Here’s Why Lights Are So Important When Redecorating

“If a room is lit the right way, everyone looks their best and feels relaxed and comfortable, but they don’t know why,” the New York-based designer Lindsey Adelman explains to ELLE Decor.

So, if you are already redecorating your home, it would make sense for you to reassess its lighting fixtures along the way. This can help you to discern whether the new decor you are adding will attract as much attention as warranted. However, why else are those lights crucial?

You need multiple light sources, not just one

“The best-lit rooms have layers of light that blend well together,” architect and designer David Rockwell tells ELLE Decor. For this reason, you shouldn’t just give each room a single light and then expect it to do all of the heavy lifting when it comes to illuminating the space.

“If you only have one light source in the centre of the room, you’re looking at your shadow all day long,” Adelman warns. “It makes for a depressing base.”

However, sometimes, less really can be more

One common misconception is that you have to light the entire room. In some places, targeted lighting actually works best. This can particularly be the case when you use a pendant ceiling light to illuminate a kitchen island.

Interior design expert Tom Bartlett reveals to ELLE Decoration: “I tend to avoid multiple pendants (the Starbucks effect): it’s best to spend the money on a single, really good one.” Through perusing pendant ceiling lights by Pagazzi, you can help yourself to find what you need.

Some lightbulbs are much better than others

If you treat lighting too much as an afterthought, you could too easily end up nonchalantly gathering bulbs from the shelf of your nearest supermarket without much thought as to whether those bulbs are quite the right kind for your needs.

Fluorescent tubes should be given a wide berth, as they can produce an ‘off-colour’ look and tire the eyes. LEDs, on the other hand, last for a while and, as a result, are delightfully eco-friendly.

Your living room needs to feel inviting

After all, it’s where you are likely to chat with many visitors, from relatives to tradespeople. “Warmth is the most important factor when lighting a living area,” designer Peter Legg has declared to Homes & Gardens.

He therefore urges: “Aim for an even spread of light to avoid any harsh contrasts. One way to do this is through an armed ceiling light or a chandelier which will rebound light across the room.”

The right lighting choices can help you to save money

This is the case both at the point of purchase and in the longer term. For example, you can use lighting more cost-effectively by investing in a few dimmers, as these can enable you to subtly tweak lighting levels to suit your practical needs as they change throughout the day.

Using only as much electrical light as you strictly need can reduce your energy consumption – and thus your energy bills as well.

*This is a collaborative post