4 More Mistakes to Avoid in Interior Home Lighting

You might not realize it but you might be making interior home lighting mistakes in your attempts to make lighting your home inexpensive or unique. Sometimes, you should be able to take care of the mistakes without hiring a pro. Here are more of today’s most common lighting mistakes, and ways on how to do it right.

Mistake #1: Forgetting to incorporate ambient and task lighting

Lighting designers understand that all well-design spaces should incorporate different kinds of lighting. Ambient light is general lighting for conversing, walking around and identifying objects while task lighting gives higher and more concentrated lighting for tasks like reading, shaving and chopping vegetables. Accent light like the Athena Table Lamp by Adesso is used to highlight architectural features or artwork. Combining these three types of light gives greater interest, functionality and livelihood that you will have efficient and sufficient lighting.

Mistake #2: Neglecting to control different types of light separately

For maximum flexibility and efficiency, every type of light should be controlled separately, and halogen or incandescent light, or dimmable LEDs like the Saber LED Desk Lamp by Adesso has to be dimmed. Controlling multiple sources can be done by the old school multiple light switches, but we are now seeing more sophisticated ways to achieve control. From a programmable wallbox system for single room control to wireless controls that can be programmed from a phone or laptop, controlling lighting gives energy savings combined with the right type and amount of light for various times and uses.

Mistake #3: Putting recessed downlights in a high ceiling for ambient lighting

Doing so will yields a lot of wasted light and a very dark space. Light originating at high ceilings has to have a focused and tight beam spread with enough center bean candle power, just like that of a high wattage halogen source or ceramic metal halide. Better yet, use pendant or wall-mounted sources like the Zip Linear Wall Sconce by De Majo by Illuminating Experiences to reflect light off a light and matte ceiling. This usually gives better illumination than punching many holes for recessed downlights.

Mistake #4: Decorating with light

Lighting designers see light as an actual dimension, imagining the output and distribution from every fixture, as well as the quality of color and light. Decorating with light fixtures, or choosing fixtures based on how they look and not on their light output, distribution and performance usually results in less than optimal light output and a waste of energy. For assistance on architectural light fixture choices, consider getting a professional lighting designer who can transform your space with light, while giving you adequate task lighting and saving energy.