Choosing a lamp for each living room?

The lighting in a room isn't just part of the decor; it can affect every aspect of your life, from your sleep to your intellectual abilities.

So it's understandable that you want your home, the place where you likely spend a large part of your life, to be well lit. But there are so many different options to choose from!

Certain types of lighting serve a specific purpose, and when it comes to your home, you want the right type, depending on the purpose of your room. To optimize your home's lighting , first consider how you use each room.

Consider the function of each part

Generally, the function of lighting falls into one of three categories: ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting.

General or ambient lighting

Is the overall lighting of a room. It illuminates the entire room and is considered the "natural light " of the room. You can use a chandelier, pendant lamp, track lighting, or wall sconces to create ambient light that fills the room.

Work lighting

It is used to illuminate a work or reading area. This lighting should be more powerful than the ambient lighting so that the contrast focuses the light in the specified area. Desk lamps and under-cabinet kitchen lights are common options for task lighting.

But pendants and track lights can also be used for task lighting, but it depends on how you arrange the lighting in your room and the brightness of your bulbs (which we'll cover later).

Accent lighting

It highlights a particular area, such as a piece of art or a bookcase. It usually creates a shadow around the object for a dramatic effect. Wall sconces and landscape lighting are common accent lighting options.

To properly light your rooms using these techniques, think about how you'll use each room and whether you want to highlight anything in the room. Then, start layering.

Next, think about where that lighting will be placed in the room. Don't worry about light fixtures yet, just think about where the different lights will be placed in the room. If you're not sure where to start, here are some general suggestions, room by room:

The living room

In addition to ambient light, it's recommended to use accent lighting in a corner of the room. Emphasize an object, such as a painting or chair.

The Kitchen

Add ambient lighting overhead, then task lighting lower down to illuminate the countertop where you're working. If possible, the sink is also a good place to add accent lighting.

The Bedroom

It's common to install task lighting on bedroom nightstands. It's also recommended to direct any light away from the bed. They suggest directing ambient ceiling light away from the bed and toward the dressing room, in particular.

The bathroom

Bathroom lighting can be tricky. You want accent lighting for the mirror, but overhead accent lighting can create shadows. Consider lighting the mirror from both sides. Then, use ambient lighting to fully illuminate the room.

Of course, if you're a renter, there may not be much you can do to change the lighting position in your house or apartment. But these general guidelines can give you an idea of ​​how to work with what you have.

Choosing the right light bulbs

Your light bulb is your light source, and the type of bulb determines the appearance of the light. Bulbs have different performance characteristics. There are four basic types:

Incandescent light bulbs

These are the traditional light bulbs that most of us have been using for decades, and they are starting to disappear in favor of more energy-efficient options. They produce a warm, bright light .

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL)

They use 75% less energy than an incandescent bulb. They also last longer. They generally emit a cooler tone, but you can find them in a range of brightness levels and temperatures. It's worth noting that CFLs contain mercury, and while the amounts are small, they should be handled and disposed of more carefully, says National Geographic .

LEDs

They are just as efficient as CFLs, but can last up to three times longer. Previously, they were mostly used for task lighting, as they only provided a harsh, direct light , but like CFLs, they have come a long way.

They now offer the same look as incandescent bulbs, but are more efficient, cooler to the touch, and longer-lasting. For these reasons, they can also be more expensive, but there are utility rebates available.

Halogen

They emit a bright white light, similar to natural daylight. They are ideal for task lighting. They also use 10 to 20% less energy than an incandescent bulb.

There are other types of light bulbs, but these are the most common ones you'll use in your home. And for the purposes of this article, we're only interested in the appearance of light bulbs. If you'd like to learn more about how they work, check out our article on the difference between LED and light bulbs .

The FTC now requires that light bulb packaging contain information about brightness, bulb life, how much energy it uses, and whether it meets Energy Star requirements.

When we talk about appearance, we are interested in brightness, which is measured in lumens, and the appearance of light, which is measured in Kelvins.

How is brightness measured?

“Lumens” stands for brightness

The higher the lumen rating, the brighter the bulb. A typical household light bulb produces about 800 lumens, or the equivalent of 60 watts. How many lumens do you need for each room?

It depends on the size of your room, the color of your walls, and, of course, how much lighting you prefer. Use this calculator to get an accurate figure, based on your home and your preferences. But here's a general breakdown:

• Kitchens: 5,000 to 10,000 total lumens.

• Bathrooms: 4,000-8,000 total lumens

• Bedrooms: 2,000-4,000 total lumens

• Living rooms: 1,500 to 3,000 lumens

• Dining rooms: 3,000-6,000 lumens

• Home offices: 3,000 to 6,000 lumens

Keep in mind that these are rough estimates that take into account the use of different bulb types and lighting options in each room.

