How to choose the best home lighting: room by room

Room lighting may seem like a subtle detail, but it has a strong impact on the quality of sleep and can even help you save on your electricity bill, for example. That's why it's important to know how to choose the best lighting for each room.

The reasons for pondering this matter are more than enough for you to devote time and attention. To help you, we decided to create a basic guide to the questions to be taken into account.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF LIGHTING
Before knowing how to choose the best lighting, you must know how to identify the desired lighting function. Generally lighting assumes three essential functions.


General or ambient lighting
Basically it is the light evenly distributed throughout the room, whether it is natural light from windows or doors, or the light provided by artificial lighting, lamps, lamps, etc.).

task lighting
As the name implies, it is lighting used in areas where certain tasks are carried out (such as reading, writing, cooking). It is important that it does not cast shadows or interfere with the task at hand.

This lighting should be brighter than general or ambient lighting.

Accent or spot lighting
This type of lighting serves to highlight certain elements of the room (such as furniture, a piece of art or a bookcase, for example). This accent lighting creates a contrast of light and shadow around the object you want to highlight.

THE BEST LIGHTING FOR EVERY ROOM: TIPS TO KNOW
Knowing the possible functions for lighting, then it is essential to take into account the function of the room in question. Here are some points to keep in mind.


Living room
In the living room, ambient light is essential, but it is not enough. Here it can make all the difference to combine different types of lighting.

Having accent lights at certain points in the room can help create more light and make lighting more efficient.

A tip: combine several lights, lamps and luminaires, with different heights and, in some areas, they can even be removable (to be raised or lowered) in order to allow flexible lighting according to usage needs.

This way, you'll create different lighting zones and avoid having to have all the lights on at the same time.

Kitchen
In the kitchen, you should place general lighting to create natural light in the space, as well as task lighting in various places, such as over the sink, stove, counter, etc.

A suggestion: you should ensure that ambient lighting reaches the interior of the furniture to help clean the storage spaces.

To save money, you should opt for a lighting system in which the lights are turned off separately.

Bedroom
In addition to ambient or general lighting, it is important that you have task lights. These can be on the nightstands or elsewhere in the room.


Both ceiling lights (general lighting) and task lights (bedside tables) must be able to be switched on and off from the door and bed.

Bathroom
Choosing the best bathroom lighting can be harder than it sounds. This is because a task light is needed on the mirror, but then general lighting can create shadows.

Ideally, you should choose a general light for the ceiling that spreads the light and on the mirror, to avoid such shadows, you should place several lights, including on the sides.

crossing zones
Areas such as corridors, entrance halls or stairs must have one or more light points on the ceiling to aid circulation.

Alternatively, you can install a motion detector system that allows the lights to turn on and off automatically.

Dining room
General lighting should include several light points over the dining area to create good lighting. You can choose to install suspended and dimmable luminaires.

Office
If you have a workspace at home, you will want to ensure good lighting in this room. Here you should opt for uniform general lighting, but without being too strong.

Remember that too strong a difference between computer lighting and ambient light can be tiring for the eyes.


When it comes to lighting a room, knowing how to choose the right light can make all the difference. In addition to identifying the needs of each room and knowing what types of lighting to include in that space, you can be aware of tricks to create even more light.

For example, in a room with a high ceiling, you can place a pendant lamp, which in addition to creating an atmosphere in the space and filling it, provides the necessary light for the space.

Source: e-konomista.pt