Light It Up With Style...

The trend in home design is multipurpose rooms with energy-conscious, 

high performance lighting. 

The right lights complement the decor without being "in the way" and 

provide sufficient visibility for every task. 

With more homes relying on daylighting for daytime illumination, 

lights for cloudy days or after dark are even more important to get right.

Living and Family Rooms

Rooms that serve as gathering spots have the most functions to accommodate. 

A living room or mixed living room-family room will house the media center, conversation area, 

reading chairs, art collection, computer station, library and entertainment and game tables, etc... 

Use recessed downlights to draw attention to a fireplace without creating visual clutter. 

Take care of adjustable ambient lighting with a bar of small spotlights on dimmers that hit paintings and 

sculptures but can be lowered to accommodate computer screens and TVs. 

Task lighting in reading corners comes from freestanding (floor) lamps that are low enough to prevent glare.

The rule is the bottom of the lamp or shade should be at eye level. 

A chess or pool table is more inviting, and better lit, with pendant lamps 

that hang about 36 inches above the table to provide adequate headroom. 

If the pendants are dimmable, the game table becomes a standing sculpture in low light when it is not in use.

Kitchens

The kitchen is another room that gets heavy traffic and near constant use. 

Various stations are provided for a variety of activities and each one has its own lighting requirements. 

Under-cabinet counter lighting should be placed toward the front of the cabinet so it is less 

visible and illuminates the whole counter. 

A kitchen island stands out with an odd (1-3-5) number of matching pendant lamps over it. 

They should be 60 to 66 inches from the floor. 

Recessed downlight is ideal for over the sink and stove. It gives strong, focused light and is out of the way. 

A pendant on a dimmer over a breakfast nook provides bright or romantic dining. 

And light strips or LED downlights inside glass front cabinets highlight a collection of antique pieces or 

crystal as if it were in a gallery.

Bathrooms

The bathroom has become a spa, make-up station, peaceful reading retreat (LOL) and 

usually have separate spaces for tub, shower and toilet.  

Lighting for all these divisions and activities has to be coordinated or the bathroom will be anything 

but welcoming. 

A chandelier in the center of the room is a trend that shows up as "flea market chic", they can be crystal 

and ornate or sleek and contemporary, depending on the decor. 

Mirror lights might be a row of theatrical bulbs across the top but wall sconces next 

to the mirror are a new look. 

They should be bright enough for grooming but soft enough to avoid shadows. 

A separate shower stall needs a recessed ceiling light. 

A bathtub could use a small spotlight on a dimmer, in combination with a tray of pillar candles in different 

sizes but in the same color.

If you read in the bathroom, add task lighting to the toilet. 

A recessed downlight, correctly positioned, should make everything clear.

Hope all this information helps, next time we'll go through outdoor lighting for patios, terraces, balconies

and porches !!

Until the next time...Lights Up !!