Good lighting makes a home feel finished. A few principles to guide your selections.
Whether you’re picking selections for a new home or in the middle of a renovation, lighting is easy to leave until last, and it’s one of the details you’ll notice most once you move in. A thoughtful lighting plan makes every room work better and look better.
Start with layers
The best-lit rooms use several kinds of light working together:
- Ambient light is the general, overall light in a room, such as recessed lights in a kitchen or a ceiling fixture in a bedroom.
- Task light is focused where you work or read, such as under-cabinet lights over a countertop or a lamp beside a favorite chair.
- Accent light is the finishing touch and often the “wow” moment, such as a chandelier over the dining table or a statement fixture in the entry.
Get the scale and spacing right
Spread light evenly through a room instead of clustering it in one spot, and choose fixtures sized to the space:
- Hang a chandelier or pendants about 30 to 36 inches above a dining table or kitchen island.
- For a chandelier over a table, aim for a width about 12 inches narrower than the table.
- Plan brightness in lumens, not watts, since today’s LED bulbs use far less power. Living spaces generally need less light per square foot than kitchens and work areas.
Mix finishes with intention
Light fixtures are the jewelry of a room, so choose pieces you’ll enjoy for years. In an open floor plan, keep to one overall style, such as traditional or modern, and use no more than two finishes in a space:
- Similar tones, such as nickel and chrome, sit comfortably together.
- Light and dark metals, such as polished nickel and bronze, create contrast.
- Warm and cool metals, such as brass and silver, can pair well. Black or iron acts as a neutral that balances warmer finishes.
Let’s plan it together
Lighting is part of every BLDR home’s selections process, and we’re glad to help you create a plan that’s both practical and beautiful.