A Guide to Lighting Your Home

If you're in the process of redecorating your home, what are you spending most of your time thinking about? Choosing the right colour schemes, mulling over purposeful pieces of furniture, the flooring? What about lighting? More often than not, a room's lighting takes a back seat to some of the other interior design elements that one must consider. Fortunately, we've put together a list of the four most important things you need to think about before settling on a lighting option for your new room.

Decide On the Purpose of the Room

Will the room be a tranquil oasis or a hub for entertaining? Perhaps it will be something in between, or it will act as both. If you hadn't considered it already, it's important to know that in the realm  of indoor lighting, there are three suitable options, depending on the purpose of the room, each of which is described below.

• Task lighting. As the name implies, this type of lighting is used to help you complete a specific task (think a desk lamp that you'd only turn on when at your workspace).
• Ambient lighting. Ambient lighting is generally used as a room's dominant source of light and comes in the form of a wall mounted, track lighting, etc.
• Accent lighting. Aptly named, accent lighting is used to draw the eye to a desired focal point in the room, or can be dimmed to create a mood.

If for example, the room is going to be used primarily for entertaining, you'll likely look for ambient and accent lighting solutions that can be layered to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. If however, the room you're decorating will act as your new home office, task lighting may take a more prominent role.

Decide the Placement of the Bulbs as well as the Light Switches

As you begin to visualize your new room, it might make sense to consider a new location for the room's light switches. Many homeowners assume that wall mounted light switches are forever, even if their placement no longer makes sense in an updated room. The good news is that even homeowners with a limited budget can have a local handyman move a light switch to a more favourable location. It goes without saying that the placement of any light fixture within the room must itself be considered to determine how well it will work with the new decor. For example, a room's existing pendant lighting may no longer work for a dining room repurposed into a living  room.

Decide on the Size and Type of the Lighting Fixture

Inappropriately sized lighting can certainly add a "wow" statement to any room, but it can also obscure lines of site, detract from other carefully selected focal points and project less light than desired. In short, the size and type of your principal lighting fixture should be selected with more than a modicum of consideration.

Before choosing a bedside lamp, considering the height of the night table on which it will be placed; if the combined height of the lamp and table are too low (meaning that the bottom edge of the lampshade is below your shoulder when you're sitting in bed), chances are it won't emit enough light to allow you to read comfortably.

The bulbs should also  be considered. Generally speaking, a bulb that emits a cooler, bluer light is most acceptable in the kitchen, warmer coloured bulbs can be used to accent the cabinets or backsplash.

Consider the Room

Each room in your home will benefit from a slightly different lighting profile. Here are a few examples:

• Dining Room Lighting. Depending on the size of the rectangular table that adorns the room, you might consider two or more pendant dining room lighting fixtures that run along the length of the table to illuminate the room. If a circular table is in use, a more modestly sized chandelier can provide a very charming aesthetic.
• Bathroom Lighting. In this room, task lighting is generally the top priority. Lighting mounted around the mirror used when undertaking personal grooming tasks like shaving or applying makeup eliminates shadows.
• Entryway Lighting  Since this area is responsible for a visitor's first impression of your home's interior, this is the perfect place for an impact piece. If the door contains a window, make sure that the hanging light fixture can be seen as the visitor approaches from the outside.
• Living Room Lighting. Staggered pendant lighting will add a unique look, while an ornate chandelier exudes opulence. Whatever you choose, wall sconces can be added for additional accent lighting.

While it's true that lighting may not always get as much attention as it deserves, it is one of the more important elements that can bridge a room's style with its function. We hope that this guide has provided a little insight into how to select the appropriate lighting for your next home decorating adventure. If you're on the hunt for lighting solutions, check out Furniture.ca, an online furniture / lighting store, for a large number of suitable options.