How to Light a Room

This decorating guide on how to light a room was last updated February of 2023. It’s one of the most important elements in design, and yet most homes are either drastically under-lit or so bright you could use their space as a landing strip for an airplane. To start, you’ll need to determine what the room you’re wanting to light is going to be used for.

This type of lighting should make it easy to see the things you are working on.

Accent Lighting used to highlight an object or an area of architectural interest. As a general rule, there is a formula to calculate how much light you need in a room:

If your foyer is small, try a pendant light, two wall sconces or even two buffet lamps on a side table for an inviting entrance. Make sure the lights do no hang too close to the cabinet doors, otherwise, you may not be able to open them fully. If and when you install lights under your counter, make sure that you pull them forward to the front of the cabinet for maximum illumination. If you have a table area or separate dining room, a chandelier (no more than ½ to ¾ the width of the table in diameter (with a maximum of 150 watt lighting capacity) should do the trick. Always install a dimmer switch on high wattage chandeliers and pendants so that you can control the amount of light needed. Other than the kitchen, excellent lighting is essential for performing personal tasks in the bathroom.

Whatever your style, lighting for the bathroom has become a primary part of bath design. Think about adding a dimmer switch for those times when you crave that special spa experience. Most living areas of the house require adequate lighting for reading or other tasks. In addition, some low level, glare-free lights will be needed for television viewing. There is usually some form of overhead lighting in a living area, so try keeping added lighting as a decorative accent and use a dimmer switch so you can change the mood of the room with ease. Adequate task lighting is the key to a functional and productive office space.

Here’s our favorite decorating tips for adding light to a home office: Desk lamps should be about 16” above the work surface to maximize efficiency and reduce glare.

It is always a good idea to place overhead lighting on a dimmer to control the brightness, especially in a home office or work-from-home set up.

When choosing a ceiling fixture, look for something decorative that fits the style of the bedroom.

Whether you choose a chandelier, semi-flush or a flush mount fixture as an overhead lighting option, be sure you install a dimmer switch! It will give you options from bright light all the way to a soft, moody glow.

Bedside lighting is the most important choice in this room: It provides you with additional lighting for reading, moving out of bed, or searching for that lost tv remote in the middle of the night. Try choosing bedside lamps with three-way switches so you always have the level of light needed for reading, etc. You can purchase either plug in or hard wire versions that look stylish and keep your bedside tables free for that stack of magazines you’ve been wanting to read. So, take a good look at your home, make a few small lighting changes and see what happens!

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