Lighting Your Life - A Few Tips to Think About When Adding Light to Your Home

Want a complete design? Additional lighting can make all the difference in the world. Your interior environment needs different types of lighting to be able to provide the proper lighting for  each person.
Lighting and lighting controls provide us with the flexibility to adjust and adapt the mood and ambiance of our spaces.  Lighting  adds beauty and drama to any room. Lighting is a great way to make a small room look bigger, more inviting and comfortable.
I think of lighting as an accessory - one of the most important accessories in your home, with so many different shapes, sizes, colors, options the possibilities are endless.
Any design budget can use lighting to make the biggest and smallest changes to a room.

The first thing to think about when adding additional lighting to your space is to determine your needs. Lighting should be planned to complement your life style. It is best to develop a lighting design plan that meets individual needs as well as those of your family.

When planning your lighting:
 * identify the activities that happen in each of the spaces. ( reading, cooking, laundry, homework, paying bills, etc.).
 * identify the decorative elements you would like to emphasize ( great way to show off architectural details in a home)
 * identify the mood or ambiance that you want to create
 * when remodeling, it is important to note the details of the remodel, knowing where existing lighting is and if you are willing to add more. (construction )
 * keep in mind that dark colors absorb much more light than lighter colors, be sure to provide supplementary light in spaces with dark wall colors and finishes.
 * identify areas that serve more than one purpose, these spaces may require more than one type of lighting.

 A few basics in the world of lighting:
 Ambient light
 Task
 Accent
Each room should have all 3 types of lighting - this way you can use the room for multiple purposes and be able to change the lighting for your needs.

Ambient lighting is your overall illumination also called general lighting. Generally the light is provided using chandeliers, ceiling or wall mounted fixtures, recessed or track lighting.
Task lighting is the light that helps your perform as specific task, such as reading, grooming, cooking, playing games, etc. This lighting is typically in the form of recessed and track lighting, pendants, under cabinet lighting, portable floor or desk lamp. Important note about task lighting: should be free of distracting glare, shadow and should be bright enough to prevent eyestrain.
Accent lighting is the lighting that adds the drama and creates visual interest. As interior design scheme using accent lighting to up light indoor plants, paintings, sculptures, stone walls, architectural details. Accent lighting needs to be 3 times brighter than the general lighting around it to be effective. Accent lighting is usually provided by recessed, track or wall mounted fixtures. (picture lights).


Here are a few photos from designs that I have done with great lighting plan:

this kitchen also has under cabinet lighting!

In the burlap is white Christmas lights to use as accent lighting

Happy Designing!