availability of natural light, room dimensions, furniture, customization options, and smart-home integration all influence lighting decisions.
A well-lit home isn’t necessarily bright. It uses a combination of natural and artificial lighting to create a comfortable environment that gives a house a homey feel. The right lighting decisions can be functional, decorative, or mood-enhancing. Achieving a well-lit home takes some design skills and a little electrical know-how.
Start with Natural Lighting
Natural light — as in sunlight — is something to be embraced in interior design. The warm glow of natural light is easier on the eyes, improves the tone of color, and boosts moods. So, windows with light, airy coverings that let in a lot of natural light are a great place to start. Plus, natural lighting will significantly reduce the electric bill.
Use Layers
When it comes to adding in artificial light, keep in mind that not all lighting is equal. And the goal is not simply to illuminate space but to create a comfortable atmosphere. There are three types of light to consider for each space.
- Task Lighting
- Ambient Lighting
- Accent Lighting
By layering these three different types of lighting, a designer can augment natural light to create the right atmosphere. Task lighting is the most functional type of lighting and should be considered as the first layer. This includes under cabinet lighting that makes it easier to see your meal prep areas or vanity lighting in a bathroom.
The next layer is ambient lighting. This is the general illumination for the room, usually in the form of an overhead fixture. Once you have addressed ambient and task lighting, finish off the layers by hiring an experienced electrician from Burleigh Heads to install accent lighting that highlights decorative details like a fireplace mantel..
Types of Light Bulbs
Ok, great — so now that we have hammered out the details on the different types of lighting fixtures you will need. Let’s talk about the bulbs that go in those fixtures. A quick trip down the light bulb aisle will leave you with more questions than answers.
LED Light Bulbs
Light-emitting Diode (LED) bulbs are everywhere. These bulbs are up to 90% more efficient at lighting spaces compared to incandescent bulbs. LED light bulbs have a longer, more energy-efficient life than other bulbs on the market. But they are not all the same. These bulbs come in a range of color temperature and wattage. It is important to match both in your space.
Halogen Bulbs
Halogen light bulbs are a specific type of incandescent lighting fixture that uses halogen gas to produce light. In indoor spaces, these bulbs are used for recessed and accent lighting. Outdoors you will find them used for floodlights.
Compact Fluorescent
Compact fluorescent lights have a signature curly-cue shape and are known for providing low wattage, high-intensity lighting commonly used as task lighting in workspaces. Fluorescent bulbs are more energy-conscious but with the trade-off of being less environmentally friendly. These bulbs contain mercury which is a toxic pollutant. All it takes is a broken light bulb.
Best Tips for Achieving a Well-Lit Home
The most common mistake people make when lighting a home is focusing too much wattage on a single light fixture. The ambient fixture in a room is often the only one that we think of — but it takes a combination of lights to create a cozy atmosphere. A single, high-wattage fixture creates undesirable bright spots and dark shadows.
Instead, remember to spread out the wattage across multiple fixtures. Wattage is the measure of electricity consumed by a light bulb. In the days of incandescent lighting, this number typically indicated the brightness of a bulb. But if you are shopping for LED lights, you may be more interested in the lumen number to determine the brightness of the bulb.
Whether you are shopping for incandescent bulbs by wattage or LED bulbs by lumens, the point is that it is better to use multiple sources of light than to concentrate lighting on one fixture. Another way that you can manipulate lighting levels is to install dimmer switches. A dimmer allows you to turn the brightness up and down as needed depending on the time of day and the amount of natural light available.
If you want to leverage lighting to create a comfortable home, consider hiring professionals. A lighting designer can help you choose the right type and placement for lighting fixtures to bridge your personal style aesthetic with elements of interior design. And a professional electrician can safely install your lighting to meet current building codes — giving you a safe home and hassle-free resell.
The Bottom Line on Achieving a Well Lit Home
Lighting is an important element in interior design. It is much more than a functional element that illuminates a dark room. A well-lit home feels comfortable because the combination of natural and artificial lighting creates a specific atmosphere. Balancing the right combination of fixtures, bulbs, and placement takes some thought and skill. Professional lighting designers and electricians can help achieve a well-lit home.
Author:
Bobby Lynn is the Owner of LiveWire Electrical, a fully licensed and insured residential and commercial electrical company serving Charlotte, NC, and surrounding areas. Bobby has been in the electrical industry for over 20 years and has a vast knowledge of all things electrical. Learn more about LiveWire’s specialty lighting installation services here.
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