An efficiently lit home can make meal prep and running errands much simpler, improve security and create an inviting atmosphere when guests visit your home.
An evening spent shopping the lighting aisle at your local home store can be dizzyingly overwhelming with so many styles, finishes, bells, and whistles on offer. Here are a few tips to help make an informed decision:
Style
Lighting fixtures add a decorative element to any room and help define its style. From chandeliers, pendants, and flush mounts to lamps, wall sconces, and table lamps – each lighting fixture style communicates something about itself through its form and shade shape.
A narrow lampshade projects more formal or masculine connotations while its wider counterpart reveals more feminine or relaxed characteristics. Furthermore, its framework and finishes also have an influence.
An item with a hammered metal finish adds traditional charm, while one featuring brushed brass or oil-rubbed bronze offers more modern lines. When mixing styles, just ensure each piece maintains similar dimensions and shapes so as to form an integrated design scheme.
Function
Consider the purpose of each fixture when designing or replacing current fixtures in your home, particularly lighting fixtures. Lights tend to illuminate spaces while creating certain moods or aesthetics.
Lighting fixtures come in all styles and sizes, ranging from ceiling, wall, and table-mounted lamps and hardwired models to simpler lamps that simply plug into an outlet.
First, consider the size and layout of your room before selecting lighting fixtures. Make sure they provide enough illumination without looking out of proportion with their space, and consider where and how the lights will be directed – direct lights may cause eye strain or glare, so making adjustments such as spreading it out more evenly or aiming the light down could reduce these risks.
Size
Well-designed fixtures should fit seamlessly into their respective spaces. However, many people make the mistake of purchasing lighting that’s too large for their room – creating an incongruous feel with other decor.
An ideal size chandelier for dining tables can be determined by calculating their width in feet and subtracting 12 inches, giving an estimate for the maximum diameter that provides dramatic lighting without overshadowing your table’s decor.
Pendant lights are smaller lights that are typically hung in groups of two or three. Perfect for foyers and entryways alike, pendant lighting also works great in long narrow hallways.
Material
Numerous types of light fixtures exist today – from architectural solutions that require professional contractors and tradesmen, to individual lamps that can be set on tables and plugged in instantly for instant room refreshes. It can be easy to become overwhelmed when browsing lighting aisles at local home improvement stores.
Consider selecting an entire collection that meets your aesthetic preferences before hunting down individual pieces for each space you need lighting. Doing this will create the appearance of professional design while simultaneously unifying and streamlining the experience for visitors to your space.
Light fixtures play a pivotal role in conveying their theme-related style through their body and shade, so look for shapes and profiles that convey classic or contemporary, masculine or feminine looks accordingly.
Budget
Lighting fixtures can be an expensive investment for homeowners who are on a tight budget. But you don’t have to spend hundreds or even thousands to achieve the ideal look in your home; affordable fixtures can be found online or you could consider wholesale lights for even greater savings.
Before making purchases, it is essential that you set a budget and establish the kind of light fixtures you desire in each space. Next, create a list of their costs and compare it against your budget.
Make sure each fixture allows for easy bulb changes by investigating how easy it will be to change their bulbs – some only accept certain kinds, so double-check before purchasing anything so as to avoid any surprises when installing your fixtures!
