Lighting serves several purposes, from illuminating the space for visibility to creating the desired mood and ambience. Therefore, you should approach lighting plans with caution—one misstep can potentially ruin a well-designed room.
In this article, we will explore some of the most common home lighting mistakes and how to avoid them.
Using Only One Light Source
Many homeowners use a single light source—usually a type of ceiling light—to brighten the room. This arrangement is undesirable because it often leaves the corners in the shadows, thus causing the room to appear smaller.
If your single light source does illuminate the entire room, then the light is likely too strong and harsh, resulting in eye strain.
Additionally, having one overhead light makes the space look one-dimensional, unflattering, and dull. Hence, you should layer your lights by balancing the three main kinds of light: ambient, task, and accent.
General lighting illuminates the most used parts of a room and may come in the form of ceiling pendants or wall lights. Task lighting, such as table and floor lamps, helps you engage in activities like reading or playing board games. Lastly, accent lighting highlights particular art pieces, objects, or architectural features. One common example of accent lighting is track lights.
By having multiple layers of lighting, you can create different moods and textures to suit different occasions or activities. They also help to add depth and vitality to the room.
Forgetting About the Shadows
When intentionally created, shadows can create depth, texture, and ambience. However, they can be an unattractive inconvenience if neglected.
For example, consider the bathroom: should an overhead light be positioned directly above the mirror, shadows will be cast on your face, making shaving and applying make-up challenging. You wouldn’t want a kitchen plagued by shadows either; they would make cooking awkward or even dangerous.
Hence, it is crucial to position your lights to control where the shadows fall. Portable lighting fixtures like table and floor lamps are particularly effective in eliminating unwanted shadows.
Selecting the Wrong Colour Temperature
Selecting lights with the wrong colour temperature may adversely affect the space’s tone and mood. While warm white lights are more suitable for bedrooms, they may be out of place in the study room or kitchen, which requires clear, bright lighting.
Forgetting About the Bigger Picture
When walking through a showroom or flipping through a catalogue, you may fall in love with a particular fixture and give in to the temptation of immediately purchasing it, forgetting to consider how it will fit into your home.
Many individuals don’t look at the bigger picture, resulting in the area looking disproportionate. For example, they may buy a giant chandelier that overwhelms a smaller dining table.
As such, we recommend taking actual measurements and not relying on rough estimates.
Neglecting Energy Consumption
Homeowners often purchase lightings and fixtures based on their face value. Hence, they would choose the cheaper option, typically incandescent lighting, over energy-efficient alternatives like LED lights.
While energy-efficient lighting has a higher initial cost, it is more cost-effective in the long run. For one, LED bulbs can save up to 90% energy and, thus, significantly lower your electricity bill. Moreover, they have longer lifespans and require less maintenance and replacement.
Conclusion
Create your dream home by complementing a beautiful interior design concept with suitable lighting. By avoiding some of the most common lighting mistakes, you can illuminate your living space without compromising aesthetics, functionality, and cost.
Looking for energy-efficient lighting solutions? Browse through TLUX’s selection of LED lighting products, including LED track lighting, LED strips, and BTO lighting packages.