Lighting plays a significant role in setting the mood, functionality, and overall vibe of your home. However, getting it right isn’t always as simple as screwing in a new bulb. The truth is, some lighting choices can make your spaces feel cramped, dull, or downright uninviting.
To help you create a well-lit haven this year, here are some common lighting mistakes that you should steer clear of:
Neglecting Layered Lighting
Relying on a single overhead light is one of the biggest lighting crimes out there. Granted, it’s easy – all you need to do is flip a single switch to flood the room with light, but it often makes spaces look flat, uninteresting, and uninspiring.
Layered lighting – that is, combining ambient, task, and accent lighting – adds both depth and functionality. This can be achieved by scattering different sources of light throughout any room in addition to the overhead light that functions as your ambient light.
Minimalist wall lights, like the ones available on Ozarke, are great for accent lighting, drawing the eye towards certain architectural features or furniture that you’d like to highlight.
On top of these wall lights, you can add freestanding floor lamps next to your favorite chair to create a cozy reading nook.
Choosing the Wrong Bulb Color Temperature
Sometimes, even impeccably decorated and lit rooms can feel like a hospital or a cave, and you can’t quite put a finger on why. The reason behind it? Poor bulb choices, probably. Light temperature, measured in Kelvins, plays a key role in how a room feels.
Warm white (around 2700K) creates a cozy, inviting vibe perfect for living rooms and bedrooms. Cool white (4000K) works great in kitchens or bathrooms for a clean, energizing look.
One big “don’t” worth remembering, though: don’t mix and match temperatures in the same space, as it’ll make the room feel chaotic.
Ignoring Dimmer Switches
If dimmer switches aren’t on your radar, they should be. They help you save energy and allow you to control the mood of your space!
With dimmer switches, you can turn lights all the way up for some reading, or a few levels down to create a subtle glow that’s perfect for movie nights. Without dimmers, you’re stuck with one intensity, and that’s no fun.
Get dimmer switches today! They’re easy to install and totally worth it for the versatility they can bring to your interiors.
Skimping on Task Lighting
If you’ve ever tried chopping vegetables in a shadowy kitchen or reading in a dimly lit room, then you already know how frustrating it can be. It’s also terribly unsafe. Task lighting solves these issues by focusing light where you need it the most.
Some examples of task lighting that are worth implementing this year include under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen, pendant lights over surfaces used to prepare food, a desk lamp in your home office, and bedside lamps or wall sconces for nighttime reading. Forgetting this type of lighting makes everyday activities unnecessarily tricky.
Overlooking Scale and Placement
This one’s sneaky but nonetheless so very important. Installing a tiny pendant light over a massive dining table or a giant chandelier in a tiny hallway just feels off balance.
The size and placement of your lighting fixtures need to match the scale of the room. Too high, and the light won’t reach the right spots. Too low, and it might turn into a head-bumping hazard. Take some time to measure and visualize before installing any light fixtures to make sure that everything looks and feels balanced.
Your home’s lighting can make or break its atmosphere, so don’t overlook the details. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can create a space that’s both functional and fabulous.
