the 6 most common interior lighting mistakes
the 6 most common interior lighting mistakes - because good light is essential!
Bad lighting can spoil even the most beautifully decorated interior. Good, will highlight its advantages and hide its disadvantages. That's why it's a good idea to start decorating your new house or apartment by designing the lighting we wrote about why this is so important HERE. How to avoid a lighting mishap and what mistakes in selecting lamps and light sources we make most often? Check our list and make sure nothing like this has happened under your roof!
1. One light source is definitely not enough!
Seemingly we all know this, but it still happens that all our attention is focused on one main, central - usually ceiling - light source in the room. Too often we underestimate the importance of the interior lighting design and fail to plan it not only at the construction stage, but also before the installation is laid. And yet, it is the right interior lighting that affects how we will feel and function in it. A single pendant lamp or chandelier will illuminate the interior, but will not allow us to build an atmosphere and adjust the lighting to the time of day, our mood or activity.
If you are at the stage of designing a house or apartment, keep in mind layered lighting and different types of lamps within each room. The lamps that should be in it should have three functions - to illuminate the room, to help its occupants to do their work (work light) and to give accent light - to build atmosphere, to help navigate when the main light is off. Depending on the functionality and size of the room, invite ceiling lamps, table lamps, floor lamps and wall sconces into the room.
If the design of your interior did not take into account different types of lighting, you can still make changes that will improve the well-being of the household members. Floor lamps are very portable, you can find wall lamps on the market that do not need to be wired, and table lamps set on dressers or coffee tables are always a good option.
2. Not so bright!
Other than when you are reading, writing, preparing food or working on the computer, you rarely need full intensity lighting. Unfortunately, table or floor lamps alone do not always provide enough light. Therefore, it is worth thinking in advance about the use of modern dimmers, which are now available in various styles and colors. They will not only allow you to dim the overhead light as much as you need, but also help reduce energy consumption.
Another mistake is to position the headlights and lamp shades in such a way that the light emitted by them does not dazzle household members or guests. Take into account that people vary in height, and that mirrors, as well as shiny mirrored surfaces, can reflect the light stream and direct it in the opposite direction than you intended. Don't place unshielded bulbs at eye level, and if you have the option, choose wall sconces and spotlights with directed light that you can easily control.
3. Ill-fitting lampshade
You can't even imagine how often when decorating our interiors we choose pendant lamps and chandeliers that are too small in relation to the size of the room, or lampshades that are too small in relation to the base of a table or floor lamp. the lampshades used are too small in relation to the size and height of the room or lamp base. Before buying a pendant lamp, "try it on" to the interior, and if in doubt, choose the one with a larger shade.
When choosing a lampshade for a table lamp, remember that its height should correspond to about 3/4 of the height of the lamp base, and floor lamps, unless they are minimalist lamps with a very narrow base, usually look best with lampshades with a base diameter of 45 cm or more.
4. The wrong bulb
Another very common mistake is buying a beautiful lamp and then matching it with the wrong bulb. LED bulbs, which we write more about HERE are an excellent choice both in terms of performance, durability and the ability to choose the color temperature of the light.
Remember that the warmer (more yellow) the light, the cozier the atmosphere in the interior. However, if you want light that motivates and stimulates you, opt for bulbs with a cooler, blue hue (more on this how to choose a light bulb for your lamp you can read in our guide HERE).
Another thing is to choose the color of the bulb or the type of decorative bulb. Light bulbs with a visible decorative filament can add character to the lamp and emphasize its style, and thus the style of the entire arrangement. If you're wondering whether it's worth choosing such a bulb for your interior, check out our article, in which we describe types and uses of decorative light bulbs.
5. Not just light!
When thinking about lighting your interior, think not only about light, but also about... shadow. The contrast between light and shadow makes the room seem much more interesting. The shadow gives the interior depth, texture and builds atmosphere. However, operating a shadow is not easy, so you must learn to understand and control it. Otherwise, it may prove to be an inconvenience and a nuisance.
In general, it all depends on the proper positioning of the lampshades. Direct the spotlights or wall sconces so that the shadow falls exactly where you need it, but also make sure that the light cast by the lamps, does not glaring anyone in the eyes.
6. Lamps? We'll buy at the end..
Practice shows that very often we treat lighting "negligently". Naked light bulbs hang in newly built houses for years, and if you move into a purchased apartment, often for a long time (or never!) we do not change the lighting found there. This is a mistake, because, as we have emphasized more than once, it is the light that most strongly affects our well-being in the interiors, helps us in our work and activities, calms and soothes us.
So why don't we buy lamps soon after we move, why don't we customize lighting to our own needs? The most common "excuse" is cost, but lamps do not have to be nightmarishly expensive at all. Of course, if we want a lamp designed by a famous designer, its price may be directly proportional to his fame, but on the market we have a choice of lamps from every shelf, and if we search carefully, we are sure to find lighting that will fit into our budget, the bare cables will stop scaring guests, and the householders will finally feel... at home.