Lighting plays a crucial role in shaping the ambiance and feel of a space. But unfortunately, it is often an afterthought, resulting in poor lighting choices that can ruin an otherwise well-designed room.
We’ll go through three common lighting mistakes and four useful tips to help you create the perfect lighting in your space.
Mistake 1: Incorrect Color Temperatures
One of the biggest lighting mistakes is using an incorrect lighting temperature. Color temperature is measured in kelvin and ranges from 1000 to 10,000 kelvin, going from warm to cool.
The four main categories of light colors are warm white, soft white, bright white, and daylight.
Warm white bulbs are 2700 to 3000 kelvin and emit a mid or warm golden yellow light. They are most suited to bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms as they create a cozy, inviting, and calm atmosphere.
Soft white bulbs are 3000 to 4000 kelvin and emit a slightly cooler yellowish-white light. These bulbs are most appropriate for use in bathrooms or kitchens as they create a friendly and bright atmosphere.
Bright white bulbs are 4000 to 5000 kelvin and emit white and blue colors. These lights are most suited for use in home offices or garages.
Daylight bulbs, despite the name, emit a sterile and cold blue-tone light that creates the opposite of a warm and cozy atmosphere. Therefore, it is best to avoid them in homes and reserve them for hospital, commercial or office spaces.
Luckily, with the advent of smart LED bulbs, the color temperature can be easily adjusted through an app on your phone or smart devices like Google Home or Alexa.
Mistake 2: Mixing Color Temperatures
Another common mistake is having inconsistent temperatures in a single space. For example, while it’s appropriate to use a warm white bulb in a bedroom and a soft white bulb in a bathroom, you shouldn’t mix these two color temperatures in a singular room.
This is because when two lights of different colors are in close proximity, the temperature differences become very apparent, creating an uneasy and disjointed feel in the room.
A compromise can be made by using warm and soft white temperatures in open-plan spaces, such as living and kitchen areas.
Mistake 3: Not Layering Lighting
The third mistake is not using enough types of lighting throughout a space. There are four types of lighting used in homes: overhead lighting, ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting.
It is important to use at least two, if not all, of these lighting types in a room at various places and heights to create a well-lit and balanced space.
Mistake 4: Not Considering the Size of the Room
When it comes to lighting, it is important to consider the size of the room as well. A small room will require less light compared to a larger room.
Using too much light in a small room can make it feel cramped and uncomfortable while using too little light in a large room can make it feel dim and uninviting.
Choosing the right amount of lighting for the size of the room is important to create a comfortable and well-lit space.
Another aspect to consider with the room’s size is the ceiling’s height. Rooms with high ceilings will require more light than rooms with low ceilings, as the light needs to travel further to reach the floor.
It’s also important to consider the position of the light fixtures in relation to the room’s height: for example, a chandelier should be hung higher in a room with high ceilings than in a room with low ceilings.
4 Tips for Creating the Perfect Lighting
- Use smart LED bulbs: They are intuitive to use, produce nice color, and allow you to adjust the brightness and temperature of the lights.
- Layer your lighting: Use a combination of overhead, ambient, task, and accent lighting to create a well-lit and balanced space.
- Choose the right color temperature: Use warm white bulbs in bedrooms and living rooms, soft white bulbs in bathrooms and kitchens, and bright white bulbs in home offices or garages. Avoid using daylight bulbs in homes.
- Don’t mix color temperatures: Use a consistent color temperature in a single room to create a cohesive feel.
By following these tips and avoiding the common mistakes, you can create the perfect lighting in your space that will enhance the ambiance and feel of the room.
Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.