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Types of lighting in a home
Today, there are endless ways to utilise light but first and foremost is looking and observing the natural light that comes into a room or a space. It is important to note that natural light looks different throughout the day. Ultimately, you want to make the most of a well sunlit room because it feels natural and calm. For a room that has plenty of sunlight coming through we may suggest lightweight or light-coloured curtains or shutters to make the most of the warm sun light coming in.
More often, when an abundance of natural light is not available, and you are looking to change the mood of a room we look to artificial light. It can make or break the feel of a room. The most important evaluation when looking to replace the lighting is to ask what are the main tasks being done in a room. For functional spaces like kitchens and home offices, they require more light that is brighter. For anyone that wants the room to be very bright and see clearly then we would recommend a ‘cool coloured bulb’ with a blue cast, but personally I always prefer a warm bulb in all rooms as it’s softer. Hallways need to be light and welcoming, dining rooms should have a combination of lighting so that you can create different moods where reception rooms and bedrooms require mood lighting so that they are calm and more relaxing spaces. For all these spaces I would always recommend ‘warm coloured bulbs’ with a yellow cast.
When looking to light up a room there are three elements to take into account;
- Task lighting – where you can have a pinpoint on the work you are meant to be doing ie washing dishes or chopping onions (if you like onions of course), reading, working, sewing, etc
- Accent lighting – where there are interesting features in the room that can be highlighted ie: pictures, inside or underneath cabinetry/shelving, colour changing uplighters.
- General lighting – to sum up the lighting and make sure there is enough light to go around.
Styles of lighting
Main types of lighting to light your home and where you would use them would be downlights or spotlights, chandeliers, pendant lights which are very much on-trend. Floor lights or Led light strip lights help guide the resident also adding style.
There are trends to match all these types of lighting and we will highlight some of the exciting ones here:
Geometric shapes can be found for both task and general light but when doing so the latest trend is to think big. Sharp edges and metallic cages are right on par for some interesting light fixtures above a coffee table, or dining room as well as over a kitchen island. And this can suit your specific metallic preference because there is a wide range of colours to choose from.
Get creative!
The use of natural and organic materials is on trend and goes hand in hand with the world’s eco-friendly interior design movement. Using bent wood, raffia, rattan, linen lamp shades are very popular with glass or marble/stone lamp bases and a great way to take on this trend and translate it to accent lighting or general lighting.
Naked Bulb pendants are trending big as it is the epitome of minimalist lighting. These bulbs can be found in a huge variety of sizes, shapes, styles and colours, some look antique, iridescent, mirrored, and it’s not just the bulb, there are unusual, shaped filaments. These are then hung with wonderful cables, again in different thickness, textures, colours, and patterns. Finishing it off with a unique lamp holder and rose which can found be in any colour metal and sometimes even in wood! A light I designed recently had wooden lamp holders, large Edison warm coloured bulbs and five different coloured cables, which we wrapped around an old ladder hanging from the ceiling. We worked with Creative Cables on this project and the outcome was an unique lighting fixture.
Lighting Ideas
It is extremely important to take lighting into consideration as one of the first stages in your newly designed home as lighting IS the ambience. With such a wide range of colours, styles, price, and suppliers to choose from it is crucial to really understand your personal style first and then do your evaluation of the room to get vibe you want to emanate.
Get in touch with us today to discuss some lighting ideas!
Flippa Interiors
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