10 Tips for Nailing That Stunning Lighting Design

Lighting tends to be overlooked in interior design. Individuals ignore the lighting in the room and focus on other elements. Doing so leads to a room that they like but don’t love completely. The right lights transform the area and enhance its visual appeal. Regardless of how much time and effort a person puts into planning a room, the lights take it to the next level. If you need help in this area, the following tips provide you with the information you need to create the ideal space, one any interior designer would admire. 

Plan the Room’s Interior

Before shopping for lighting at SteelLightingCo.com, plan the room’s interior. The fixtures must complement the room’s decor and furnishings. Pick the pieces you wish to include in the room, so you know which lighting styles to browse. For example, the angle of the light alters the appearance of paint thanks to variations in illumination.

Dark furnishings in a room lead to the need for more light while light furnishings and paint help reflect light. The pieces you plan to use in the room along with the paint affect your lighting choices, so take this step first.

The planning process for any home improvement project should take more time than what will be needed to carry out the project. Don’t rush, as doing so could be costly in the long run. 

Natural Light

Don’t overlook natural light when planning the room and choosing light fixtures. Mirrored furniture becomes of great help, for instance, when natural light is limited in the space. The mirror bounces natural light around the room, making the space appear brighter. This reduces the amount of lighting a person needs while bringing energy bills down.

The mirror should be placed directly across from the window to receive the biggest boost in light. If this isn’t possible, don’t discard the mirror. It will reflect some natural light regardless of where it is placed in the room. 

Add Dimmers

Every room in the home should have dimmers. These devices provide more control over the lighting scheme in a room at any given time. A person can change the mood of the room to suit their mood as often as they desire. For more flexibility, consider creating the lighting plan so each layer of lighting can be controlled independently. Individuals find they save money on energy bills when they install dimmers, and bulbs last longer with the inclusion of these devices in the lighting plan. 

Levels of Lighting

Successful interior design requires the use of three layers of lighting. Ambient lighting provides overall illumination for the space. This lighting is frequently witnessed by itself in retail spaces.

Designers use accent lighting to highlight certain features in a room, such as a piece of art or an architectural feature. This lighting fills dark spaces created by the ambient lighting and chases the gloom from the room.

Task lighting serves as the third layer in a room. This functional lighting tends to be harsh and should only be used when carrying out a specific task. 

LED Lighting Positioning

Countless homeowners are turning to LED bulbs thanks to their energy efficiency. The lights feature a long shelf life and require very little maintenance if any. Nevertheless, the wrong placement for these lamps leaves a room lacking because LED lights don’t possess the ambient qualities seen with mains-voltage options. As a result, many designers choose to reserve the use of LED lights for accent lighting. 

Create the Right Atmosphere

Mains-voltage lights remain the popular choice even with advances in technology. They serve as the best way to create the perfect atmosphere in any space. Mains-voltage lighting requires 120 volts to operate. In contrast, low-voltage lights only need 12 volts to function. The mains-voltage lights provide an air of coziness and calm and draw people into the room. They find the room to be delightful thanks in large part to these lights. 

Use Shadows to Your Benefit

People often try to avoid shadows when lighting a room. However, they have a place in interior design. They infuse the area with atmosphere while providing texture, depth, and variation. Position lights so they create areas of shadow to heighten the look and feel. However, avoid creating too many shadows in the room, as doing so leads to the room appearing smaller than it is. Pierced lampshades serve as an excellent way to create wall shadows, and they are only one way this goal can be accomplished.

Create a Bright Spot as a Focal Point

The human eye naturally moves to the brightest spot in a room. Benefit from this by position recessed spotlights so they shine on a wall. The reflected light makes the room appear bigger than it is in reality. This method for increasing the light in the room is only one of many.  For example, pair a chandelier with a mirror to make the space look bigger and more elegant. This easy trick can transform a room from plain to fantastic in a matter of minutes.

Additional Focal Points

The bright spot in the room doesn’t need to be the only focal point. Any recessed area of a room that holds artwork or ornament can be lit to create a focal point. Interior designers often use LED downlights or compact uplights strategically to create the desired effect. The lights can point the viewer’s eye to a bigger focal point in the room.

Budget Accordingly

Expect to spend money to get quality lighting for the home. People need to spend as much as they can when purchasing lighting fixtures for great results. The right lighting can make a room, while the wrong choices leave a gorgeous space lacking in many ways. The expensive furnishings and finishes can’t overcome inferior lighting, so budget accordingly for lighting fixtures. 

With the help of these tips, any room in the home can benefit from stunning lighting design. Try different combinations to find the ones that work for your space. This process requires trial and error. However, when you find the perfect combination, you’ll be amazed at how it transforms the space and turns your house into a home that you love and want to share with others.