Home Lighting Done Right

February 9, 2017

5 min read

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At first glance, lighting your home may seem like a cinch. You just need a few lamps, right? Plug them in and flip the switch. Well, it’s not quite that easy. Properly lighting your home can be stress-free if you know a few tricks, but without guidance, you may be lost in the dark—literally. A poorly lit home can make a significant impact on how your home is experienced. Lighting allows you to draw attention to key points in your home and keeps you from straining your eyes in the wee hours of the morning. To ensure your home is bright and brilliant, here are a few simple tricks to remember.

Think in Layers

Home decorators often refer to ‘light layers,’ but what are they? Adding light layers means utilizing a variety of light sources with varying degrees of intensity for different purposes. By establishing a dynamic field of lights, you can make a room more functional while also defining its space in an aesthetically pleasing manner. The three main light layers are general/ambient, task, and accent.

General Lighting: General lighting is the largest layer. It illuminates the majority of the room, making sure no one trips on the rug or runs into the coffee table. It’s also the most essential. If you had to choose one light source, this will fulfill your basic needs. It’s typically made up of one or several light fixtures on the ceiling.

Task Lighting: Task lighting is the second most significant layer. It’s made up of smaller fixtures in numerous places and helps make life a little bit easier. Whether it brightens up the book you’re reading or makes sure you don’t hurt yourself when cutting potatoes, it ensures you can see the task at hand.

Accent Lighting: Accent lighting is the smallest but most decorative layer. This is the lighting that really ties the room together by enhancing small details. They’re usually found inside china cabinets, small coves, or around a decorative trim. Accent lighting also illuminates areas that the general lighting doesn’t quite reach. They may seem insignificant, but it’s by far the best way to make a room seem fuller and more vibrant.

Let the Room Guide the Lights

In many cases, the room will help guide you on which types of lights you need. It’s nice to have a balanced amount of layers, but in many cases, you’ll end up using a certain type more than others. As a general guide, here are the most common types of lights you’ll use in each room.

Living Room: The living room is a great place to flex your light wings with a nice balance of general, task, and accent lighting. Flush or semi-flush-mount lighting is great for ambient lighting, while track lighting and a few strategically placed lamps are perfect for task lights.

Dining Room: The dining room is all about gathering around the table, so it’s best to have it properly lit up for family and friends to enjoy a delicious meal or other activities. For ambient or general lighting, a chandelier is always a safe option. If you want to mix things up a bit, try hanging a few pendant lights to add a personal touch.

Kitchen: Task lighting is a must in the kitchen. In fact, it will most likely have the most task lights in the whole house. It’s important to be able to see what you’re doing clearly when cutting up food or cooking on the stove, so consider installing them above the areas you frequently use. If you have an island, one or several pendants can make a nice addition for when your family gathers in the kitchen. And of course, don’t forget about accent lighting. Illuminating a decorative trim can turn an ordinary kitchen into something extraordinary.

Restroom: Much like the kitchen, restrooms should have a heavy amount of task lighting, especially above the sink and in the shower. Depending on the look and feel of your restroom, vanity lighting above the mirror and accent wall sconces are always a safe option. If you need a little ventilation with your illumination, consider installing a fanlight.

Bedroom: It’s important to create a relaxing atmosphere in the bedroom, so consider dialing back the bulb wattage a bit. You’ll still need ambient lighting, perhaps from a ceiling fan, but task lighting should be the main focus in these rooms. Bedside lamps or wall sconces are perfect for reading in bed, and if you have a corner chair, a nearby arc lamp might be a perfect addition.

Looking for other ways to brighten up your home? During Britton Homes’ New Year—New Home Savings Event, you can get up to $25,000 in design center upgrades, including flooring, cabinets, countertops, and of course—lighting! Before you know it, this incredible offer will be gone. Contact Britton Homes today to learn more about this once in a lifetime opportunity.