How to Light a Room

Task lighting is important in a living room.

Lighting is a huge part of home design. The right -- or wrong -- lighting can transform a room. While there are no rules as such, and you should always choose light fixtures that suit your individual style, following a few simple guidelines can help you get the very best from your lighting. If you need inspiration, grab some interior design magazines and create your own scrapbook of lighting ideas.

Instructions

1. Install light fixtures that make the most of the space. If you have a very small room with a low ceiling, a compact spotlight or a ceiling light with an enclosed bulb won't look out of place. If you are lighting a very large space and have a high ceiling to take advantage of, create a dramatic focal point with a chandelier.

2. Write a list of activities the room is used for and refer to this when selecting your light fixtures. Most rooms in a house require some sort of task lighting, for reading, studying or applying makeup. For example, if you are lighting a living room, place floor or table lamps beside seating areas. If you are lighting a bathroom, spotlights around the mirror are a practical choice.

3. Purchase lights that create the right atmosphere in the room. Wall lights are an effective way to provide soft, relaxing light. The light can be focused up, down or in both directions to create the effect you want. Alternatively, dimmer switches for overhead lights work well in a room used for entertaining guests, such as a dining room or lounge, when you want a quick way to change the mood. If you are lighting a television room, install lights in alcoves to bounce indirect light off the wall and reduce the risk of eye strain from the screen. Bright, practical lights are more important in a kitchen, because this is where so many tasks are carried out. Flexible spotlights that can be angled are a convenient solution for a kitchen.

4. Brighten up dark parts of a room, such as the corners, with floor lamps. These are a versatile solution that can simply be plugged in, with no need for wiring, and can be moved around the house if you decide to redecorate.

5. Install more than one light source in each room. For example, your main bedroom light may be an overhead pendant, with a secondary bedside lamp for nighttime reading. Touch-control lamps are handy bedroom solutions; they can be turned on and off with a simple touch. To ease you gently out of bed in the morning, invest in a "wake-up" lamp, which gives off a soft glow that slowly increases.

References

• John Lewis: How to Choose Lighting
• "The Lighting Bible: Ideas for Every Room in Your Home"; Lucy Martin; 2010