Lighting is an often overlooked aspect of home decoration, yet light and how we respond to it affects our well-being in fundamental ways.
Light levels affect our moods. Poor lighting can affect our eyesight. It’s important to get it right both physically and aesthetically.
The choice of lighting options is enormous. Ceiling lights range from pendant lights to statement chandeliers. There are table lamps, wall lamps and floor lamps. Whatever type of lighting you choose it needs to be right for the room setting and your requirements.
Once you have chosen the type of light you want you need to ask yourself what kind of mood you are trying to create. Ambient lighting is ideal for everyday use in every room around the home. Add a dimmer switch to your circuit to create softer moods in living rooms and dining rooms.
Do you need lighting for specific tasks? Lighting can offer concentrated light to deliver the best visibility when you are doing jobs that require concentration. Desk lights are great for reading while kitchens will benefit from spotlights or wall lights that concentrate focussed beams of light into specific areas for reading recipes and cooking.
To add depth and a bit of drama to your rooms use accent lighting as well as ambient lighting to highlight key features of the room such as a favourite piece of art or ornament.
Once you know what effects you want to achieve with your lighting, you need to consider the type of bulb you need. Do you want LED, halogen or traditional incandescent bulbs? What kind of cap – bayonet, screw or pin – will you need for your choice of fitting? What shape do you want? What about energy efficiency, brightness and power?
The choice is bewildering. Debenhams has put together a handy buyers’ guide which you can find here http://www.debenhams.com/content/buying-guides/lighting-guide#intcmp=lighting-scat-lighting-guide
There is a vast choice of styles and shades for lamps – whatever the type. Here are a few more ideas from Pinerest and Houzz that we are sure you will find illuminating.
