How to choose the right lighting for your space

Copper wire ceiling light shade

Lighting in the home is just one of those things that we all take for granted and unfortunately, never really seem to think about it unless you set out to do something and notice that it’s not suitable for your needs. Sometimes you need more light to accomplish a task at hand, and other times you have too much light in a room in which you’re trying to relax. Have you come to a point where the excess, or lack of lighting, is driving you to distraction? If so, here are some tips on how to choose the right lighting for your space.

White kitchen with row of downlighters above work area

Begin with an evaluation of your lighting needs

Often, you notice that you simply don’t have enough light in an interior hallway or in a corner of the kitchen where your prep area is set up. As frustrating as this is, you begin to notice that other rooms have too much or too little illumination as well. Begin with a thorough assessment of the entire home. Within moments you’ll realise that practically every space needs a bit of tweaking to provide the lighting you need. Perhaps you should start with a quick understanding of some fundamental principles of lighting.

Two pendant lights in an industrial vintage kitchen

Kitchens are often the most problematic

Many homes have a single light source in the kitchen and this can be one of the biggest frustrations you’ll encounter. As mentioned, you’ll need work spaces to be well lit and so perhaps you’d like to begin here. Under-cabinet lights often work well to illuminate work areas and then there is bookcase lighting which many people use to highlight treasured pieces within a glass-doored cupboard or china cabinet. Perhaps you need a pendant light or chandelier over the dining table.

Black and gold standard floor lamp

Living rooms, family rooms and dens

Just as you assessed the general lighting in your kitchen and moved on to task or decorative lighting, you’ll cover the same ground in the common areas of the home. For example, if you find that the overhead lights are too bright for quiet moments of relaxation in a living room, family room or den, you could almost always benefit from standard floor lamps like these. Easily located in practically any area of a room, floor lamps offer the ability to illuminate one area of the room, leaving the rest of the space with a soft glow.

Bedroom pendant ceiling light

Bedrooms, bathrooms and wardrobes

These are typically the least used rooms in the home and so they often get neglected when considering the right lighting for the space in question. If you’ve ever reached for a shirt, for example, that will go well with your skirt or trousers, the lack of adequate lighting in the closet may be totally frustrating. You pull out garment after garment to no avail. An overhead spotlight works well in a wardrobe while wall sconces offer soft, ambient lighting in a bedroom when it’s time to relax and get ready for sleep.

Oversized Anglepoise-type floor lamp

Lighting as an optical illusion

Have you ever tried to sell your home? One of the tips often given is to reduce clutter to make rooms appear larger than they actually are. However, that’s just one way to give that illusion. Effective use of lighting can do much the same thing. For example, bright lights in a room that’s painted white or a light pastel colour can give the illusion of extra space. The reverse can also be true. Open space architecture is trending, but often this leaves the appearance of too much unused space. Try adding a floor lamp in an unused area with a small table and a framed picture or two.

It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you understand the connection between form and function. Are you seeking illumination or aesthetics? The right lighting can get results, but first you need to know what you’re trying to achieve. Only then can you find the lighting you need for your space.

[disclosure*]

Using lighting to set the right mood

Using lighting to set the right mood | H is for Home

Lighting has an integral part to play in creating a mood, whether it be indoors or outside. Whether it be creative or focussed, constructive or playful, stimulated or relaxed the lighting you choose can make or break the atmosphere.

Task lighting for working on a laptop

Work

When thinking about creating the right mood for tasks related to employment, hobbies or jobs around the house, suitable lighting is an important factor. The main practical considerations are the type of light, the positioning of lamps and the direction and angle of the beam of light emitted.

In terms of office type work, you’ll need to consider what is suitable for reading, sorting or filing paperwork etc. or when you’re working at a computer. If your job entails long periods of staring at a screen, you want to avoid eye strain and headaches at all costs. Avoid direct glare on your screen or in your eyes by using desk lamps that are on an angled arm or have a goose neck that can be adjusted with ease. Situate lamps so that they don’t cast shadows across your screen and don’t reflect on the screen. You want to use bulbs that emit light similar to sunlight – LED and fluorescent (beware of flickering, though) are good choices. Incandescent bulbs, especially low-wattage examples, are not generally suitable. Anglepoise, LED spotlights and down-lighters are all useful types of task lighting available from Lights.

