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Top Lighting Tips

Everyone knows that lighting is essential to interior spaces, regardless of their design style. Did you also know that the light of a room affects the overall aesthetic, including the mood of the people in it? That’s why it’s essential to use the right lighting in every room. These top lighting tips from Bell’s Ethan Allen Design Center make illuminating your space incredibly easy.

Image of a sectional in a living room lit with accent lighting near Newburgh, New York (NY)

Knowing the Types of Lighting

  • Ambient: Also known as general lighting, this lays the lighting foundation. Ambient lighting is usually found in overhead fixtures or track lighting.
  • Task: When you need to illuminate a specific area, task lighting is what you need. Reading lamps and under-cabinet puck lights are two popular types of task lights.
  • Accent: When a room has interesting architectural features or you have a work of art you want to draw attention to, you use accent lighting. You can create accent lighting with recessed lighting, track lighting, or wall fixtures.

Make the Most of Natural Light

Taking advantage of your home’s natural light does more than decrease your utility costs. Sunlight can boost your mood, energy levels, and productivity. Even in rooms with limited access to natural light, you can make the most of what you have with the right window treatments. Trade in heavy fabrics for sheer materials that let more light pass through or top-down/bottom-up styles to maintain privacy.

Consider What You Use the Space For

Every room has its own function, but many spaces serve multiple purposes, making it necessary to use more than one type of lighting. Living rooms, for example, can be used for family movie nights, unexpected overnight guests, or as a makeshift home office, so ambient, task, and accent lighting are useful. Kitchens, on the other hand, can get by with bright ambient and task lights. Consider a dimmer switch for the primary light source in your bedroom for a range of lighting options.

Create Optical Illusions with Lighting

A single light source creates one brightly lit area while leaving the rest of the room in the dark. The types and placement of lighting can make a room appear larger or cozier. Placing lights in the corners of a room creates the appearance of width. If you have a large open space, break it into zones and use clusters of light in each for a warm, welcoming feel.

Choose a Suiting Temperature

There are three temperatures of light; warm, cool, and neutral. The temperature of light is measured using the Kelvin (K) scale from 1,000-10,000. The lower the number, the more yellow and warm light is. Choose bulbs between 2,000 and 3,000K for warm, white light that is perfect for spaces where you relax, like bedrooms and living rooms.

If you have hobbies that require bright light to see details, think building models, or working on cars, go for lights that are 4,500K and higher. This level on the Kelvin scale replicates the bright light of the midday sun. Use warm, neutral light between 3,100-4,400K in areas where you want to focus but don’t need the same level as you do in your garage. If you have a home office, neutral light is ideal.

Contact Us

At Bell’s Ethan Allen Design Center, we have plenty of “bright ideas” for your home’s interior needs. From custom Hunter Douglas window treatments to luxurious Ethan Allen furniture, we have everything you need for a gorgeous home. Contact us today or stop by to see us in Newburgh, NY. We’re happy to serve Newburgh, Fishkill, Warrick, Middletown, New Paltz, Wappinger Falls, Rhinebeck, Monroe, Tuxedo, Warwick, Washingtonville, Poughkeepsie, Orange County, Dutchess County, and Ulster County, NY.

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