LAYERED LIGHTING
When we bought our current home, we realized there were no lights in our front room. Just one big, beautiful window - and lots of outlets. For a home built in the 1960’s, that is common. It was trendy at the time to simply use lamps for lighting, and have the wiring switched to an outlet. Who needs a light in the ceiling??
Well, we did! We ended up adding 4” round LED lights, and I absolutely love them. However, that “lamp only” trend is making a comeback, but I think there is value in keeping options - maybe ALL the options - so let’s dive in!
Overhead Lighting: I think overall lighting is really valuable, even if the trends disagree. Someone might tell you “Oh I never turn on the overhead lights” which, they may not. However, I would argue some full-on lighting can always be a good thing, even if it is just when you are giving the house a good clean so those dust bunnies are in the spotlight and have nowhere to hide.
Accent Lighting: I love a good accent light. Think pendants over a kitchen island or a chandelier over a dining table, or sconces near artwork. They can really elevate a space! These can be tricky to select though as the feel more permanent and can look dated quickly - so just give good consideration to those selections if you plan to sell your home in the near future!
Task Lighting: Cue the lamps and the under-counter lighting - these options are all about adding those extra lumens where you need them, whether that be food prep or just reading a book. If you want a more cozy feel to your home in the evenings, only having your accent and task lights on can be a nice way to cue your circadian rhythm that it is getting close to bedtime!
Decorative Lighting: These are the little sprinkles of sparkle that make a house feel like a home. It’s the lit candle, the twinkle lights, the tiny lamp in the corner of a shelf. It is the lighting that doesn’t help you see better, it just makes you feel cozy and creates an atmosphere for your home.
A well-lit interior, in my opinion, has all of these layers. You have the overall lighting, the accent/design forward pieces, the task lighting, and decorative glimmers. You then have an incredible amount of flexibility to create different levels of lighting, and give a different perspective of your interior based on the time of day, or season. Just think of how different a room can look with just one or two of these categories on, versus all of them!
If you are getting bored with your space and want an upgrade, take a look at those lights and see if you need to make a change to brighten things up. And if you need help, I am always here to chat! Happy lighting!
