There’s nothing worse than not being able to see what you are trying to do, like cook, clean, or read your book. Many homes don’t have the right amount of lighting, and it’s hard to know what you need, how much you need, and where to put it. The best thing you can do is create a dynamic lighting plan to keep your home well-lit.
Create layered lighting for a well-lit home. You want three types of lighting in your spaces: general, accent, and task. You want a mix of these different types of light for a well-lit home and a versatile and personal lighting system.
Recessed lighting
Recessed lighting is your general lighting. It’s suitable for creating a lot of light in the room and good for cleaning. It works best in kitchens where you need to be able to see while you’re chopping vegetables or scrubbing the counters.
Some designers say recessed lighting is unsuitable for every other room because it awkwardly creates an undesirable look on your ceiling and breaks up a custom accent ceiling. I sort of agree with this. I find it overstimulating in my living rooms because recessed lights are so bright; luckily, I have them on dimmers to quiet the light. But some houses don’t have enough sunlight entering the home, and it can be pretty dark, making a case for recessed lights.
So, if you have recessed lighting, make sure to have them on dimmers and the right color temperature, like 2,700K, so the space is warm and not stark white or too bright. Outside the kitchen, I would use something more like a semi-flush mount light, especially in hallways. They look better, and you can really control the light.
Sometimes, I see living rooms and hallways with too many recessed lights, and it’s better to have fewer lights and semi-flush mounts. Flush mount lights can direct the light all around instead of a recessed light, so it just reflects down to the floor. It’s a subtle but noticeable change. It will give you good light without the extra electrical expense of more lights and look beautiful.
Lamps
Table and floor lamps can be both general and accent lighting and, in some cases, task lighting and are really the best options for most homes. You’ll want 5-7 lamps in each room, and if you have an older style of home like I do, lamps are an excellent choice to give general light while keeping the home’s old-world charm.
Lamps are also great for accent lighting. When we have a movie or game night, I like to turn some lights off and dim others. We have 3-way lamps, so I can control the lighting for what I need. I want to be able to see the TV but also not sit in a dark room. So, being able to control the amount of light is excellent.
Lamps are obviously great for task lighting. A desk lamp to light your keyboard or workspace and a floor lamp for reading. You can really fine-tune how you will use your space with your lighting. For example, if you have a second living space with a fireplace and you want to use this room for games, work, and reading, ensure you have the lighting work for those functions. Choose a floor lamp that facilitates reading or game night and general lighting for having company over.
Under cabinet lights
Under cabinet lights should be used in every kitchen. It’s great for general and task. But it’s also great for ambient lighting. I mentioned movie nights. I like to turn the lights off in the kitchen but keep the undercabinet lights on, so if we need to get a cup of coffee or more ice cream, I can see what I’m doing but won’t blind myself by turning on the recessed lights.
And you can put them under cabinet lights anywhere that makes sense. Especially a bar in a den or coffee bar in the kitchen. Again, a great lighting plan has different types of light you can customize to work with how you use the space.
Focal lighting
Another layer of lighting to add is, I guess what, for now, I am calling focal point lighting. It’s just a nice ambiance but also visually highlights. It creates a focal point with different items, like the above paintings, soft glow spotlighting the fireplace, staircase, or interior cabinet lighting. I love to see paintings with this type of light; it’s just luxurious and calls you to look at a beautiful piece.
Highlighting a fireplace, wallpaper, or collection can be a small detail but can have a significant impact. I’ve seen this a lot on the exterior, but having small lights on each stair is a nice touch and helps you see going down the stairs without turning the lights on. And if you have bookcases or cabinets for your bar, it’s a nice touch to highlight these pieces with some excellent lighting. At night, when you are sitting by the fire or in a cozy space reading a book and sipping on a cup of coffee, it feels special to have this soft glow on your artwork, photography, books, and barware.
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