Why is everyone living in the dark? In this week’s blog post, I am going to explore one of the most common interior design misconceptions that revolves around lighting. As an interior designer, I see many common mistakes when it comes to interior design, and not enough lighting is one of them.

We love this rustic table lamp because the hammered bronze base adds character and texture to a living space or bedroom. Due to the neutral coloring, this is perfect for most living spaces as it’s not too overpowering. 

I can’t recall a single home I’ve walked into where the lighting was correct – and don’t even get me started on bathroom and kitchen lighting! Many people also focus on lighting their space during daytime hours, but when planning lighting for a space, plan for the worst-case scenario – nighttime. 

Similarly to other areas of interior design and decor, it is really important to carefully plan a room’s lighting arrangement. This helps you to save a lot of money in the long run. 

The execution of good and ample lighting in a space can make or break the design. That is because for example; if there have been recessed lights installed into a space,  but specified areas within the space are neglected, the room falls flat. Recessed lighting creates harsh shadows that need diffusing and accent lighting helps to make art and other accessories shine. 

Let’s take a closer look at how we can fix this common interior mistake.

This dining room example has two key lighting layers which play a vital role in creating the overall ambiance of the space. A central light fixture above the dining table helps to focus light down onto the table’s surface and the recessed LED strip lighting around the perimeter of the room adds a sleek design element as general lighting.

Simple table lamps don’t have to be plain! We love this mid-century modern ceramic lamp because it’s tall design features a texture that would sit beautifully on top of a console table or side table.

If you have recessed lighting in the ceiling, you still need lamps to help diffuse harsh shadows. Good lighting goes unnoticed, but bad lighting is distracting.

In interior design, there are specific foot-candle recommendations for various spaces. This does go into the technical calculations, but homeowners don’t need to worry about that. 

Instead, you should start to think about lighting a room in layers, particularly for living spaces. It is also incredibly important to have full control over the lighting levels within any room so you can alter the moods within the space.

By incorporating different types of lighting; general lights (lamps), accent lighting (sconces, novelty lamps, picture lamps, lighting integrated into a builtin), and task lighting (reading lamps), the space becomes more versatile and liveable. By implementing various lighting layers in the home, you can get more mileage out of your space. 

How gorgeous is this mid-century modern table lamp? We love the ribbed style design to the base, that is finished in glossy white with an oatmeal linen shade. Comes with an 8-foot long clear cord and plug.

One way to illuminate a room is to start with a triangle of light. A triangle of light is created with lamps around a seating arrangement. If an imaginary line was drawn connecting each of the lamps, it would create a triangle. 

By using at least three lamps in different corners of the space, the overall lighting becomes softened and shadows are reduced. This is really important when entertaining. 

Is the lighting in your home correct, or do you need to make adjustments to make it great? We’d love to help, message us today to set up a design consultation over Zoom or in-person if you’re in the Chicagoland area!

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