10 Illuminating Lighting Ideas for Every Room of Your Home
For many of us, thoughtfulness in design goes as far as creating a functional floor plan, bringing in an eye-candy sofa and contemplating about what colours should we introduce into a space to make it feel welcoming. Despite the fact that it represents the single most important aspect of interior design, lighting ideas often come as an afterthought.
Consumed with the selection of furniture and wall decor, we tend to postpone our thoughts on how to light our homes until the very last stages of the decorating process. However, lighting design can truly make or break a space, so coming up with a good lighting plan is indeed crucial to creating both a functional and cosy living environment.
From antique chandeliers in the living room to mid-century modern pendants above the dining room table, there are so many sensational options available to help you lift up your home with lighting.
How do you light a room? Here are our expert tips on how to bring your lighting ideas to life.
1. Master natural light first
Before you create a dedicated Pinterest folder and start pinning your dream art deco table lamps or fabulous industrial pendants, first take a moment to study the way natural light travels inside your home. Consider different times of the day and changes you’ll see throughout the year.
Remember, it’s not only about light. It’s about shadows too. Use the dance of the shadows to play with drama and illusion. And when you master natural light in your home, continue with building up the mood with vintage lighting.
2. Create ambience with your lighting ideas
Don’t go rushing into closing a shopping list filled with your favourite antique lights without thinking about the function of the space you are looking to illuminate. Create a mini-plan that covers the essentials and guarantees you’ll end up with just enough light to tackle the tasks you’ll be performing in each room.
The lighting ideas for your kitchen and bedroom will be wildly different, so make sure to consider both productivity and desired ambiance before committing to a specific piece.
Swedish Chandelier In Brass & Glass By Holger Johansson For Westal | 1st Modern
3. Layer lighting
Use multiple lighting sources to add flexibility and interest to each room. Aim to include three different types of lighting sources: overhead lights, task lights, and accent lights.
The layered approach is godsent for creating a cosy cocoon ambiance as well as adapting to our everchanging needs throughout the days or year. So instead of over-lighting the room, create a conversation by using multiple lighting sources throughout the floor plan.
Magnetic Danish White Enamel Ball Wall Lamps From Lyfa, 1970s | Retro Design
Antique lighting offers a great opportunity to breathe in character into any space. Classic, neutral rooms thrive with statement antique chandeliers that provide texture and grace even when the light is switched off.
Sculptural, oversized or colourful, antique lighting can be a fantastic opportunity to create a distinct visual vocabulary fit for any art lover.
Think of a chandelier as a beloved sculpture deserving of a centre stage of the room.
Without a doubt, one of the biggest bedroom design trends of the moment is symmetry. In recent years we’ve seen interior designers explore symmetry as a way to bring serenity and a sense of stability into our everchanging lives, and bedroom lighting seems to be the most fitting for the task.
Jumping on this trend wagon is super easy (and equally beneficial). Just use a pair of vintage table lamps, statement vintage wall lights or eye-catching antique pendants on each side of the bed.
