9 tips and tricks for great lighting in every room

Lighting is an essential part of any home decor scheme. From lightbulb basics to fashionable fixtures, here are nine ways to create stylish and functional lighting solutions throughout your home.

[Photo Credit: LEKSTOCK 3D]

1. Mix sources and styles
Each room in your house should feature a mix of lighting sources that create visual interest and allow you to adjust brightness levels. Pendants, table lamps, sconces, flush mounts, and floor lamps are just a few of the lighting options available, and fixtures come in an endless array of finishes, sizes, and aesthetic styles. Most designers recommend incorporating at least two to three different types of lighting in each room to achieve a thoughtfully illuminated space with layers of light that blend well together.

2. Choose the right bulbs
The size, shape, strength, and hue of the lightbulbs you use in your fixtures will have a major impact on the type of light that’s cast throughout your home. For a residential space, experts typically recommend that homeowners avoid blue-tinged fluorescent bulbs that can feel cold and flat. Instead, create a warm and cozy glow with incandescent bulbs or opt for halogen bulbs that imitate natural daylight.
 
3. Use reflective surfaces
When decorating your home with stylish accents and furnishings, think about how the light in each room is reflected. Light will bounce off mirrors, windows, and metallic surfaces, so be mindful of how these elements work to enhance your direct light sources. Try placing a mirror behind a floor lamp or opposite a window to help reflect and redirect light back into the room and brighten up dark corners.

4. Blend old and new
While your overall decor scheme should feel true to the period of your home, don’t be afraid to introduce contrasting lighting styles. Add charm and character to a new home with an antique crystal chandelier or a lamp with a vintage shade. Generate brightness in a historic house by installing overhead pot lights or a mid-century sputnik fixture.

5. Make lighting work for you
When designing a lighting scheme for your home, ask yourself what purpose you need the lights to serve in each room. Kitchens are task-oriented spaces that require dedicated lighting; directed ceiling pot lights, glowing pendants, and under-counter LED strips or puck lights can provide functional brightness for work surfaces. Bathrooms require flattering light fixtures that are bright without being harsh, while bedrooms warrant soft, ambient light with lamps or sconces for bedtime reading.

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6. Set the mood with dimmers
If you’re updating the lighting in a multi-purpose room, consider adding a dimmer switch to overhead fixtures to give you more control over the brightness in the space. Dimmers not only allow you to adjust the lighting to suit a specific time of day or function. They’ll also prolong the lifespan of your bulbs and reduce energy consumption.
 
7. Consider stylish scones
Artistic wall scones flanking a bathroom mirror or above a fireplace will brighten up your space while making an elegant statement. However, these fixtures can be tricky and expensive to mount as you’ll need to hire an electrician to install a dedicated junction box for each light source. For a simple alternative to hardwired fixtures, invest in battery-operated wireless scones that are activated with remote control.

8. Highlight architectural surfaces
Create a contemporary look throughout your home with tasteful built-in lighting or subtle LED strips. Recessed accent lights can be used to highlight a coffered ceiling or crown moldings, or can be placed along open shelving to showcase favourite collectibles.

9. Incorporate alternate light sources
Purchase accessories to add a finishing touch to your home’s lighting plan and create a moody ambience. Flickering taper or pillar candles on tabletops and inside decorative lanterns will generate a warm ambient glow and cast playful shadows. If you’re concerned about fire safety, LED candles make a convincing, kid-friendly alternative.