How to Choose the Right Lighting for Each Room in Your Home

Choosing the Right Lighting for Luxury Homes in St. George Utah

Lighting is one of the most important elements of home décor, and it can add or take away from the overall feel of a room in a significant way. Additionally, good lighting can do more than act as a light source for a room. It can go a long way in improving the mood of a room, add texture and depth, add interest when used with pendants and shades, brighten the dark corners, and generally make it more pleasant overall.

One of the best ways to choose the best lighting for each room is to consider the style of your home. If you have high ceilings, open spaces, and light paint colors, adding recessed lights to your ceiling can make the space feel even bigger. If you’re looking for a more intimate feel, pendant lights and sconces are always great options. 

Ultimately, your choices should depend on your style and how you want your home to look and feel. However, there are a few guidelines you should follow, and we’ll go over them in this post! 

Living Room

The living room is often the focal point of a home, so it must have enough light to be comfortable and inviting. Since the living room is like a family room, the lighting should be able to function for any occasion. Whether you’re having a party, watching your favorite show, reading a book, or napping on the couch, your lighting should be able to work with what you’re doing – not getting in the way. 

First, let’s talk about windows. Natural light is always the number one option for living spaces, especially during the day. Installing shades or blinds on your windows can let natural light in while offering privacy to some extent. Recessed lighting with a chandelier focal point is a great way to go when it gets dark and the natural light isn’t cutting it anymore. You can have all the lights on while entertaining, dim them when relaxing, or turn on the chandelier when you need some mood lighting. 

Bathroom

You might not think about it, but bathroom lighting is one of the most important features in your home. One general lighting rule is to avoid using lights that shine down into the mirror since they create unwelcome shadows. For more even lighting, use fixtures on either side of mirrors, like pendants or sconces. 

You’ll also want to consider the lighting you want for different circumstances. If you’re showering, you’ll want a light overhead so you can see. If you’re relaxing in the tub, you might want a dimmable chandelier to set the mood. And of course, if you’re getting ready in that bathroom, you’ll want plenty of lighting around the mirror to see what you’re doing with your hair and makeup. 

Bedroom

A bedroom should be relaxing and comfortable for sleeping — not just for lounging. That means it is a good idea to choose fixtures that are dimmer than those in other rooms so they won’t interfere with sleep patterns. Standard table lamps on a nightstand are not enough; consider adding overhead light fixtures like a chandelier, recessed lights, or a ceiling fan with light.

If you don’t want lamps on your nightstands, you can install sconce or pendant lights on either side of your bed. These are perfect when you’re winding down for the night or want to stay up reading while your spouse is sleeping.  

Kitchen

One of the most used rooms in a home is the kitchen. Unfortunately, it can also be one of the most poorly lit rooms if you’re not careful. Your kitchen deserves proper lighting like every other room in your house, and there are different lighting options you can use to boost your kitchen lighting. 

If you have a kitchen island, consider hanging pendant lights over it. This will brighten up your space and add a beautiful focal point! You can also add a pendant light over your sink. Aside from these, the more recessed lighting you can add, the better. You’ll never regret having plenty of light in your kitchen, even with natural lighting with windows. 

Home Office

Office lighting can be a little more challenging, especially if you need task-specific lighting. For example, if you have a creative job and work with your hands a lot, you’ll want plenty of light to see your work, but you don’t want it to cast shadows. On the other hand, natural lighting and overhead lighting are great options if you do a lot of computer work. If you work closely with your builder and designer, they’ll be able to offer custom solutions based on your needs. 

Dining Table

Dimmable recessed lighting is a great option if you have a dining room. If you have an open floor plan with a dining area, a pendant light or chandelier over the table is a better option because you’re still getting all the lighting from the kitchen and living room. 

Even though interior designers and lighting designers generally advise against having a single light source in a room, the chandelier or pendant over your dining table is likely to be the most noticeable and have the most influence. If you’re worried about not having enough lighting, you can always add recessed lights in the room’s corners so the chandelier remains the focal point. 

With so many lighting and accessory options, it can be hard to know what will look good in your home. That being said, there are a few factors that you can consider when shopping for lighting for each room in your home. Your builder and designers are here to help you, so when in doubt, trust them! They are trained to know what type of lighting is best for each room in your home. 

You should also keep in mind that no amount of trend or chic design can overcome inadequate lighting. Taking the time to ensure that you have the appropriate amount of light in each room and that the light source is functional and stylish will pay off in spades down the road. 

Split Rock Custom Homes specializes in luxury homes in St. George, Utah. Reach out today to hire the best luxury home builders near me for your dream home. 

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