Image Credit: Qanvast, Dyel Design 

Lighting plays a major role in the interior of your home. Its main purpose as expected is to illuminate any given space, but it obviously goes much more beyond that. Lighting is without a doubt one of the most important aspects of interior design.  

With lighting, you may be able to create a vibe or change the mood of your home. You may also use it to increase productivity in your workspace, or make a more mellow and peaceful place to rest and take some hours off. There are a lot more that lighting brings to the table. Let’s discuss some facts and ideas you need to know to have interior design success through lighting. 

1. Maximizing Free Light with Natural Light 

There’s only one true free light that you can use for your homes – no electricity, no monthly fee needed to be paid, not even a one time payment required. This is natural light. Maximizing natural light is a very basic key to gaining interior design success with lighting. However, sometimes it’s easier said than done. The most obvious thing to do is to allow entry of natural light through your windows. “Wouldn’t it be too hot or humid especially for the weather we have?”, you may ask. “Is it safe and wouldn’t my privacy be imperiled should I open my windows too much?”, you may also wonder. Fear not, there are tricks you can do to maximize natural light! 

Image Credit: Renopedia, Dyel Design 

Mirrors and mirrored furniture may be used to maximize natural light. Mirrors will create an endless illusion of depth and spaces making the space look larger. Furthermore, with proper placement of mirror, the angle of light can be caught and will be bounced completely to the rest of the area creating brighter and bigger space. 

Image Credit: Renopedia, Distinctidentity Pte Ltd

Proper use of blinds or curtains will also help you in maximizing natural light. Plantation shutters, Venetian blinds, Korean blinds, regular curtains, and others of the like can all help control the amount of light that will enter your home. There are so much more you can do to in terms of maximizing natural light so you may achieve interior design success. Read more here to learn more. 

2. Making a Statement with Lighting 

To achieve interior design success with lighting, it is important to be equally concerned with style as function. One of the best ways to do this is by using your interior lighting to make a statement. The old-fashioned way to make a statement through lighting is by using elegant-looking chandeliers for your living room, dining area, stairwell or open-below areas. This is still practiced to this day. Who would not want a fancy and classic looking home, right? 

Image Credit: Qanvast, SQFT Space Design 

Image Credit: Qanvast, Klaasmen Sdn. Blvd. 

For a more modern way of making a statement through lighting, you may also consider placing a chandelier over a bath. Pendant lamps hanging above vanity cabinets will definitely make a statement. 

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Pendants over the kitchen island are also widely used. On a standard sized kitchen island, three pendant lamps should do the trick. Add more if you have a longer than usual kitchen island.  

Image Credit: Renonation, Free Space Intent 

If you have a foyer, this is also a great place to make a statement with lighting. The living room of course is the most common area of the house to make a statement. 

Shop this here: Luddega EggShell Shape Pendant Lamp 

Finally, don’t be afraid to shake it up and use lighting to make a statement even in your master’s bedroom or guest room. A fancy light hanging above the bed or a simple yet impactful light will definitely make not just a statement but a bold one. 

Check this out: Lacrosheen C-Shape Ring Hanging Lamp 

It is hard not to gain interior design success if you make a statement through lighting. However, try to avoid making your lighting too overbearing. Instead of making a statement, it may be too exaggerated or simply unfitting to your home’s interior. Read more here should you want to learn more on lighting strategies by making a statement. 

3. Knowing What Light to Buy 

Buying lights can be as easy as choosing between yellow or white, hanging or ceiling mounted, and bright or dull. It won’t hurt to go deeper though especially if you’re hands on or doing it yourself.

Commercially speaking, light bulbs particularly LEDs are sold in wattages. If you choose to go to your nearest hardware or Home Depot, the salesman or saleswoman will ask you where you will install the light and how many watts of light you prefer. For a standard sized room (around 6-8 square meters) with a standard ceiling height (2.7-2.9m) and single source lighting, 12 Watts of light will often be recommended. The 12 Watts give you the amount of power consumed by said bulb. It is nice to know the wattage especially if you are watching out for your electric consumption. However, there is a better unit of measurement you should ask the salesman – lumens. 