If you’re one of those people who suffer from SAD syndrome, designated office spaces are good places to install daylight desk lamps such as Needlite. They provide a healthy working environment and also provide you with the equivalent levels of sunlight for ongoing mental well-being, particularly during the winter months.

If you’re doing jobs around the house, particularly in areas such as the kitchen, you’ll need good task lighting. Bright, overhead lights such as LED down-lighters are perfect. You could also consider clamp or clip-on lights for those difficult, dark corners. They can easily attach to wall mounted utensil racks or kitchen shelving – and really transform a space, both in terms of practicality and impact. Quite often, kitchens and dining spaces are combined these days, so this is the kind of flexible lighting that will give options for a romantic meal versus chopping veg!

Orb-shaped garden lights

Leisure

You might require bright lights for day to day activities, however, relaxation can sometimes be the priority. In this case, lighting needs to be more subtle and atmospheric. Consider up-lighting that will cast light up towards the ceiling rather than into your eyes. It’s more relaxing to sit in and can create its own sense of drama when thinking of a room scheme.

You might choose to have real candles dotted about, but not everyone is comfortable with the idea of a naked flame. In these circumstances, there are lamps that mimic candlelight – yellow-hued, ambient, flickering even! They provide an alternative to the atmosphere provided by real candles or can complement the ones you already have.

For creating a feeling of opulence and luxury, nothing beats a classic chandelier. Incorporate dimmer switches that allow the flexibility to alter lighting depending upon mood required.

Vintage-style Edison light bulbs produce an attractive, subdued type of light and are perfect for the very on trend vintage industrial type metal cage lights and factory pendant shades.

We love fairy lights dotted about the house – they add such a wonderful atmosphere to rooms, particularly in the darker autumn and winter months when warmth and cosiness are sought – they’re a staple of Scandinavian feel-good HYGGE after all!

Watching television, similar to working on a computer, requires a certain kind of lighting. Have nothing that will produce glare or reflections and place it angled away from the screen.

In addition, there’s outdoor/al fresco living which continues to gain in popularity. There are many attractive solar powered options for lighting on the market. These are usually very easy to install as they don’t require outdoor wiring – and of course, they have eco-friendly credentials too.

And we have to give another mention to fairy lights or festoon lights. They can give a garden a magical quality at night – like fireflies flitting about. Whether you’re enjoying a relaxing glass of wine after work or eating with friends they’ll add another layer to the outdoor experience.

From the magical to the practical, outdoor security lights come in useful to discourage burglars and help you find the keyhole in the door when arriving home in the dark.

Wall-mounted bedside lighting

Sleep

Many people have a little read (or catch up with social media) before finally laying their head on the pillow. Suitable bedside lights are essential to ensure light falls directly onto the area required such as the page of a book. This will avoid neck or eye strain and make for a relaxing period of winding down – as opposed to a frustrating, stressful or potentially health-damaging final few minutes.

Some people really don’t like the pitch black at bedtime. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, if you feel more comfortable with a degree of light, there are lots of subtle solutions that can be tailored to your needs. Night lights come in all styles. They can be child-friendly taking the form of animals or cartoon characters. Or perhaps a bit more grown up to compliment your existing décor. They can be touch sensitive or put on timers that dim and/or switch off the light after a certain period.

Also, consider guide lights. Install subtle, movement-sensitive track lighting along corridors and hallways to illuminate your path during night-time bathroom visits. This is particularly helpful for guests who aren’t familiar with your house layout and location of light switches in the dark.

[disclosure*]

Price Points: Kids’ night lights

Three kids' night lights | H is for Home

I’m not ashamed to admit it; I may be 50 years old, but I’m still a teensy bit afraid of the dark. Especially if I’ve just watched a scary film!

Night lights may primarily be for children & babies, but I think people of any age can benefit. For instance, getting out of bed on dark mornings and stumbling around getting ready for work. Perhaps you have overnight visitors who don’t know their way around your house very well. A night light would be a welcome way marker to the bathroom.

