Interior lighting is a crucial part of the design of any home. Unfortunately, its importance leaves a lot of room open for errors. Improper lighting can negatively affect everything from the mood to the functionality of the space, making it quite an important task. Below, we examine some of the mistakes made with LED interior lights in various rooms of the house, as well as how to remedy them.
Kitchen Lighting Mistakes and How To Fix Them
Kitchens can be difficult to light, being that they are usually multipurpose spaces these days. Here are a few common mistakes made when lighting kitchens.
- Too Much Light -
Though you should have plenty of lighting in your kitchen, there is such a thing as too much of it. Recessed downlights are particularly bad here. Though they give good ambient lighting, if you have too many ceiling downlights, your kitchen can start to feel rather clinical and harsh.
- Foregoing Task Lighting -
Forgetting task lighting can make it less comfortable to perform various activities in your kitchen, from cooking to cleaning to congregating. If you rely solely on ambient lighting overhead to light up the room, you'll quickly see that overhead lights can easily block the light from above and create shadows on worktops.
- Using Improper Light Fittings -
Being careful to not pick disproportionate light fixture sizes is important. If you do, you could end up with a pendant that looks all wrong and won't provide the best light for the space.
- Having Incorrect Colour Temperatures -
The colour temperature in your space is equally as important if you don't want the space to feel too harsh. Many people make this mistake because they don't understand colour temperature; the higher the Kelvin rating, the cooler the light. Cool lights have their place, but they are usually not in the kitchen.
How To Remedy These Problems
- Too Much Light -
To provide a nice balance of lighting in your kitchen, avoid using grids of recessed ceiling lights. Instead, supplement a few of those recessed lights using other kinds of ambient lighting, including under-cabinet lighting, wall lights and ceiling lights.
- Foregoing Task Lighting -
Consider how you intend to use every space in the kitchen and plan for that accordingly when designing your kitchen lighting. Position task lighting around the food prep areas, cooking areas and other spaces like sinks and countertops.
- Using Improper Light Fittings -
Fix this issue by choosing fittings that suit the area of the room you are placing them in. For instance, if you have a large table, you'll need a large light fitting. Big, oversized chandeliers shouldn't go over small sink areas.
- Having the Wrong Colour Temperature -
Choose warm white lights for your kitchen. Though you may be tempted to use cool lights for the task lighting areas, this will only make your space feel chilly and clinical.
Bathroom Lighting Mistakes and How To Fix Them
You spend more time in the bathroom than you likely think. Here are some bathroom lighting mistakes and how to fix them.
- Not Having Enough Light -
Whereas many people tend to over-light a kitchen, they tend to under-light a bathroom. Even if the bathroom is small, usually a single fixture isn't going to be enough to get the job done. A light in the middle of the room, for instance, will just cast shadows in places you don't want them to, such as on mirrors.
- Forgetting Colour Temperature -
Colour temperature is a common issue in bathrooms as well. Many people choose bathroom light fixtures with a colour temperature that makes the lighting seem unnatural, which can be troublesome if you get ready for your day using the mirror in the bathroom.
- Dismissing Dimming -
Dimmable lights are a good option for bathrooms but one that many people don't consider. Though bright lights are good for morning tasks, bright lights in the evening run the risk of disrupting your circadian rhythm.
How To Remedy These Issues
- Not Having Enough Light -
Layer the lighting in the bathroom. This means using ambient light for overall illumination, task lighting on each side of a mirror and accent lighting to show off interesting areas in your bathroom.
- Forgetting Colour Temperature -
Be sure to use warm white lights around 3000k. This rating tends to have a more flattering effect on various skin tones and comes with the bonus of a warm and cosy feel. All of this is possible while still having a light that is crisp and bright enough for you to perform tasks.
- Dismissing Dimming -
Think about adding a dimmer to the lighting in your space. Not only can it elevate the overall vibe of the room, but it can save energy and therefore your energy bill.
Living Room Lighting Mistakes and How To Fix Them
The living room is where you spend a lot of time with your family, and it should have special attention when completing the lighting design. Learn how to properly light the space below.
- Depending Only on Ceiling Lights -
Pendant lighting is great for creating a focal point and good for overall lighting, but only one source of light can cast shadows and ruin the atmosphere of the room.
- Not Considering Shadows -
Shadows can create ambiance and depth, but they can also make the area dim and unattractive. Understanding the positioning of lighting is an important way to avoid these lighting problems.
- Forgetting the Dimmers -
Much like in a bathroom, bright lights at all points in the day can be disturbing. Many people neglect adding dimmer switches, which can make the room uncomfortable to be in some hours of the day.
How To Remedy These Issues
- Depending Only on Ceiling Lights -
Layer the light in a modern living room like you would in your bathroom. Choose ambient overhead lights, indoor wall lights and task lights such as reading lights that can create a lovely space you'll love to be in.
- Not Considering Shadows -
Place the lights in proper areas to avoid any shadows being cast. Using indoor wall lamps to eliminate any shadows can help, as can adding task and mood lighting in the form of floor and table lamps.
- Forgetting the Dimmers -
You can easily avoid the problem of having lights that are too bright during the night by installing dimmer switches on the walls to control your main lighting.
Bedroom Lighting Mistakes and How To Fix Them
The bedroom is a space that should be just as comfortable as your living room, if not more. Learn the dos and don'ts of bedroom lighting below.
- Not Leaving Space for Bedside Lighting -
When you're relaxing in bed at night, you don't want to have a bright bedroom lamps overhead light shining down on you. Especially because you'll need to get out of bed to turn it on and off. Many people find themselves in this situation by neglecting to add bedside lighting.
