Lighting Design Tips for Beginners

Creating the perfect lighting scheme for a space can be a tough task. After all, some interior decorators spend their entire careers dedicated to fully understanding this aspect of design! Even if you never become an expert lighting designer, there are plenty of tips that can help you grasp how you can best light the various rooms in your house. This guide features several hints that will help you as you go through this process.

  1. Focus on the light, not the fixture - Lighting design professionals say one of the biggest traps homeowners fall into is focusing too much on the aesthetic of a light fixture and too little on how its light falls in a room. If, for example, you fall in love with a specific overhead fixture, but when it is installed above your dining room table, all diners can see is the bare bulbs underneath, it probably isn’t the right choice. The glare will become frustrating very quickly. If you run into this issue, look for a similar style of fixture that is more appropriate for your space.
  2. Add variety to each room - One of the best ways to avoid “lighting fatigue” is to have a variety of light fixtures in each room of your home. Homeowners sometimes don’t understand that having, for instance, one overhead light and one table lamp in a room might not be sufficient. Over time, you are sure to grow tired of having to use a bright ceiling light for some tasks, such as reading a book in the evening. By placing multiple fixtures, including table lamps, sconces, and even dimmer switches, in a space, you’ll be able to change the type of lighting that is used as needed.
  3. Consider what you do in your spaces - This tip goes along with the previous suggestion, but incorporating appropriate task lighting is a vital part of residential lighting design. If, for instance, you are working on adding new lighting to your kitchen, making sure the area where you chop vegetables is well-lit is crucial. Or, if you're redoing a bathroom, including a vanity with task lighting for makeup application, facial shaving, and other grooming ablutions is essential.
  4. Know your style and stick to it - In some cases, homeowners start choosing new light fixtures before they've really taken the time to consider their personal style. If you don't know what type of aesthetic you want your space to have, you may end up choosing light fixtures that don't complement one another well, ultimately leading to a disjointed look. By taking the time to evaluate the appearance you want for your room, you will be able to choose fixtures that work perfectly together.

Need more Lighting Design help?

These tips should go a long way toward helping you understand the best lighting design practices for your home. However, if you find yourself struggling to develop a plan that works for your space and your lifestyle, don't hesitate to schedule an appointment with a local decorator who specializes in lighting schemes.