Friday Favorites: How to Choose the Right Lighting

What use is creating an incredible design, if you can’t see it? Choosing lighting can be a daunting task. The choices are endless, as well as the styles. How do you begin? Where do you look? I imagine that your first stop is probably Pinterest or Instagram. You screengrab countless options and load them into a board. It’s a jumbled mess. You choose all sorts of different styles, but one of the problems is that you can never remember where the lights came from that you saved. So, you have this board filled with gorgeous photos, but you are no closer to figuring it all out than you were before. It is great that we have so many platforms to research options. However, it can also cause us to be seriously stressed and overwhelmed. The overall lighting in a room can dramatically affect how the room feels and looks. It can even change the perception of how large a room is, so choose your lighting wisely. Now to the tough stuff. How do we figure this all out? Here are some things to think about to help you in the process.

Types of Light to Consider:

Task Lighting is used to illuminate an area where you perform a certain task. Most simply, it’s the under cabinet lighting in your kitchen, laundry room, bar or desk area that lights the surface where you perform a task. Task lighting could also include directional art lighting or reading fixtures.

 

General Lighting:

This is used to illuminate your entire space. Often these are the can lights in a room that provide overall light or non-specific light.

Decorative lighting:

Decorative lighting adds the visual and architectural texture to the space while also providing light. This can include, but is not limited to, sconces, pendants, foyer, and table fixtures that hang from the ceiling.

Lighting Height and Size: 

The first thing you need to examine in the room your choosing your fixtures for is ceiling height. Check your ceiling height and determine how much space you need under it. Is this a pendant or a chandelier? If so, you need to figure out how much chain or chord you will want showing. Many sources will also tell you that size should be kept to a minimum, but we disagree. In fact, we love oversized lighting because it creates a “huge” statement in the room, see what I did there? The other thing to think about is that lighting is one of the easiest things you can change in a room. So, if you decide later you want to go with something a little smaller or more neutral later, it’s an easy fix.

Sconces Anyone?:

If you are going through the design process with us chances are we are suggesting a sconce somewhere! Sconces add beautiful ambiance and take your room from ordinary to #nothingordinary. They can be used to flank your kitchen sink or your bed, as well as in hallways and dining rooms. You can use them really anywhere you want. They are the perfect little accent that packs a lot of punch into a small package. They are definitely one of the most versatile types of lighting available, and the most popular. When in doubt, add a sconce. You will be so happy you did. Here are some great choices.

When to use dimmers on your lights:

Dimmers, did I say dimmers? The answer is that all of your lights should be on dimmers. This creates lighting that is task and mood flexible. When mastering a task like cooking, you can turn those bad boys up, and when you are hosting a dinner party, down goes the light and you completely transform the space. Adding a simple dimmer is the easiest and cheapest way to create versatility in your space. Dim those lights. It is the right decision.

Choosing a finish:

Choosing finishes is also something that can be overwhelming. From brass, to black, there are so many options. But first and foremost, do not get hung up on everything matching. Your lights do not need to match your faucet and hardware. You can choose an array of styles and colors, and as long as they work together and create a complementary palette, then you are golden. Here are a few different examples of lighting styles that complement each other. We hope that this gives you a general direction in which to go.

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of interior design. It makes a house feel like a home and is the number one way to create ambiance and warmth. Lighting is also what gives your room that added sense of style. Illuminate your spaces with ease. Check out some of our favorite places to shop for all of the lighting you could ever need. Let us know if you have any questions about lighting. We are happy to help light up your latest project. Your Karr Bick kitchen, bath, and any space designers are always here to create the design of your dreams. Have a great Friday.

 

https://hudsonvalleylighting.hvlgroup.com/

https://www.circalighting.com/

https://www.shadesoflight.com/

https://www.serenaandlily.com/