Lighting can make a huge impact on the way a room appears, how it reflects or highlights, as well as the light it offers for tasks, reading or to create a mood.
Lighting is drawn from natural light and artificial light. Look at your room, where is your natural lighting coming from? Is it blocked by various articles or draperies that are too heavy? Is your natural light source permanently blocked due to privacy issues? Decide whether your natural light sources stay as is, or whether you can brighten it up if need be. Make any changes necessary to allow proper light in if so desired.
Next, look at areas where you would sit to read or do tasks, whether at a desk, a work table, a kitchen prep area or cooking area, school homework, and so many other areas. Is light there efficient or lacking? Here are a few tips for lighting… it goes way beyond this believe me, but this will give you an idea of things to check for before you go purchasing new lighting.
What is the area used for? Decide where you sit to read. If you have a favorite reading area, natural light can sometimes be enough, but what about at night? Table lamps should have the bottom of the shade about level with your face/ear and not over your head. Floor lamps should be room appropriate (meaning regular height for 8 foot ceilings, and taller floor lamps for taller ceiling heights). Floor lamps cast light on the whole seating area as they are above your head.
Halogen bulbs are great but get hot, incandescent lights throw off a yellow or amber glow so for some people reading with that type of light is difficult to see. The best bet is LED for most of your lighting including pot lights. An LED bulb may cost a bit more but the light is white, and generally the light is cast so that it creates a perfect reading light. I am very partial to LED lights for everything these days. Incandescent to me just seem very dim and dreary but some people love them. Also the appropriate wattage is necessary. For reading try a 40 to 60 watt. More than that in a table lamp is likely overpowering. LED bulbs are also very inexpensive to use.
Keep in mind too your décor style, and look for something in keeping with that style when purchasing your table or floor lamps.
Night table lamps should also be about shoulder level if you are sitting up in bed reading. A 40 watt bulb should be plenty for a bit of nighttime reading. Again, keep the style of lamp and lamp shade in keeping with the décor of your bedroom.
For task lighting, definitely go with LED either in pot lights directly over your work area, or track lighting where you can point each light at exactly the spot you need it. Track lighting is used often in offices or in task rooms, ie hobby rooms, painting, sewing etcetera. Be careful when buying task lighting that you understand if it has halogen bulbs, they do get HOT and are often tricky to change in track lights. Opt for LED if possible. They stay cool and last much longer.
A word of caution if you have any antique lamps, you may want to get them rewired as wiring does get old and brittle.
So, look around your home, go room to room. Where are your tasks done? Where is your reading done? Are your lamps the appropriate height, bulb size? Does the style fit with your overall décor? Are the shades the appropriate size? That’s another subject all together. Why not spruce up some white shades with possibly some of the newer geometric or floral shades? Maybe switch out some old bedroom lamps for some more luxurious glass base or crystal lamps. Love those!
I hope these few tips help. Lighting is very important and is one of those décor items that can make or break a room’s décor. Let me know if you have any questions. I am happy to help. Be sure to Shop our Online store, as we occasionally sell vintage and unique lamps of various styles. You might find just what you are looking for.
