Lighting for Great Ambiance

Lighting in interior design is paramount because it affects us physically and mentally in all spaces of our homes. Read on for tips to create dynamic lighting in your home and to enhance your mood across each area of your space.

One aspect of lighting which is important to consider is the temperature. This refers to how warm or cool the lighting is and it’s measured in Kelvins. Warmer light is on the low end of the scale while cooler light is on the high end. With lighting, you can change the color of the room just by brightening or dimming it. It’s much easier to change lighting that it is to paint a wall a new color. Proper lighting can also change the shape and size of a room. One aspect of lighting which is important to consider is the temperature. This refers to how warm or cool the lighting is and its measured in Kelvins. Warmer light is on the low end of the scale while cooler light is on the high end. With lighting, you can change the color of the room just by brightening or dimming it. Its much easier to change lighting that it is to paint a wall a new color. Proper lighting can also change the shape and size of a room.

Warm lighting is good for relaxation in living rooms, bedrooms and dining rooms. In a multipurpose space, you’re likely to need a variety of different kinds of lighting for different times of day which is where light layering can prove useful. By layering your light, you can have plenty of cool, practical light during the daytime, before transitioning your space into a cozy and welcoming environment for entertaining guests.

“Our association of orange-ish light with feelings of warmth and relaxation is probably evolutionary and originates from our earliest ancestors who, for both warmth and safety from predators, made sure to light a fire at night.” -David Hakimi, Alcon Lighting Co-Founder

Cooler lighting is good for focusing such as in offices or bathrooms. Many designers prefer natural lighting over the intensity of cool lighting. We love this stunning chandelier above my bathtub in the bathroom. Add a touch of luxury to your self-care routine! This lighting is known as decorative lighting.

When lighting a room with high ceilings, consider the natural light available, what the space will be used for and the look you are aiming to create. High ceilings allow for large flashy lights like a chandelier to really highlight the large space. Below are chandeliers from the Ciao Interiors showroom.

Wall sconces create a softer, warmer look than overhead lighting. The below sconces are the Melange Elongated from Visual Comfort. Wall lighting brings more lighting and style to a space and creates a layer of light than can also highlight architectural aspects of the home. You can also avoid messy light chords and wires and have a cleaner look with wall lighting. Wall lights create a softer, more indirect lighting feel to bring warmth to a space. The below sconces are from Visual Comfort.

Floor and table lamps create a layer of light that helps pull everything together. In a large room they create the bottom layer of lighting. To create a cozy reading nook, place a floor lamp near an armchair. Place two lamps at each end of a long console table for a balancing look.

As you can see, lighting can truly change your space. Layering lights can bring out the best features of your home while also being functional to meet your needs. We hope this was a helpful, quick guide for bringing great lighting to your home.