The proper selection of lights can create a warm, comfortable environment, facilitate after-dark activities, highlight pieces of art or unique architectural features, and more. Homeowners have plenty of choices when it comes to choosing light fixtures, which can be both a blessing and a curse.
Don’t get overwhelmed by all those options. Instead, read on to find a few tips for improving indoor lighting that can make choosing the right fixtures, bulbs, and lighting types easier.
- Create Layers
Correctly placed and well-chosen lights will improve both the ambiance and the practical function of just about any room. Every room should have three layers of light. Homeowners can use the overhead lighting in the form of recessed lights or chandeliers to provide general illumination for the room, but overhead lights can be harsh if they’re being used as the sole sources of illumination.
Homeowners should also incorporate task lighting to illuminate teknion furniture and important areas of the room that their families use frequently after dark. Finally, they should consider accent lighting. Accent lighting can create drama and draw visitors’ attention to certain interesting pieces of art or architectural features of the room.
- Choose the Right Bulbs
Homeowners can choose between three main categories of light bulbs. They are known as incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs, and fluorescent bulbs. Some stores also sell LED bulbs, but they’re just not practical for interior lighting since they only provide directional, not diffused light.
The first of these options is what older homeowners still think of as a stereotypical light bulb.
Incandescent bulbs have lower kelvin ratings, which allows them to produce a warmer, yellow-tinted light.
Halogen bulbs produce white light. They come closer than traditional incandescent lights to reproducing natural daylight. Halogen bulbs are perfect for recessed lighting and under-cabinet lighting.
Most fluorescent lights have higher kelvin ratings, which means they give off cold, blue-tinted light that some homeowners describe as harsh. Homeowners can also find specialized, warm-colored fluorescent lights. They’re best used for overhead, ambient lighting.
- Install Dimmer Switches
Dimmers allow homeowners to alter the quality of their light to suit the time of night or the activity they are performing. Homeowners that want to use dimmers should note that they’re only appropriate for certain types of light bulbs. While homeowners can dim incandescent and halogen bulbs, fluorescent lights can only be set to on or off.
- Make Full Use of Natural Light
Unless they’re choosing light fixtures for their basements, homeowners should make full use of natural light during daylight hours. Exposure to natural sunlight has been scientifically proven to boost vitamin D levels, ward off seasonal depression, improve sleep, and reduce certain health risks.
They can increase the natural light in their rooms by keeping their windows clean and unobstructed, choosing lighter, glossier paints that reflect light more effectively, and installing mirrors in areas of the room that have little natural light.
The Bottom Line
Homeowners should take advantage of natural light during the day and choose the light fixtures they will use throughout the dimmer hours carefully. The purpose of indoor lighting isn’t just to illuminate a space. The right lighting will also create a welcoming atmosphere, make it easier to perform certain tasks at night, and improve the aesthetic appeal of just about any room, so it’s worth investing in new fixtures or even minor renovations to improve the room’s light quality.
