The right lighting can transform a living space from mundane to dazzling. It sets the mood and creates an ambiance that reflects your personality.
Experts suggest starting with ambient, or general, lighting. This typically comes from ceiling fixtures, such as recessed lighting or a chandelier.
Next, layer in task lighting to provide direct light for reading and other tasks. Accent lighting helps highlight unique design elements, artwork, or architectural features to add visual interest and depth to the room.
Maximise Natural Light
Bringing in more natural light is a great way to boost your mood and create the feeling of a sunlit space. A well-lit living room not only makes for a pleasant and welcoming space to relax and unwind, but it’s also an ideal spot for entertaining friends and family. However, boosting your home’s natural lighting may require more than a few rearrangements of furniture and an upgrade to your window treatments.
To improve the amount of sunlight that flows into your living spaces, consider adding skylights and enlarging windows. Larger windows and glazed doors allow more sunlight to stream into the interior, creating an open and airy feel. If you can’t install new windows, try replacing solid walls with glazed panels or blocks to maximise the influx of sunshine.
Other simple ways to maximise natural light include introducing lighter paint colours and utilising reflective surfaces. Lighter colour palettes reflect sunlight into the living space, allowing for an abundance of natural light that uplifts your mood and gives the appearance of a larger space. Similarly, mirrors, high-gloss finishes, and glass accents all work well to brighten up the atmosphere of a living space.
The positioning of your furniture can also influence how much sunlight enters a room. Try to avoid blocking windows or placing tall furniture directly against them. Instead, opt for low-height furniture and use light coloured window treatments to encourage natural light to flow into the space.
Layering your lighting is another effective way to optimise the influx of natural light into your living spaces, a technique brought to you by Blokk Studio. Ambient lighting provides the overall level of illumination for a room and can be achieved through ceiling fixtures, chandeliers, or recessed lighting. Layering your ambient lighting with additional lights such as wall sconces, table lamps, and floor lamps adds depth and dimension to the space, making it appear larger and more spacious.
Lastly, you can create a focal point for the space by using lighting to draw attention to a particular feature of your living area. Whether it’s an art piece, a fireplace or even your sofa, creating a spotlight for these features will draw the eye and make them feel prominent within the space. A decorative chandelier, a beautiful wall sconce, or a unique table lamp can all serve as the perfect focal point for your living spaces.
Layer Your Lighting
The best way to light any living space is to employ a lighting layering system. This technique combines three types of lighting – ambient, accent and task – to provide the space with the perfect amount of illumination for its intended purpose and create a richer, more visually appealing ambiance.
The first of the three layers is ambient, which provides a general wash of light throughout the room for safe movement and to illuminate objects and surfaces. Ambient lighting can come from a ceiling mounted fixture, pendant lights or even recessed lighting. Ambient lighting can be enhanced by using dimmers, which allow you to alter the mood and transform your living spaces from bright and lively to soft and cosy with just the flick of a switch.
Next, add a layer of task lighting to illuminate areas for specific activities, such as reading or cooking. This can be achieved through the use of table lamps, floor lamps and wall-mounted sconces to highlight seating areas and workspaces. Task lighting can help to eliminate shadows and glares in these areas, making them more comfortable and practical for performing tasks.
Finally, accent lighting can be used to draw attention to architectural features or decorative elements, such as artwork, picture frames and decor items. This can be done through the use of a variety of fixtures, including chandeliers, pendant lighting, track lights and wall-mounted sconces. Accent lighting can also be used to illuminate dark corners or hard-to-reach areas that aren’t covered by the ambient and task layers.
The key to a successful lighting layering design is to mix and match light fixtures of varying styles, finishes and colour temperatures. For example, a brass chandelier can be combined with an antique-inspired wall sconce and a bronze torchiere to create a richer and more varied look. You should also try to avoid placing all the same type of fixtures together, such as all pendant lighting or all recessed lighting. This can look contrived and may detract from the overall look of your living spaces. By combining these various light sources, you can build a quality lighting layering system that enhances your living spaces and makes them more functional and enjoyable for both everyday use and entertaining guests.
Create a Focal Point
Focal points are one of the most basic yet important elements of design, allowing your eye to have an obvious place to land when you walk into a space. It’s the one feature that draws you in and sets the tone for the rest of the room, which is why it’s so important to have a well-thought-out focal point in every living space.
Luckily, many rooms have pre-existing architectural features that are built to serve as a focal point such as a stunning fireplace or bay window. However, there are also ways to create your own focal point with a little creativity and lighting know-how.
First and foremost, it’s crucial to understand the concept of scale when selecting your focal point. The eye will immediately notice if an object is out of proportion to its surroundings, so you’ll want to make sure that your focal point is appropriately sized. This will ensure that it isn’t competing with other furniture or decor for attention or making the space feel crowded.
Another great way to make your focal point stand out is by using contrasting colors to highlight it. This can be as simple as painting a wall a dark shade to allow your furniture, artwork or other decorations to pop or more dramatic like using accent lighting to draw attention to a wall art display or unique shelving arrangement.
Once you’ve framed your focal point with color and scale, it’s time to add the finishing touches that will really bring it to life. The most obvious way to do this is by incorporating decorative lighting fixtures such as spotlights or track lights that can be used to illuminate and enhance your favorite pieces of decor.
You can also use these fixtures to highlight architecture details and other design elements in your home, adding depth and dimension to the overall aesthetic of a space. If you’re looking for a cozier atmosphere, using dimmers on your accent lighting can also be a great way to set the mood and create an inviting focal point.
Add Texture
When it comes to creating a visually interesting home, texture is key. From a nubby boucle throw or cane screen to a suede wall or stone backsplash, textures create interest and a tactile feel that’s both comfortable and sophisticated.
Lighting can also be used to add visual texture. Look for fixtures with woven rattan shades, chandeliers with intricate metalwork or even dimmer switches that allow you to play up the different levels of light in your space. This helps to add an extra dimension to the room that can really make it come alive.
Another great way to add texture is through fabric. You can use a wide variety of textiles in everything from rugs and window treatments to blankets and throw pillows, and by experimenting with fabrics like smooth silk, nubby boucle or plush velvet, you can create an eclectic mix that adds interest and depth.
Lastly, lighting can be used to draw attention to or highlight certain elements of your living spaces. For example, if you have an old fireplace or exposed brick walls, you can use lighting to draw attention to these features and really make them pop. By using sconces flanking the fireplace or hanging a chandelier in an existing plaster medallion on the ceiling, you can really show off these details that would otherwise be overlooked.
In addition to the above, lighting can be used to add a sense of character and history to a modern apartment. By mixing in a few vintage pieces, you can give your apartment a more authentic feel that feels less like a showroom and more like a space that has been lived in and loved.
Whether you’re looking to add just a few accents or are ready to transform your living spaces into an entirely new and cosy home, these expert tips will help you get the most out of your space. So, what are you waiting for? Start planning and Pinning your new living spaces today! By the time you’re done, you’ll be ready to relax and enjoy your beautiful new home.