Design Notes
The right light can do much more than just illuminate a room. It can create a more inviting atmosphere in the room and give the illusion of a larger space. When selecting lighting for your home, there are multiple factors to keep in mind, such as size, amount, and placement. Since it is an essential part of designing an area, we thought it would be helpful to share five key considerations when selecting your lighting.
Understanding Room Functionality
Begin your selection process by understanding what your needs are for the space. Will you be in there often? Is there a lot of natural light? What tasks will you be doing in the area? The answers to these questions will determine the specific lights needed to accommodate the space. For example:
- General areas such as entryways and mudrooms mainly require pendant lights, sconces, and chandelier lighting.
- Specific areas include home office and kitchens, which use targeted light or task lighting to brighten work areas like the desk and countertops.
Determine what your needs are before going to the store or meeting with your designer; this will help you know what lighting to look for specifically and save time.
Types Of Lighting
There are three main categories of lights:
- Ambient lighting: This is considered the main source of light in a room and can come from a ceiling fan light, overhead light, or possibly recessed lighting.
- Task lighting: This is targeted lighting that helps with a specific activity, like reading or your bathroom vanity. This can provide the extra light you need when putting on your makeup or doing some late-night reading.
- Accent lighting: This is more of a decorative lighting that adds a nice design touch to the space, such as bookcase lighting, which draws the eye into the room.
Each has a specific purpose, but can work together to create a layering effect for your space, such as table lamps that can be used if you are going to use one area of the room or want low light.
Lighting Placement
This can be a bit trickier since there are several factors involved, including the size of the room and furniture placement. Keep in mind that center is usually a good rule of thumb for most rooms, but if you choose to split your main light between several large fixtures, space them equally apart for a unified design. It is obvious and distracting when a chandelier is not centered over the dining room table or kitchen island. Read here for some more in-depth information on this point.
Lighting Size
One of the worst things to do when choosing a light fixture is to pick one that dwarfs the room or is so small that it is barely noticeable. The right size creates a complete design and makes the room feel inviting and functional. Measuring is key to this part of the process, and there are different measurements for different areas, such as:
- Kitchen islands require you to measure the island and then decide on how many lights you would like. It is recommended that each light be around 30 inches apart. Be sure to factor in the edge placement since the lights should stay within 6 inches of the end of the island.
- Dining room tables should have fixtures that are no more than ⅔ the size of the table.
Be sure to talk with your designer about sizing or go to a specialized store that can give you advice on a particular area in your home.
Styles Of Lighting
Many consider this the fun part of the selection process since this is where their personality can shine through. There are no hard and fast rules here. If you want multiple sizes and shapes, that is an option. We encourage you to only factor in the size available in the room, since too many different options can create a space that hinders productivity and function. Don’t forget that lights are more than just glass fixtures; beautiful choices of wood and metal are available, which complement a farmhouse or contemporary style. Talk to your designer and take time to browse lighting showrooms to see what’s available.
Walker WoodworkingUpdating your home to a place that truly feels comfortable and enjoyable for everyone doesn’t have to break the bank. By making a few adjustments here and there, you can transform your home into your favorite hangout. Our amazing team can assist you in finding just the thing or things that have been missing from your home, plus with our access to over 30 different vendors, we know our members can help. We invite you to visit our 5,000-square-foot award-winning showroom, located in beautiful Uptown Shelby, near Charlotte, NC, as well as several other cities, including Spartanburg and Asheville. We look forward to helping you rejuvenate your living space.
Walker WoodworkingWhile there are multiple standard door styles to choose from, opting for a custom look can add that special wow factor to your home that you’ve been looking for. We have been manufacturing custom pieces for over twenty years and love seeing the look of surprise and delight on our clients’ faces when they see their cabinet for the first time. Here are four unique door styles that we’ve created for our clients, which we’re particularly proud of.
Walker WoodworkingMany homeowners want the familiar touches of suburban life while enjoying the benefits that urban life has to offer. This results in a need for design to alter and adjust in order to provide exactly what is required to make someone feel perfectly at home. Let’s discuss some of the ways you can blend urban with suburban and create a style that says welcome home to you.
Walker WoodworkingOne of the best features of any bedroom is the closet. This is the place where not just your clothes go, but a myriad of other objects as well. As it is considered one of the more functional areas in the room, this means it has certain obligations to meet, including sufficient space and storage capacity. Few things frustrate a homeowner as much as a dysfunctional closet that is a hazard every time the door is opened. Having one that is designed according to your needs, with ways to keep everything organized and in its proper place, is a dream come true. Of course, while closets need to be functional, they can also be stylish and ever personalized to your particular needs. Let’s talk about what goes into designing the perfect walk-in closet.
Finishing a basement or renovating it completely can also increase the value of your home. There is also the possibility of gaining additional income by renting out the basement. A basement is a blank canvas waiting to be transformed into a useful and functional space for you and your family.
Walker Woodworking
Walker Woodworking