Kitchens are generally brighter and include a mix of ambient light and task lighting, for example. Bedrooms and living rooms are generally less bright.

If you know how to light your room in terms of watts, here's a cheat sheet for converting watts to lumens.

“Kelvins” is equivalent to the appearance of light

Besides brightness, you also need to consider the color temperature of the light. CFLs weren't ideal a few years ago, as they only produced a very blue, cool light.

But they've come a long way, and now you can find them in warmer, more yellow tones. The packaging should tell you the color temperature of the light, from warm to cool, measured in Kelvins . The higher the Kelvins, the cooler the light.

The lighting blog Batteries + Bulbs explains that bulb boxes typically refer to different bulb temperatures. It also explains where these temperatures are best used in your home:

Soft white/warm white (2700 Kelvins)

Ideal for bedrooms and living rooms, as it gives them a warm and cozy look.

Bright white/cool white (4100 Kelvins)

Ideal for kitchens, bathrooms or garages, as it gives rooms a whiter and more energetic look.

Daylight (5000-6000 Kelvins)

Ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, and basements; great for reading, intricate projects, or applying makeup; provides the greatest contrast between colors.

You can also try this interactive tool from Energy Star, which suggests which type of bulb to choose for different lighting options in each room.

It's helpful to have a basic understanding of how light bulbs work. This way, you can choose the right bulb for you. Dimmer switches are also a great option if you want to vary the intensity of your lighting. We've explained how to install a dimmer switch yourself.

Choose your lighting fixtures

Now that you know what your lighting is for, how bright you want it, and what temperature you prefer, it's time to choose the best type of lighting fixture to optimize all of these factors. Here are some common lighting fixtures, along with how (and where) they're typically used:

Ceiling Lights

This is the standard for ambient lighting . According to home designers, they are ideal for entryways, hallways, bedrooms, work areas, and stairways. In hallways, they recommend spacing the fixtures every 2.5 to 3 meters for adequate lighting.

The Chandeliers

Used for general or ambient lighting, they are ideal in dining rooms or bedrooms.

Wall Lights

These are usually wall lights. They can be used in any room for ambient, task, or accent lighting, depending on where you place them and the type of bulb you use.

Hanging Lights

Used for task or general lighting, they are suspended from the ceiling and are equipped with shades to prevent glare. They work best above dining room tables, counters, or other work areas.

Recessed Lighting

Again, recessed lighting can be used anywhere for general, task, or accent lighting. It all depends on their brightness and location.

Track Lighting

You can also use track lighting for just about anything. It's especially versatile because you can often move individual lights around and point them in any direction you like. It can be an accent to highlight a piece of art, or you can simply use them to light up the entire room.

Table lamps

Ideal for accent lighting in a living room or additional lighting in a bedroom.

The Lighting Research Center provides details on other lighting fixtures, including how to install them and the type of lighting effect they produce. Keep in mind that different light fixtures require different types of bulbs. When choosing a fixture, consider the type of bulb it requires.

This is more of a design rule than a lighting rule, but when choosing the right light fixture , you also need to consider size.

A light fixture that's too small or too large can make your room look awkwardly proportioned. LightsOnline offers some tips for choosing the right size light fixture, but here are some key points.

The right size of light fixture

Ideal Size of Table Lamps

As a general rule, the height of the lamp should not exceed 1.5 times the height of the room on which it is placed and the diameter of the lampshade should not be wider than the table top.

Ideal size of chandeliers and pendant lights

Measure the width or diameter of your table. Then subtract 12 inches from that number. This is the maximum width or diameter for a pendant light. Keep in mind that a fixture with an intricate or busy design will appear larger, so if that's what draws your attention, you'll want to reduce your maximum width slightly.

Assuming you have 8-foot ceilings, the bottom of the light fixture should hang between 30 and 35 inches above the table. But if your ceilings are higher, we suggest adding an extra 3 inches above the table for every additional foot of ceiling.

Ideal size of wall lights

The closer you are to the light you're lighting, the smaller it should be. For example, in bathrooms where you'll be near the mirror, opt for smaller wall lights, about 22-25 cm.

In bathrooms, install wall lights 90 to 100 cm apart, on either side of the mirror, 45 cm from the center line of the sink. If the wall lights have lampshades, position the lower edges of the shades slightly below eye level (150 to 170 cm from the floor).

For some, interior design comes naturally, and it's easy enough to consider lighting when decorating. For the rest of us, it may be necessary to follow a few rules and guidelines, and these should get you on the right track.

For more information, see our article on the correct sizes to respect for your light fixtures.