  1. Personalised white cloud night light: £16, My First Years
  2. Multicolour silicone colour-changing mushroom LED nursery night lamp with remote control: £18.99, Amazon
  3. Zazu Lou owl night light: £35, JoJo Maman Bébé

shop kids' night lights

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Zazu Lou owl night light
Zazu Lou owl night light
£35
Colour-changing mushroom LED nursery night lamp
Colour-changing mushroom LED nursery night lamp
£18.99
Personalised white cloud night light
Personalised white cloud night light
£16
Zazu Lou owl night light
Zazu Lou owl night light
£35
Colour-changing mushroom LED nursery night lamp
Colour-changing mushroom LED nursery night lamp
£18.99
Personalised white cloud night light
Personalised white cloud night light
£16
Zazu Lou owl night light
Zazu Lou owl night light
£35
Colour-changing mushroom LED nursery night lamp
Colour-changing mushroom LED nursery night lamp
£18.99
Personalised white cloud night light
Personalised white cloud night light
£16
Zazu Lou owl night light
Zazu Lou owl night light
£35
Colour-changing mushroom LED nursery night lamp
Colour-changing mushroom LED nursery night lamp
£18.99
Personalised white cloud night light
Personalised white cloud night light
£16
Zazu Lou owl night light
Zazu Lou owl night light
£35
Colour-changing mushroom LED nursery night lamp
Colour-changing mushroom LED nursery night lamp
£18.99
Personalised white cloud night light
Personalised white cloud night light
£16

Price Points: LED floor lamps

LED floor lamps | H is for Home

Do you remember when it was reported in the news that the manufacture of ‘normal’ incandescent bulbs was to be terminated? There was a stampede of frenzied shoppers at DIY outlets stockpiling 60 & 100 watters as if Armageddon had arrived!

LED (or light-emitting diode) lighting was declared the future, and few wanted to be part of it. Well, the panic has died down and the future is here. LED bulbs may be more expensive than the old-fashioned ones, but they have a much longer lifespan, use 90% less energy, are more compact and ‘have fewer environmental concerns linked to their disposal’. Well worth the initial outlay.

There’s an ever-growing range of attractive LED floor lamps available on the market – perfect for armchair reading or a spot of knitting, crochet or – in my case – button replacement. Here are three of our favourites that we’ve found.

  1. Nexus 142cm floor lamp
  2. LED arc lamp Florestan with built-in dimmer
  3. Flos Captain Flint LED floor lamp, brass

shop LED floor lamps

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Flos Captain Flint LED floor lamp, brass
Flos Captain Flint LED floor lamp, brass
£1,027.00
LED arc lamp Florestan with built-in dimmer
LED arc lamp Florestan with built-in dimmer
£149.90
Nexus 142cm floor lamp
Nexus 142cm floor lamp
£96.99
Flos Captain Flint LED floor lamp, brass
Flos Captain Flint LED floor lamp, brass
£1,027.00
LED arc lamp Florestan with built-in dimmer
LED arc lamp Florestan with built-in dimmer
£149.90
Nexus 142cm floor lamp
Nexus 142cm floor lamp
£96.99
Flos Captain Flint LED floor lamp, brass
Flos Captain Flint LED floor lamp, brass
£1,027.00
LED arc lamp Florestan with built-in dimmer
LED arc lamp Florestan with built-in dimmer
£149.90
Nexus 142cm floor lamp
Nexus 142cm floor lamp
£96.99
Flos Captain Flint LED floor lamp, brass
Flos Captain Flint LED floor lamp, brass
£1,027.00
LED arc lamp Florestan with built-in dimmer
LED arc lamp Florestan with built-in dimmer
£149.90
Nexus 142cm floor lamp
Nexus 142cm floor lamp
£96.99
Flos Captain Flint LED floor lamp, brass
Flos Captain Flint LED floor lamp, brass
£1,027.00
LED arc lamp Florestan with built-in dimmer
LED arc lamp Florestan with built-in dimmer
£149.90
Nexus 142cm floor lamp
Nexus 142cm floor lamp
£96.99