You’ve arranged every room of your home the way you like it and in accordance with the rules of interior design, but somehow you still feel uncomfortable at home? Well, it’s time to think about the right lighting arrangement for each room.
Lighting plays an essential role in the atmosphere of your home and the general mood, but it also determines the level of comfort you’ll be feeling in your everyday life.
Every room has different requirements when it comes to lighting as they all serve different purposes.
In this article, we’ll cover these requirements and help you choose the proper lighting for each room in your home.
What are the Types of Lighting Every Room Needs
Home lighting is separated into three categories depending on its main function: ambient, accent, and task lighting. Ambient provides general lighting, while accent lighting has a decorative function and sets a mood. Task lighting is used in areas where you need more lighting to perform certain tasks.
In terms of lighting fixtures, there are also a few general types, each of them suitable for different needs.
The most common lighting fixtures include:
- Pendant Lights;
- Surface;
- Portable;
- Recessed;
- Outdoor;
- Track Lights.
Below we cover the best type of lighting for each room in terms of functionality and types of fixtures.
Living Room
The living room is where we spend most of our leisure time at home and we use the room for many different types of activities. The lighting should be adaptable to fit different needs.
Track lighting fixtures are a good option for living rooms because they can be directed in any direction we need them to point. They can serve as task, accent, and ambient lighting.
Overhead pendants are also a good option that provides general lighting that we need no matter what we do in the living room.
Kitchen
The kitchen is the room in which we generally perform different tasks, so it needs a lot of different layered lighting fixtures. You will need a general lighting source such as pendants and recessed lighting fixtures.
It’s good to install them over the busiest areas in which you most often perform tasks like prepping and cooking. Pendants are also a popular fixture to install over kitchen islands.
Under and above cabinet lights are popular task lighting fixtures for kitchens as they not only provide a stylish accent but prove extremely convenient.
LED bulbs are the best choice for the kitchen as they are extremely energy efficient and allow you to use them often without having to pay extreme electricity bills.
Dining Room
The dining room is the heart of the home. It’s when we socialize with our close ones, tell stories, and share what troubles or excites us in our daily lives. The room needs a welcoming atmosphere that creates a sense of intimacy, but it should also provide enough lighting for big gatherings of family and friends.
Recessed lights and ceiling fixtures like pendants are the right choices for the dining room but if you want to really elevate the look and take it to the next level, then that’s the room to place a chandelier in.
Wall scones are also a good option that creates a romantic atmosphere and adds a touch of elegance.
Bathroom
Safety is a keyword when it comes to bathroom lighting. Regular pendants and wall scones are not advisable to place in the bathroom.
Choose fixtures that are labeled at least IP67.
This combination of letters and numbers shows the level of safety of the fixtures and their resilience against water and mechanical damage.
Bedroom
The bedroom should instantly give you a relaxing vibe and allow you to calm down in an atmosphere of serenity. It’s important to provide ambient lighting there too but the most important thing is to include task lighting for reading that creates a dimmed-down atmosphere. LED bulbs with dimmers are the best choice for bedrooms.
A chandelier is a good option for bringing elegance to your bedroom but make sure that you’re not choosing a bulb that’s too bright. You will need a bulb with warm light because cold blue light impairs the production of melatonin which is the hormone of sleep.
Standing lamps and bedside lamps that stand on the bedside cabinets are the essentials of bedroom lighting.
Hallway
The hallway is a transitional area that doesn’t have such specific lighting requirements but you should still make sure it provides enough lighting so that people can comfortably go from one room to another.
Wall-mounted fixtures are a popular choice for the area as they not only provide sufficient amounts of lighting but can also be placed over artworks to accentuate them.
Chandeliers are a good option if you have large hallways and you want to add a touch of class and elegance.
