Indoor lighting is about more than making a room illuminated when the sun goes down. Indoor lighting is also about aesthetics, visual comfort, and interior design. When installing indoor lighting, there are many things homeowners need to think about that ranges from safety to looks to energy efficiency. If you are redoing the indoor lighting system in your home, here are several tips to keep in mind:
Consider the “Layer” of Lighting When Buying Bulbs
Interior designers categorize lighting in a room based on “layers,” or the level of illumination. The typical overhead ceiling lights that illuminate the whole room is known as general lighting. Lighting that illuminate a certain surface, like a reading desk, is called task lighting. More decorative lights like mood lights are called accent lighting. When you buy bulbs, you have to keep this illumination layer in mind. Obviously, you wouldn’t want a powerful LED bulb for decorative lighting. Choose the bulbs based on the location of the room or furniture as well. For example, you would want a small bulb or a lamp for task lighting in a study.
Buy the Right Supporting Structures
When you buy new lights, you shouldn’t just buy the bulb and the fixture. Consider the wiring system the light will be connected to. If there’s an old switch already in the room, would is actually be able to support the new light? You should ask an electrician about buying new plug bases for new lighting systems. It’s an essential part of installing new lights, but one that homeowners may not pay much attention to. The right base can make the light fixture more energy efficient and safer.
Buy Light Fixtures with Dimmers
Dimmer controls on lights are highly recommended for bedrooms. You can adjust the level of brightness suiting your mood. You can have a very bright light for getting dressed, for example, and a duller source of light in evenings before sleep. Dimmers are useful for living rooms and even kitchens. Who doesn’t want to dim the lights for watching a movie or a romantic evening? Buying dimmers will prevent the need to install different bulbs with different brightness levels.
Buy Pendant Lights for Unconventional Spaces
Want to illuminate the kitchen counters under the cabinets, the kitchen island, and the folding area in a laundry room? When you have small and rather unconventional spaces that need lighting, choose pendant lights. These bulbs are compact, and more importantly, flexible. It’s easy to adjust the height of pendant lights, which makes them perfect for cramming into small spaces without causing discomfort to the eyes. Designers can also arrange pendant lights in various stylish ways that makes the lighting look like a work of art inside a room.
Pay Careful Attention to Position
Position is everything when installing lights, especially overhead lights. Extra care must be taken to avoid casting overhead shadows. If you have electronics like ceiling fans in the room, the wrong position will really affect how the room receives light. Therefore, carefully plan before choosing a position for the lights.
And don’t forget overall energy efficiency levels. When you buy the bulbs, make sure you purchase energy star rated bulbs known to consume less electricity for the brightness generated.