10 Amazing Lighting Tips and Tricks Everyone Should Know

Maybe this theme has become cliché in the world of design, but good lighting truly is everything. Lighting affects the mood, concentration, and most importantly the atmosphere of the room, and thus we’re here to write 10 amazing lighting tips and tricks everyone should know.

Think of it this way – if the lighting is good, the overall look of your home will improve, if there’s no good lighting, even the most beautiful room will lose its charm.

But before we throw in the tips on how to properly set the lighting of your home, and thus lift your spirits, let’s repeat something about the light in the global.

Do you like warm or cold light?

You probably already know – but for those who don’t know – light has its own specific color, ie temperature, which is measured in degrees called Kelvin (K). Let’s find out what tones will the light emit – warm (yellow) or cold (blue).

Desirable temperatures for home lighting depend on the effect you want to achieve:

• 2,700 K: warm and darkest, similar to candlelight
• 2,900 K to 3,200 K: warm and slightly brighter, the most common color temperature for the most of the rooms
• 3,500 K: neutral and brighter color temperature
• 4,000 K: cold – this is where the imitation of natural daylight begins, the light becomes colder depending on the time of day
• 5,000 K: cold, colder than before, and very bright, serves for rooms where the focus is needed

Although certain rules should be followed, it is up to you to decide what suits you best. If you are attracted to rich, warm colors or your home is decorated in a traditional style, perhaps a ‘warmer’ light would suit you better. While on the other hand, a modern and contemporary home will look better with ‘cooler’ lighting.

Now that we have repeated the important facts about lighting, read the tips on how to properly install lighting.

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Read more on How to choose the right color temperature

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Lighting tips and tricks

Consider ceiling height

Knowing the height of the ceiling is important when it comes to choosing a pendant. Some lamps are packed with adjustable cables and others are not. Don’t come to the store unprepared, and end up with a light that hangs too low or too high.

Stick to it and your choice will be sure. For every additional 12 inches of the ceiling, add approximately 3 inches to the lamp.

Pendants above the table

When hanging the lamp above a table or kitchen surface, the recommended distance from the bottom of the lamp to the surface of the table or any table surface is from 28″ to 33″. However, the size of the light fixture makes a big difference.

A smaller lamp can even hang lower, while a larger and bulkier lamp should be at a greater distance.

Never set the light fixture too low or you will hit your head every time you get up from the chair and damage the lamp, or worse, injure yourself.

Make a plan

For example, if you want three pendants above the dining room table instead of one or two, this should be considered before construction begins, not when it’s too late for it.

This is one of the most important lighting tips and tricks and will help you achieve the look you want in your space.

Analyze and decide which light glow suits you

The lamp should not be the only important factor of your consideration – the type of bulb is equally important. At the beginning of the article, we refreshed our memory a bit about the temperature and color of the light (color temperature).

Bulbs differ in the type of technology, the amount of light they produce, the amount of energy they consume, and the color of the light they emit.

Thus, we distinguish between incandescent, compact fluorescent, and LED bulbs. Compared to traditional lighting technologies such as incandescent and fluorescent lights that use up most of their energy in the form of heat, LEDs use up almost 100% of the energy to produce light. This is why LEDs use less electricity to generate more light. 

Therefore, they are considered very efficient and environmentally friendly.

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Read more on LED vs halogen

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Here’s a little tip. If the walls are covered in cooler tones, you might need to warm them up a bit with warm light bulbs. Conversely, to illuminate a darker space, a cooler light would suit well.

Playing with light will cover every flaw and give the ambiance exactly what it needs, and the best thing is that you are able to manage it yourself.

Light the stairs

Adding light to the stairs is especially useful at night, but it is not out of the question as a design trick to achieve a beautiful effect. This is not just about looks, but also practicality, and it is possible to profit in many ways in both cases.

By placing lamps along the lower edge of the stair line along the wall, you will get the ideal solution for stairs leading to the lower floors or basement.

Recessed floor lighting

Recessed floor lighting carries a dose of luxury and glamor. Properly placed recessed floor lighting elements can transform an ordinary interior or exterior into a flawless combination of functionality and style.

In the past, recessed lighting was not as popular as it is now. However, with the increasing popularity of LED lighting, this trend has changed and recessed lighting is currently becoming more popular. 

Add color to your life and room

Placing a colored lamp in an otherwise simple and monochrome room can add charm and a dose of fun to a space. Colors can work wonders, especially when it comes to lighting.

For instance, the warm glow of red light is more welcoming than the stark, cold white in a boring room without any colors. Speaking of creativity and color, check out our guide on table lamps with blue shades. 

Be creative

Adding lamps as decorative elements helps not only as a decorative decoration in the room but also lifts the mood.

Provided that general lighting is already installed, the use of creative and cool lamps will help to illuminate the ambiance. This one, along with making a plan, is among the most important lighting tips and tricks.

Lighting over work surfaces

Lighting over work surfaces applies to all surfaces where you perform an activity, be it cooking, work, make-up, ironing, you name it. Focused lights are paramount wherever these tasks are performed.

Those lights need to enhance the right spot so you’re able to be precise in what you’re doing.

Lighting in closets

The last among our lighting tips and tricks is closet lighting.

As our eyesight deteriorates over time, finding and distinguishing colors in the closet becomes increasingly difficult.

Lighting can be installed throughout the entire cabinet interior. This creates a contrast between the shelves for easy reference.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when you’re looking to get the most out of your lighting, there are many simple tricks you can use to help lighten up your home. With our 10 amazing lighting tips & tricks everyone should know, you’ll be able to create unique spaces that are attractive and comfortable. Most options are not expensive and are easily feasible.

Now that you are familiar with the topic, take the time to really think about your home needs and how you can turn your rooms into a space that is welcoming and inviting.

Use these amazing lighting tips and tricks and you’ll see just how much better your home looks and feels.