Interior Design: How to Choose the Right Lighting Fixtures?
A single light bulb can illuminate the rooms in a house or apartment. However, without a light fixture to frame the light, the room still looks like it’s under construction. It’s as if something were missing for the room to feel complete.
So, it’s important to have light fixtures in every room of your home, because, yes, they’re essential elements of beautiful interior design. Wall sconces, pendant lights, table lamps—there’s a wide variety of light fixtures to choose from, which can make the decision a bit tricky.
A closer look at the key criteria to consider when choosing the right lighting fixtures to complement your interior design.
What types of light fixtures should you choose?
The first thing to consider when choosing a light fixture is its type. There are, in fact, different models of light fixtures, each offering a different level of brightness or style.
Choosing a Pendant Light for Your Interior Design
You can choose a pendant light if your goal is to complement the main lighting in a room such as the living room, dining room, bedroom, or kitchen.
When it comes to pendant lights, for example, it’s a good idea to choose between:
- a suspension;
- a chandelier;
- a ceiling light.
Pendant lights resemble a lampshade suspended from the ceiling, while chandeliers consist of several components (lampshades, arms, garlands, ornaments, etc.). Finally, ceiling lights are distinct because they are mounted directly to the ceiling and do not hang down. It may therefore be a good idea to choose a ceiling light if the room has a low ceiling.
Choosing a Table Lamp for Your Interior Decor
Table lamps are also very trendy in interior design. This type of light fixture stands out from others because of its base or stand, which allows it to be placed on the floor or on a piece of furniture. Generally, table lamps are not the main source of lighting in a room but rather serve as accent lighting.
When it comes to table lamps, you can choose from:
- the streetlight;
- the halogen lamp;
- the desk lamp.
Table lamps, for example, can vary greatly in terms of their shape, style, and size. Halogen lamps and floor lamps are best suited for the living room, dining room, or bedroom. Desk lamps, on the other hand, can adorn a nightstand or desk, as well as shelves and the tops of certain pieces of furniture. In any case, table lamps have the advantage of being easy to move around.
Choosing a Wall Sconce for Your Interior Decor
Another type of light fixture you can choose for your interior design is the wall sconce, a fixture mounted on a wall. Generally, a wall sconce cannot fully illuminate a room, but it can enhance the walls while providing soft lighting.
Wall sconces are ideal for bedrooms or living rooms—for watching TV, for example. In the bathroom, wall sconces allow you to focus the light on a single spot, which is why they’re usually placed above mirrors to provide extra lighting that’s very useful for applying makeup, styling your hair, or shaving.
Choosing a Bedside Lamp to Complement Your Interior Decor
Among table lamps, you can also choose a bedside lamp. This type of lamp is unique, since the only place they’re normally used is on the nightstand—as the name suggests—next to the bed.
The lighting in a bedroom is also unique, since it’s important to have soft lighting that promotes relaxation and rest, yet is bright enough to allow for reading, for example.
Good to know: The recommended brightness for a bedside table in a bedroom is 15W, or 300 lumens. For a child’s bedroom, however, it’s best to choose a lower brightness level.
In addition to the style of the bedside lamp and its lampshade (if any), you can choose this type of light fixture based on the features it offers. These may include, for example:
- soft start;
- touch-to-turn-on;
- the gradual decrease in light intensity over the course of the day, to help prepare the body for sleep;
- Programmable lighting, so you can wake up to the light.
There are a wide variety of lighting options available, especially when it comes to bedside lamps. It’s therefore a good idea to consider your needs before making a purchase.
Choosing Lighting Fixtures to Match Your Interior Decor
In addition to the type of light fixture, there are many other factors to consider when choosing the right lighting for each room in your apartment or house.
It’s no coincidence that it’s recommended to choose your light fixtures last. You really need to have a good understanding of a room’s decor style in order to choose the right light fixture. This is especially true when it comes to selecting the color and style of your light fixture.
Choose lighting fixtures based on the decor of each room
How do you choose the right light fixture for a room? That’s an interesting question, since the choice of light fixture can vary greatly depending on where it will be installed. It would certainly be odd to put a floor lamp in a restroom or a huge pendant light in the bathroom. That’s why it’s important to choose a light fixture based on the room where it will be installed.
In the kitchen, it’s best to choose a light fixture that provides plenty of light, or several wall sconces that direct light onto the countertop. It’s indeed important that the person cooking be able to see clearly what they’re doing.
In the bedroom, on the other hand, it’s best to create a soft, subdued atmosphere that promotes sleep. However, you still need enough light to get dressed or apply makeup if necessary. In this case, it’s a good idea to choose a bright main light source and supplement it with softer lighting, such as wall sconces or bedside lamps.
In the living room, it’s important to provide enough light for entertaining and possibly dining, while also having more subdued lighting for relaxation and entertainment. The best solution, therefore, is to choose a table lamp—such as a floor lamp—to complement the main lighting.
What color and style should you choose for your light fixtures?
When it comes to choosing the style and colors of your light fixtures, it’s all a matter of taste. However, it’s important to consider the style and colors already present in the room so that the light fixture blends in harmoniously.
To avoid making a mistake, it’s best to choose a light fixture in the same color scheme and style as the other elements in the room. This way, you can coordinate the color of your light fixture with the living room throw pillows or the bedroom rug.