Image Credit: Renopedia, Luxespace Interior 

Lumens are far more accurate measurement of the amount of light emitted by the bulb. Make sure to ask for more details or simple look at the back of the box. Depending on the brand and the model of the lighting fixture, a 12 watt light sold to you by Brand A may declare 1,125 lumens while Brand B may declare 1,250 lumens. 

Image Credit: Renonation, D5 Studio Image 

Choose the light with the higher lumens measure as it will surely give you more light. As they say, a bright home is a bigger home. Also be mindful of what color of light you will choose to buy. This will be explained further in a while. 

4. Paying Attention to Finer Details is Key 

In interior design, the finer details should not be taken for granted. As they say, “attention to detail always matters”. This is something that should be prioritized as early as the interior design planning stage. Imagine having your kitchen, study, or simply your utility room designed around your specific needs. With this, you can have a functional interior while also making sure it will be aesthetically pleasing. If this isn’t interior design success then what else could it be, right? 

Image Credit: Home Reno Guru, 9 Creation Pte Ltd 

Here are some home lighting finer detail tips: 

• Sockets should be placed directly or at least close to where your table lamps will be situated. If you want to avoid exposed wires, cords, or mouldings, avoid table lamps. 
• For small areas, use track lights or wall lights instead of table lamps that may occupy table space 
• Use of wall lamps are also highly recommended as table lamps will expose unwanted chords 

Check this out: Aslaug Marble Ring Wall Lamp 

• Position accent lighting just above eye level. This will illuminate the room without casting unflattering shadows Task lights should be positioned on spaces where you will be doing specific activities requiring light 

Get this here: LED Tracklight Spotlight Pack 

• Plan ahead whether you will be needing daylight (whitish light) or warm white (yellowish light) for every room. 
• Flexibility is key. Two way lights with both yellow and white lights are highly recommended if you have the choice 
• If you’re aware of deficiencies or uneven walls and ceiling, avoid directing light towards it. This may be an eyesore to you and your guests 

Image Credit: Renonation, The Real Design 

5. The Right Type of Lighting for Different Areas 

Researches have shown that lighting greatly affects productivity. It’s been tested and proven that home interior lighting mimicking natural daylight can make anyone more alert and hence less sleepy. For those working at home, this may mean more productivity and efficiency. 

Image Credit: Renopedia, Free Space Intent 

The ultimate tip is to choose daylight or whitish light to areas where productivity is expected to be high. This includes your home office. If you also do particular work on other parts of your room, then daylight should be the main lighting source for said rooms. 

Image Credit: Renopedia, Starry Homestead 

Check this out: Marika Long Arm Wall Lamp

On the contrary, for rooms that require relaxation and being less alert, warm white or the yellow type of light should be installed. This is especially important for your bedroom especially before you sleep. For entertainment areas where you’re expected to watch television, sing karaoke, or simply chill, yellow lights are also highly recommended. 

Image Credit: Renonation, Douubble Interior Associates 

As mentioned previously, having flexibility is best and having multiple lights will do more good than harm. This means not relying solely on a single basic overhead lighting. Instead, provide alternative lights such as recessed pinlights, cove lights, or track lights that have contrasting color of light with your general lighting. It’s alway better to have diversity. 

 

Conclusion

There is no doubt that there are many things you can do to achieve success in lighting. Knowledge is important and you have surely learned at least a thing or two about lighting and some particular techniques on how to improve it. Now you obviously can’t settle with simply knowing – you also have to act on it and achieve interior design success with lighting. Follow the aforementioned tips, do more research, and don’t hesitate to explore your creative juices and you’ll surely come up with your dream home. Good luck!