Living Room



Lighting is as important as every other element of the design. Good lighting changes and transforms a space. We use light and shade to make a room feel comfortable but also dramatic and atmospheric

The best living room lighting ideas balance bright illumination with a cozy ambient glow. Living rooms need careful considerations for functional lighting. The concept of layering light is particularly important in the living/family room, an area of the house where people tend to gather for long stretches of time and engage in an array of activities, including conversation, watching TV, reading, playing board games and using a laptop.

The 3 top illumination styles for living rooms/family rooms are ambient lighting, accent lighting, and architectural lighting. Ambient lighting for a living room should be 1,500-3,000 lumens.


Kitchen




The kitchen requires careful consideration of tasks and ambient lighting. A basic lighting plan for a modest kitchen might consist of a central, ceiling-mounted fixture providing ambient light, with under cabinet fixtures providing task lighting for the counters, soffit lighting providing task lighting above the sink, and a pendant providing task or ambient lighting over the island. Ambient kitchen lighting should be 5,000-10,000 lumens.


Dining Room




The primary focus of dining room lighting is the table, and fixtures placed directly above the table may provide both ambient and task lighting for this room, dimmers are particularly desirable as they provide flexibility in establishing a relaxing atmosphere when entertaining. A traditional lighting plan for a dining room consists of a chandelier above the table. An upgraded lighting plan might include cove lighting on two opposing walls and a dimmable chandelier over the table. Ambient and task lighting combined in a dining room should be 3,000-6,000 lumens


Bedroom




Because the bedroom is a room where a relaxing, sympathetic atmosphere is welcomed, it may be best to avoid central ceiling-mounted fixtures that might be perceived harshly when viewed from bed. A traditional lighting plan for a bedroom might consist solely of floor and table lamps, with table lamps on nightstands and dressers.

A new lighting plan might include either wall-mounted fixtures flanking the bed or table lamps on the nightstands, plus a pair of wall-mounted sconces near the dresser. Ambient lighting in the bedroom should be 2,000-4,000 lumens.


Kids Room




Diffused general light. Swivel directional light. Desk lighting and reading lights. In a child’s bedroom, you can use a wall lamp to light a specific area. Let your – or your kid’s – imagination run wild. For example, cloud-shaped wall lights with tiny LED lights are available that imitate a starry sky.

Another important element of lighting a child’s room is the desk lamp, which targets light in the work area. Warm white light between 2,700 and 3,300 Kelvin is completely adequate for a kid’s room.


Office




Indirect lighting (reflected off walls or ceilings, rather than distributed in one direction) for a home office. Use cove lighting to wash the ceiling or wall sconces that project the light upward.

A key consideration is to ensure that a light fixture is not reflected in a computer screen, so knowing the position of the computer—which may be limited by the location of outlets and internet cables—is essential. Ambient lighting for a home office should be 3,000-6,000 lumens, with task lighting at the desk a minimum of 1,200 lumens.