How to choose the best lighting for every room in your house
Halls, foyers, and stairways
In these areas, you should use decoration and lighting for a good first impression. Your foyer is the first thing that guests see when they enter your home, so it should represent your whole décor. To create a welcoming atmosphere and provide basic lighting in your hallway, you should install a close-to-ceiling fixture or traditional chandelier.
You can also make your artwork come to life by using halogen lights from adjustable or track recessed down lights. Mirrors can also add a decorative touch to your foyer. Whatever you do, make sure you size the decorative feature for your foyer. This means that if you have a large space, you should go for a large fixture.
For safety reasons, hallways and stairways should be well lit. You should light your stairs from top to bottom with switches in both areas. Make sure that your lighting fixtures are eight to ten feet apart to avoid accidents.
Living areas
You can use lights to bring out the best out of your living areas. You can dramatize wall textures, enhance the room’s ambiance, and accent your artwork in the living room. A variety of lighting fixtures can work for both accent and general lighting needs.
When lighting a general area, use recessed lighting, which is a great choice since the light source is hidden. If your ceilings are low, you can use LED low bay lighting because you would not need that much light. Wall sconces, lamps, and close-to-ceiling fixtures are also a great choice for providing ample lighting.
Although fixtures with arms are the most popular form of wall lighting, you can opt for wall sconces because they are gaining popularity when it comes to accent lighting. To make a room come alive by wall washing, accenting artwork, or grazing, you should opt for track or recessed lighting. Do you have limited table space? You can try wall lamps.
Dining room
In your dining room, you should create a focal point by using the right light fixture. It should satisfy your general lighting needs while satisfying your general lighting needs. Whether your dining style is laid back or casual, you need to select a fixture that reflects you. For general lighting, you should use a pendant or chandelier: they are excellent light sources for setting the right tone.
You also need some accent lights in your dining room. Do this by aiming an adjustable recessed fixture on a table. You can provide sconces on both sides of a hutch or china cabinet.
Kitchen
Your kitchen is probably the busiest place in your house. Not only do you prepare meals there but your whole family also gathers there. Therefore, you need sufficient lighting to carry out all your culinary needs.
You should sketch a kitchen plan that focuses on the most active areas then choose the type of light that each place requires: accent, general, or decorative. When choosing fluorescent fixtures, you should opt for decorative ones. To prevent cabinet shadows on your counters, you need to install cabinet lighting.
Once you figure out how to light up these key areas, you should start thinking about how you will light up your bathroom, bedrooms, as well as the exterior of your home.
