Interior Lighting Guidelines - Each Room is

Different.

When it comes to interior lighting, you need to

treat each room differently.

There are two guidelines that every interior designer should follow: mixing light sources at different levels, and providing

the appropriate amount of light given the tasks that you’ll

be preforming in that space.

You need different levels of lighting for getting

dressed in your bedroom than you do for cooking

in the kitchen.

Kitchen.

Overhead lighting is best for the kitchen.

Since your primary task is cooking or preparing food,

you want the lights overhead so that you are

not casting shadows on the food while it’s being

prepared.

It’s a good idea to invest in a dimmer so that you

can turn it up when you’re cooking, or keep it low

when you’re just grabbing a late-night snack.

You also, however, want to illuminate work

surfaces by using a sturdy table lamp and under-cabinet lights.

Dining Room.

You always want to make sure that the table is the

brightest spot in the room.

It draws people towards the food and makes them feel comfortable sitting

around the table.

This is why chandeliers are popular in dining rooms - it’s not just to make them look extravagant, but also to illuminate the table as

best as possible.

You want to use indirect lighting to address the

rest of the room.

Have light bouncing off of the walls, illuminating a

china closet, etc.

Living Room.

When addressing the living room, it’s smart to illuminate three of the

four corners.

Don’t just throw light into a corner, however; focus

at least one of those lights on an object.

This could be a work of art, a plant or anything else you want to draw

attention to.

Within the room, using a combination of table and floor lamps will provide

you with light that is suitable for reading on

the couches.

Have some lamps directing light upwards,

others directing it downwards.

Also, putting downward-glowing lamps on a

three-way switch will allow you to increase the

light for reading.

Bedroom.

A bedroom should be thought of as the place

where you feel most comfortable.

Your bedroom should give off a warm, snug feeling.

This is achieved by placing lamps around the

bed that do not point directly at it.

Also, make sure that you angle recessed fixtures towards the dressing

area - you do not want these fixtures pointing at

the bed.

It’s ideal to also have a small lamp that mimics

candlelight.

Something about a candle just gives off a

cozy feeling.

Bathroom.

You always want sconces located around the

mirror.

Whether you’re shaving or applying makeup, you want to make sure that you have a combination

of sidelights and overhead lights to fill in any shadows that are on

your face.

The rest of the room should be illuminated as well (some of us like to

read while on the toilet).

If you’re bathroom is larger, it’s smart to have a light directly over the

shower.