Lighting is everything when it comes to creating the desired atmosphere at home. Not only can it transform our physical space, but it can also have an impact on our behavior and mood. But how do you light a room properly? From adding neon wall art to maximizing natural light, the options are endless. We‘ve reached out to the experts in lighting and design from Miami, FL to Salt Lake City, UT to provide you with a few tips and tricks for transforming your home lighting into something magnificent.
Keep functionality top of mind when lighting a room
First, there must be an understanding of how the space needs to function in order to create the correct mood and functionality. Don’t over-light a space, and always be sensitive to the natural light available. If recessed “down” lighting is critical for the general lighting in the space, the addition of a ceiling “cove” can enhance the area. Mood can be additionally amplified by adding hidden floor lighting disguised by either seating, plants, or furniture. Task lighting such as table, floor, sconce, and counter fixtures always lend an added accent to enhance a space. – Joe Ginsberg Design
Stay on trend with neon wall art
Consume less energy
Neon wall art adds a lot to a space. It lights up plain interiors, brings a ‘party feel’, and can add a fun and relaxed touch, from words and phrases to various images and models. Between the glow, personality, and color, neon signs allow people to emotionally feel the presence of art in their spaces, regardless of whether the lights are on or off. Not only that, but neon signs are an amazing way to light up your space in the most eco-friendly way. Neon signs are remarkably energy efficient, making it easy to reduce your carbon footprint. These colorful decorations are not only stylish but long-lasting as well. – Tapestry Girls
Add neon sign art anywhere in the home
Incorporate neon wall art anywhere in your home. Think about the living room, bedroom, entertainment rooms, children’s room, and even the garage. Wall art always has a special meaning for people, regardless of whether it’s a phrase, logo, image, or a custom design. It’s a light that inspires something positive. – Neon Signs Depot
The illumination of your life begins with neon sign art
You don’t have to be the latest trendy bar or restaurant downtown to incorporate the pizzazz of vibrant neon signs in your home decor. Whether you want to evoke the razzle-dazzle of the roaring twenties or the chill calm of retro-cool South Beach summers, neon wall art is a great way to light your room. You can create a sign designed for your life. – Nuwave Neon
Choose from a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes
More and more homeowners have been incorporating neon wall art into their homes to add a warm and cool feeling to their home decor. These neon signs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and you can choose from a wide range of colors, creating an impactful and eye-catching art deco. – Neon Rooms
Take advantage of smart controls
One benefit of using smart lighting controls is that most smart switches are dimmers. This allows you to be in control of the lighting levels in your home. Dimming can have a drastic effect on how a room looks and feels. When lights are not dimmed, the room feels totally different than when dimmed or at various levels. Finally, controlling lighting around your home during parties and events can really make your home pop. – Fultech Solutions
Don’t underestimate the value of a focal point or centerpiece
The proximity of fixtures to gathering spaces is crucial
Chandeliers are the hearth of the modern home, a gathering place to enjoy family and friends to cook, eat, share stories, and relax at the end of the day. Make sure your fixtures are close enough to the gathering area to feel intimate and inviting. Think of these fixtures as a campfire you want to gather around to feel the warmth. Consider the color temperature of the bulbs. Use 1800k to 3000k light bulbs and make sure they are fully dimmable. – Form & Reform
First, determine where your artwork will live
Before you think about lighting, plan out where your unique art pieces are going to be installed. Then go back and design a lighting plan that provides recessed cans where you need them. The height of your ceiling will dictate how far away the fixtures should be. Think about how far your lamps need to swivel in order for the light to be directed towards the center of the artwork. Good lighting is everything in a home. – John Robert Wiltgen Design, Chicago
Versatility is key to transforming your home lighting
When lighting a room, balance and versatility are key. Rather than relying on one kind of light to suit every need, installing two or more styles creates multiple focal points, greatly increasing the versatility of your space. Lamps are a great alternative when you don’t need the whole room to be lit, and wall lights and pendant lights can also be used to create unique and purposeful solutions. Consider installing wall lights around your bathroom mirror as a more focused light for grooming, or add low-hanging pendants above bedside tables for a clutter-free alternative to night-time reading. – Fat Shack Vintage
Create layers of light for a functional and polished look
Elevate your home with the right fixtures
The right light fixtures can instantly elevate your home from basic to stunning. To properly light your space, It’s best to have multiple light sources in a room to create a layered look. For example, a gorgeous ceiling mount generates calm ambient lighting, reading lamp creates focused lighting, and picture lights produce accent lighting. Lighting is a great way to express style and make your home pop. – Allison Ruda Interior Design
Incorporate smart bulbs into your home lighting design
Smart bulbs are a great way to light a room. A light bulb that adapts the color temperature to fit the needs of your home and your specific mood is key. Layer light at different heights and at different points of the room so your whole room is lit and feels multidimensional. If your space only has overhead lights, consider adding sconces and/or table lamps to help fill the space up. – Tina Ramchandani Creative, New York
Cover your bases with ambient, task, and accent lighting
We believe in the power of light to create an atmosphere, but there are a few key principles to keep in mind when doing so in your home. It’s important to consider how you can strategically create layers of light in your space. This is done through a combination of task (or focal) lighting, ambient lighting, and a touch of sparkle.
Focal lighting delivers targeted illumination for more demanding tasks, which is great for work surfaces like kitchen counters and desks. Ambient lighting delivers general illumination and brightness throughout the space, perfect for living areas. Sparkle creates an element of glow and creates a sense of well-being in addition to adding visual interest to a space. Use this over the dining room table, in an entryway, and around statement vignettes.
You can also achieve a higher quality of light using dimmable LED fixtures with a color rendering index (CRI) of 80 or above and by using a consistent color temperature (CCT) throughout your home. 2700k is the CCT most commonly used in residential settings and provides a warm, white temperature. – RBW
Maximize your access to natural light
The best thing you can do to light your home is to maximize access to natural light. Throughout the day, there are subtle color changes that directly impact our bodies and influence how alert we are. When we don’t have access to natural light, we are disconnected from these natural rhythms. This affects our sleep patterns and how we feel.
For those living in homes without a lot of natural light, there are light bulbs that you can purchase called “full-spectrum” bulbs. These can be helpful in areas like a home office or breakfast nook where access to the full spectrum of light can be helpful. – Gala Magriña Design
Vary your LED’s
Good lighting has the power to transform the look and feel of any room. You can easily switch up the energy of a space by swapping out your current light bulbs. Create an inviting glow in living rooms, bedrooms, and common areas by installing warm LED light bulbs. For optimal lighting in functional areas like kitchens, home offices, and laundry rooms, cool white LED bulbs are best, especially when you need to pay attention to the details. – The Home Lighting Shop
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