What does lighting in the house solve: how to properly light rooms

Lighting is traditionally considered one of the most difficult decisions in interior design, and at the same time one of the most important. After all, it is enough to change the bulb from cold to warm or the color of the lampshade, and this dramatically changes the appearance of the room.

SSPDaily has published a guide on the topic: What should be the right lighting in the house. Here's how professionals see this problem and what they advise to do when installing it.

Kitchen

Kitchen lighting should be multi-variant - bright enough for the work area to function properly and atmospheric enough to invite friends over for dinner.

Romanos Brihi, an interior designer and co-founder of Studio Vero, advises: "Don't overcomplicate the task. Just make sure that there are enough lights directed at the cabinets and countertops. Also consider adding sensor lighting inside the cabinets so you can see what you're reaching for."

If you're not planning a complete renovation, it's easy to make changes without having to completely redo the wiring.

"If you don't want to mess with wires, get battery-powered picture lights with remote control that mount on the wall and battery-powered table lamps for the countertop."

Lights can also be used above shelves to highlight your favorite dishes or vases. They are more elegant than spotlights, but perform the same task,

A kitchen island is a great opportunity to install decorative ceiling lights. In Briha's opinion, the ideal option in this regard is an odd number of pendant lights: one wide or three smaller ones, with spotlights for targeted lighting in between

"In my kitchen," says the designer, "I don't rely on pendants above the island from a practical point of view, but I like them to light up at night.

Bathroom

If you are planning a bathroom from scratch, consider the lighting at the same time as the location of the plumbing, as different areas should have luminaires with a certain IP rating.

"It's a wet environment," says Harriet Daniels, founder of Tigermoth Lighting, "so the choice of materials is very important. In particular, she advises choosing "something strong and durable, like brass."

She also recommends installing a heated pad on the back of the mirror to prevent it from sweating and building the lamp into a shelf near the shower.

If you use spotlights, be careful with their location: "Placing them directly above your head will lose the beauty of the mirror, and right above the shower head they will cast a terrible shadow," the designer adds.

"If you have the space, a pair of wall lamps on either side of the mirror, near the sink, at eye level, will look most advantageous."

Hallway

Hallways are often dark and narrow, so it's difficult to light them well. At the same time, they create the first impression and set the tone for the interior of the whole house.

"The hallway doesn't have a lot of furniture and fabrics, so decorative lamps are a great way to give it personality," says interior designer Sarah Piquet.

"Illuminate the hallway not only from the ceiling, but also from the sides, with wall lamps or picture lights that create a cozy space."

She believes that "multi-layered" hallway lighting is a step forward. "Wiring for wall lights provides optimal lighting when standing up, but you have to run cables in the walls. If you are not renovating, then table lamps are probably the best solution. A narrow console with narrow lamps will provide a dramatic effect and add style by choosing the design and shape of the lamp itself."

For particularly boring hallways, Sarah recommends adding a focal point at the far end, such as a piece of artwork with lighting above it, to draw the eye out of the darkness.

"In a hallway, you can also use linear strip lighting or thread lighting at the top of the cornice along the length of the hallway to provide a glow of light to the ceiling," she says, adding that a central pendant light or pair of pendant lights are ideal for making a statement in a large space.

Living room

"In the living room, more than in any other place, lighting should be atmospheric," says Venetia Rudebeck, co-founder of Studio Vero, a design company.

"We try to achieve this with different layers and heights of light: wall lamps, picture lamps, table lamps, and a magnificent chandelier."

She also advises: "When choosing the latter, think about what is below." In particular, don't hang the lamp too low if you move the coffee table around a lot.

When it comes to table lamps, Venice recommends experimenting with scale. "In a small room," she says, "I often use oversized lamps to add drama. She adds: "Also think about where you'll be sitting, reading or watching TV, and where you might need light."

Rudebeck believes that the color of the lampshade is important. "We always choose natural materials, such as rattan, or warmer colors. But we don't often put green lampshades in a room because they give low-quality light."

Leigh Lovett, founder of Soho Lighting Company, says her main advice is to think through the lighting scheme. "Connect your desk lamps to a five-amp circuit so that all the lamps are turned on by one wall switch," she recommends.

Bedroom

Sleep quality is proven to be significantly improved when the bedroom is properly lit.

"And this is mainly provided by lamps located next to the bed," says designer Sarah Piquet. "Many people like reading lamps as well as bedside lamps, but if you only need one lamp, a good intermediate option is a wall lamp with a swivel arm that can be directed toward or away from the book, as you prefer."

For those who have small nightstands and don't want to clutter them with a lamp, she suggests using sockets near the bed and installing pendants on a long cord, above the nightstands.

"Make sure that the switch for the pendant and other lights in the room is next to the bed so you don't have to get up to turn them off."

Larger pendant lights look good above the bed. "Ceiling lights are not a good option for a bedroom, and you don't want to be looking at a light that is too bright when you are lying in bed," says Piquet.

"A pendant light in this case is an effective solution, but a decorative hidden light fixture is also possible. In general, think not only about the brightness of the light, but also about the shape, color and style of the lamp or fixture itself."