The way you do your lighting interior design directly affects the perception of any room. Nothing says ‘comfortable and inviting’ like a room bathed in subtle, effective lighting. Not only is this achieved with the type of light source (lamps, overhead lights, etc.), but also with bulb type and projected hue of the bulb.
Not all bulbs are created equal in terms of projected hue. A bulb that is labeled ‘soft’ projects a subtle, ivory-like hue. This type of bulb accentuates warm colors in a room and is most effectively used in areas where you want to create that comfortable feeling, such as the living room, bedroom or dining room. A bulb that is not labeled ‘soft’ will project a sharper, whiter light. This type of bulb is most effectively used in a room where you want the light to be closer to bright, natural daylight, such as a kitchen, laundry room or playroom. This type of lighting provides a fresh, clean look to a room, creating sharper visibility that is necessary in a work or play area.
Most of your lighting fixtures will require a regular light bulb. You can use either energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs (which are more efficient and ultimately more cost effective) or traditional incandescent light bulbs (which are less efficient and ultimately less cost effective). The best choice is the energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs, as they have significantly longer life than incandescent bulbs (almost 10 times as long), use less energy and are affordably priced for use in your home. These bulbs come in both soft and regular lighting, and come in both spiral and rounded designs. Keep in mind when choosing your lighting fixtures that some of the newer fixtures may be designed for a specific type of bulb, such as a two- or four-pin fluorescent bulb.
When you determine the type of lighting you want for a particular room, you will need to choose the fixtures that will work best in the room. Some rooms, such as kitchens and bathrooms, will have one main overhead source of lighting, with strategically placed task lighting in selected areas (above a kitchen sink, over a kitchen island, under-cabinet lighting, above a bathroom mirror, etc.). In living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms, a softer effect can be achieved with ambient lighting such as table and floor lamps, wall sconces, and pendant lighting that can be regulated with a dimmer switch. Track lighting is a nice option for any room where you want to provide a combination of ambient, task and accent lighting. Track lighting fixtures can be moved, turned and aimed in any direction along the track, giving you the ability to customize the lighting whenever and wherever needed. In much the same way, although not quite as versatile, recessed lighting can provide ambient, task or accent lighting with the use of separate switches and controls for each area where they are installed. These lights are installed directly in the ceiling with only the trim showing. They can be used in virtually any area of the home, where they can be utilized, as needed, in different areas.
One lighting source that should not be overlooked is natural lighting. Natural lighting comes through windows, doors, and skylights and will vary in brightness and intensity by the time of day, the seasons of the year and the weather outside. It is, of course, one of the less reliable types of lighting but can produce a very inviting effect unequaled by any artificial light source when used properly.
The way you do your lighting interior design directly affects the perception of any room. Nothing says ‘comfortable and inviting’ like a room bathed in subtle, effective lighting. A little trial and error and walking in and out of a room several different times during the day and evening will help you decide what works and what doesn’t to achieve the effect you desire. Your choice of bulb hue, fixture type and fixture placement are crucial to achieving the perception you wish to create.
©2008, KH Adams, Trumbull, CT