New lighting can easily update the look of your living space without sinking a lot of money into a renovation project. Different lighting techniques can refresh a tired room, add dramatic focal points, or create a completely new ambiance. And today, there are more home lighting options than ever before.
The American Lighting Association offers many suggestions for decorating with light, and points out that you can even make a small room look more spacious by choosing the right kind of light and placement. Small rooms benefit most from accent lighting that is used as a supplement to existing, functional lighting.
For large spaces such as living rooms and bedrooms, the ALA suggests using multiple lamps. Multiple points of lighting like table and small accent lamps placed throughout the room can make it feel more intimate.
Something for every room
Of course, every room has its own style and purpose, so you’ll want your lighting solutions to fit the mood and décor of each room. From traditional to contemporary, there are a wide range of options that let you add lighting in a style that’s perfect for your surroundings. Some interesting ways to add light in different rooms include:
Kitchen: Under-cabinet lighting is a great way to brighten up a kitchen, and it can be done with virtually any budget — from fluorescent strips to small LEDs.
Living room: Artful floor or table lamps will not only add ambiance but can also be a design focal point as well. Lighted shelves are a great way to brighten a space while at the same time offering a functional element.
Dining room: Think about adding some pendant lights here. New designs let you showcase your personal style, and you can arrange three or four pendants at different heights to create an artistic design in addition to adding new light to the room. Consider adding a dimmer to give more flexibility in creating ambiance.
Off the wall
For areas that don’t have a lot of floor or counter space, wall sconces are an effective way to light hallways and entryways. Today’s sconces can be plugged into an outlet or hardwired into the wall.
To get the most effect from your wall sconces, the ALA recommends a technique called “wall washing,” which will help make the area look larger and more dramatic. Simply position one (or more) sconce so that the light grazes the wall; it will draw attention outward rather than focusing attention on the wall itself.
Perfect Lighting Techniques for Your Space
By Paula Felps
New lighting can easily update the look of your living space without sinking a lot of money into a renovation project. Different lighting techniques can refresh a tired room, add dramatic focal points, or create a completely new ambiance. And today, there are more home lighting options than ever before.
The American Lighting Association offers many suggestions for decorating with light, and points out that you can even make a small room look more spacious by choosing the right kind of light and placement. Small rooms benefit most from accent lighting that is used as a supplement to existing, functional lighting.
For large spaces such as living rooms and bedrooms, the ALA suggests using multiple lamps. Multiple points of lighting like table and small accent lamps placed throughout the room can make it feel more intimate.
Something for every room
Of course, every room has its own style and purpose, so you’ll want your lighting solutions to fit the mood and décor of each room. From traditional to contemporary, there are a wide range of options that let you add lighting in a style that’s perfect for your surroundings. Some interesting ways to add light in different rooms include:
Off the wall
For areas that don’t have a lot of floor or counter space, wall sconces are an effective way to light hallways and entryways. Today’s sconces can be plugged into an outlet or hardwired into the wall.
To get the most effect from your wall sconces, the ALA recommends a technique called “wall washing,” which will help make the area look larger and more dramatic. Simply position one (or more) sconce so that the light grazes the wall; it will draw attention outward rather than focusing attention on the wall itself.