Lighting a Room Properly

Written by Lee Wyatt (last updated October 16, 2019)

Have you ever noticed how you can have a room "perfectly" decorated, only to feel that there is still something off about the room? Chances are pretty good that the reason you are feeling like this is that you aren't lighting the room properly. Lighting a room properly can have a huge, though immeasurable, impact that will literally make or break your design scheme. Here are a few things that you should keep in mind to ensure that you are doing it the right way.

  • Evaluate your needs. When lighting a room properly, the first thing that you should do is evaluate your needs. Basically what this means is you should consider the major purpose of the room, and how often it will be used. For example, are you lighting a bedroom, a family room, or a dinning room? Generally speaking, you want enough light so that everyone can see comfortably, but not blind everyone. In addition, you will also want to accent any task areas, decorative elements and so forth.
  • Placement. When you are thinking of where to place the lights in your room, keep in mind what you have for your needs. These needs will tell you exactly where you should place the lights, if not the types of lighting you want to use. General lighting is typically placed on the ceiling, where as ambiance lighting is along the edges of the room. Accent lighting is either placed where it can highlight a specific area or item.
  • Types of lighting. There are literally hundreds of types of lighting that you could choose from, and each one has their own unique use, in addition to how they can affect the overall look of a room. The best way to evaluate the types of lighting available is to go to your local home improvement store and take a look at what is offered. This will allow you to see what they look like in use, and give you a feel for how they work. Some of the more commonly used types of lighting are things like recessed lighting, wall sconces, table lamps, floor lamps, reading lamps, track lighting, and so on.
  • Decorating scheme. As you are evaluating the different types of lighting available, you should also take the time to consider how they will look in your room. In addition to providing light, lamps and other lighting sources will have a unique look as well. This look should work with the overall decorating scheme that you have for your home.

Now that you know the basic secrets of lighting a room properly, you can begin implementing them. Keep in mind that you may have to do a bit of trial and error to really ensure you have the final look you want. After all, every room is different, and so is how everyone looks at that particular room.

Author Bio

Lee Wyatt

Contributor of numerous Tips.Net articles, Lee Wyatt is quickly becoming a regular "Jack of all trades." He is currently an independent contractor specializing in writing and editing. Contact him today for all of your writing and editing needs! Click here to contact. ...

MORE FROM LEE

Common Garden Diseases

If you are a gardener, or even thinking of gardening, you will need to be able to identify some of the more common garden ...

Discover More

Decorating a Deck

Decks can be a wonderful addition to any landscaping scheme, as long as they are decorated properly. Basically, ...

Discover More

Do Fog Lights Really Help in Fog?

Fog lights have become an increasingly common piece of equipment on just about every kind of four wheel vehicle there is ...

Discover More

Cordless, Compact, and Powerful! DeWalt's 18-volt drill-driver kit packs a big punch in a small package, with a powerful high-performance motor tucked away inside a compact design. A great addition to the tool chest of any professional or DIYer! Check out DeWalt 18-Volt Drill/Driver Kit today!

More Home Improvement Tips

Bringing the Outdoors In When Decorating

No, I am not talking about that weird inside-out night club from "A Night at the Roxbury." What I am talking about is ...

Discover More

Making Your Own Slip Covers

If you are looking for a change in decorating, consider making slip covers for your furniture. This will allow you to get ...

Discover More

Creating Infused Oils at Home

Infused oils are just one aspect of the alternative medicine practice called Aromatherapy. Derived from plants, infused ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 2 + 2?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)