The idea of picking lighting may seem like an easy task, but stop and think about it for a minute. How does it need to function in the space? Are you looking for general lighting, task lighting, "mood lighting"?
Do you like warm or cool light? You may have heard of lighting described as having a color temperature. This is simply telling you if the light is going to appear warmer (yellow) or cooler (whiter). If you are attracted to cooler tones, such as blues and greens, you may want your home lit with cooler or whiter light. However, if you are drawn to the warmer tones, or enjoy warmer reds, yellows and oranges, you may want to consider a warmer light in your home. A good color temperature for a bulb is 3000K (kelvin-a unit of measure of heat energy or temperature based on an absolute scale).
You may want varying layers of light in certain areas. Take your bedroom for example, you may have general overhead lighting for the room, and add bedside lamps of some sort, done deal right! Perhaps not, are you a night owl that can't put the book down and you need some type of reading light that won't disturb your partner's beauty sleep? Secondary lighting that is specifically for reading, that can be directed exactly where you want it, is a great idea.
Lighting in your bathroom is another issue to deal with. Many of us have the unflattering lights, over the mirrors that give us dark shadows across our faces when looking into the mirror. The addition of sconces, mounted at eye level on either side of the mirror, will help with this problem and even out the light across our faces. This will be very important when you are shaving, or applying makeup. The addition of dimmers in the bathroom allows your eyes to adjust in the morning.
Kitchen lighting is also important. If your kitchen has an island, it's important to light it correctly. Hanging fixtures can provide ambient light and task lighting, while adding character and beauty to the room. Generally speaking, the more lights you are installing over an island, the simpler the fixture should be. Any chosen fixture can look plain and boring, but when multiples are used something happens and it makes a statement in the room. Do you want to utilize under cabinet lighting? Under cabinet lighting is very popular, acting as additional task lighting as well as ambient lighting, having the ability to dim under cabinet lighting is always appreciated.
So we have mentioned the way the lights need to function in our homes. Now what do we do about the style of the lighting. Chandeliers are available to suit everyone's taste. Are you a traditionalist or a trend setter? Will you consider mixing it up and having an unexpected shape placed over your very traditional dining table? What should the finish look like, how about mixing metal finishes in a room in order to add interest? When considering table lamps, are you a person who needs symmetry, or do you enjoy the expressing yourself with different, but relatable light fixtures in the same room? Neither is wrong, it's simply a matter of taste. Lamps can make a big statement in a room and are very easy to change if you tire of the "look."
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