Choosing Suitable Lighting For Your Apartment

Published
03/12/2020

When it comes to house lighting, it is commonly overlooked and chosen in the last phase of renovating a house. Not to mention that the multitude of choices can often leave one feeling overwhelmed and lost. Though the lighting for each room is not the first thing that you’ll notice when you enter the room (as compared to the furniture and furnishes), it plays a large role in setting the general mood and ambiance. Choosing the right lights can help to accentuate and complement the color scheme and design of each room, and transform the space into a particular mood that you would like to set. If you are at a loss, read on to find out which types of lighting will suit the different rooms according to their different purposes, colors, and intensities.

1. Entrances, Stairs and Staircase Landings

Since these areas are usually relatively plainer and less decorated as compared to other parts of the house, consider creating an aesthetic silhouette by using lights or a statement light installation. Chandeliers are great for these areas, as the light reflections from the gemstones hanging down create light movements pleasing to the eye. You can also layer light by adding several light sources to achieve a livelier mood. In addition, you can incorporate accent lights instead of just a single primary light source like a table lamp or spotlights.


2. Living Rooms
Making sure that sufficient light is cast in the living room is important as this is the place where most communal activities will be carried out and are usually the most used room. Avoid installing a single light source or dim lights. Instead, choose brighter lights to set an inviting mood to welcome people into your home. As living rooms are relatively larger, you can mix and match different light sources and play around with the lights. Do include general lighting with accent lights to brighten the room. If your living room is built with a high ceiling, opting for a larger lamp pendant will be better to ensure that there is enough light to reach the ground. You can also adopt the layering method and incorporate lamp shades or standing lamps at darker corners or beside the main sitting area.

3. Dining Rooms

Dining rooms are for family members to convene at the end of the day to chat over hearty meals. In order to create a comfortable atmosphere, avoid harsh lights and have the main light source hung right above the dining table, with a distance of at least 60cm. If you hate fumbling with your food in dim light and prefer brighter lighting, you can opt for additional accent lights around the circumference of the room to enhance visibility. It is important to pick the right intensity of your lights according to your preference and avoid choosing too dim or too bright lights.


4. Kitchens
Having sufficient lighting in your kitchen to avoid accidentally slicing your finger off or burning your hands is extremely important, especially since you will be dealing with fire and sharp objects. Choose ample general lighting with high-intensity bulbs, and install additional lighting under the cooker hood and hanging cabinet to make sure that your kitchen is well-lit. However, you should avoid extremely bright lights that emit a great deal of heat and add on to the already warm and stuffy kitchen.

5. Bedrooms

Bedrooms are for cozying up to your partner and having a good night’s rest. Apart from when you’re sleeping, you would want a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere to rest after a long day at work. Wall lights and table lamps are suitable for creating a romantic and cozy ambiance. One thing to note is to avoid general harsh lighting that is too bright and generates heat. You can also add reading lights and night lights beside your bed if you do not like to sleep in complete darkness or enjoy some light reading before heading to bed. However, make sure that they are not too bright as they could be a disturbance or too dim such that it could spoil your eyes. A popular choice would be to install a light source that enables you to adjust the intensity of lighting with a dimming function.

6. Study Rooms/Working Spaces
When you are doing work or studying, having bright light is crucial in preventing you from damaging your eyes. You do not want to squint at your book that is just 15cm away from your face! Choose general lighting to ensure that the room is well lit. This can significantly help you to concentrate as well. Supplement the lights with table lights as well, and opt for no-glare lights to protect your eyes!

7. Bathrooms
Since bathrooms are relatively small, you should avoid bright lights like halogen bulbs that generate heat very quickly. Opting for general lighting is sufficient, and if you’d like, you can supplement it with little accent lights at the side or behind mirrors. However, do take note that if you choose decorative lamps and have them in your bathroom, cleaning will be a hassle. Be mindful not to have wood, leather or fabric finishings for your bathroom lights, as they are very prone to mold. For individuals who prefer a more romantic mood for the bathroom, you can install a single light source hanging from the ceiling, and add scented candles on special days or when visitors come to spice up the aroma as well.

In a nutshell, the right lighting for each room is crucial in setting the right mood and matching the purpose of your rooms. For example, you would not want a kitchen that has lights that are too dim or a bedroom with spotlights glaring at you. Even with the perfect combination of furniture and color scheme in your room, choosing the wrong light may ruin the whole mood altogether and make the room seem mismatched and a little off. Therefore, think carefully and avoid carelessly choosing random lights for your house because of the overwhelming number of choices. Talk to your interior designers or the people working on your house to get some advice on which lights are suitable for your room and the layout of your house. Alternatively, you can get some amazing advice online from furniture retailers like victoria plum. Ultimately, choose something that you like and personally think is suitable for your home!