- Using Only a Pendant Light -
Some people like to have a focal point in the form of a pendant light, but many leave the lighting there. Having just one pendant light, especially if you have it more as a decorative light and not a functional one, will leave your space feeling dark and small.
- Poor Task Lighting -
If you have a vanity in your room where you get ready for the day or a desk where you write and work, having improper lighting can make it hard to use these areas.
How To Remedy These Issues
- Not Leaving Space for Bedside Lighting -
Choose a bedside table that is large enough to place a table lamp, or you can also add internal wall lights near the sides of the bed. LED Reading lights attached to the wall or headboard is a great alternative to bedside task lighting.
- Only Using a Pendant Light -
Prevent not having adequate bedroom lights by adding layers of light. Use lamps on bedside tables, wall lights or reading lamps mounted on the headboard to complete the job.
- Poor Task Lighting -
Install wall lights on either side of the vanity or include a small lamp on that table to give you proper lighting instead of relying on ambient lighting to get the job done. You can also use LED mirror lights on vanities to give a similar effect.
Hallway Lighting Mistakes and How To Fix Them
The hallway can be a hard place to light due to its shape and length. Here are some tips on how to accomplish good lighting in these areas.
- Not Spreading Light Out -
Many people only put a lamp on a table at either end of the hallway. This leaves a lot of dark areas between the two ends and makes it difficult to navigate.
- Not Using Ceiling Lights -
Hallways are naturally dark and cramped spaces by design, more often than not. By not using pendant lights or LED spotlights, you could be creating an even smaller looking area you will not like. Relying on lamps alone may not provide the best results or the evenest stretch of light.
- Leaving Shadowy Areas -
Even with an overhead light and lamps, you may still have some areas of the hallway that are difficult to light if you haven't placed those fixtures in the correct space.
How To Remedy These Issues
- Not Spreading Light Out -
Instead of only lighting either end of the hall, consider the central area as well. Place a table in the middle of the hall to add some light throughout it.
- Not Using Ceiling Lights -
The fix to this one is simple: install some ceiling lights to save space and add light. Putting recessed lights, ceiling spotlights or LED hanging pendant lights along the ceiling can make a huge difference.
- Leaving Shadowy Areas -
You can add decorative interior wall lights to your hallway to both improve its appearance and spread the light throughout its length.
Dining Room Lighting Mistakes and How To Fix Them
The dining room is a space where family and friends gather for meals and entertainment. The lighting there is quite important. Here's how to make the most out of the space by avoiding these common mistakes.
- Not Considering Fixture Colours -
Most people choose only metallic or black colour finishes for their dining room lights, but that isn't the only option out there. By not exploring various finishes, your dining room can look dark and average.
- Overlooking Light Sizes-
Hanging a tiny pendant light over a large dining table can make the light seem swallowed up. Conversely, a massive decorative pendant lamp over a tiny table can cause issues as well in terms of proportions.
- Not Using Pendant Lights in Odd Numbers -
Installing pendant lights in twos or fours can create issues of balance. While the idea of symmetry might make you think you need even numbers, the opposite is true.
How To Remedy These Issues
- Not Considering Fixture Colours -
Instead of going for the usual metallic or neutral finishes, add a splash of colour to the space by choosing more colourful fixtures. This could be anything from vibrant reds and yellows in a modern space to cool blues for something still colourful but muted.
- Overlooking Light Sizes -
By finding lights that are appropriate for the size of the furniture, you can achieve great balance in your dining room.
- Not Using Pendant Lights in Odd Numbers -
You'll be shocked at what adding pendant lights over your dining table in threes can do for the space. It strikes a nice balance while casting light evenly across the entire table.
Conservatory Lighting Mistakes and How To Fix Them
Though the conservatory will get a lot of natural light during the day, you'll need to consider the lighting necessary for lighting up the space at night. Below are some mistakes often made.
- Not Using Wall Lights -
Relying only on floor lamps can create shadows in areas of the conservatory where the light cannot reach. This is made worse by the fact that hanging pendant lights in rooms that are mostly glass is difficult.
- Forgetting Low Level Lights -
Low lights are a great way to set the mood in your conservatory, but many overlook these lights in favour of just adding tall floor lamps. Lights at a higher level run the risk of causing glare on the glass panelling commonly found in these spaces.
How To Remedy These Issues
- Not Using Wall Lights -
Wall lights can bring illumination throughout the room in the darker areas that light struggles to reach. Even adding some decorative wall lights can improve the overall mood and visibility of the space at night.
- Forgetting Low Level Lights -
Fix this issue by adding low level lights to the conservatory. Spreading them out can cast some night light without causing glare and reflections.
Stairway Lighting Mistakes and How To Fix Them
Lighting staircases is important if you want to make the space both well lit and safe. Read on to learn about common mistakes and how to avoid them.
- Not Lighting the Surroundings -
Some people tend to just add a single light over the stairs usually on the landing and hope it provides enough light. This will usually just cast shadows, which can cause safety issues among other things.
- Not Taking Advantage of the Steps -
The steps themselves in your stairway provide plenty of opportunity for ample lighting with indoor stair lights. When you forego lighting the steps, you are leaving behind plenty of opportunities to provide lighting that is both effective and decorative.
How To Remedy These Issues
- Not Lighting the Surroundings -
Add interior wall lighting along the wall leading up the stairs to keep the area well lit during the entire walk up.
- Not Taking Advantage of the Steps -
Add low level lighting indoor step lights to the sides of the steps to fix this issue. You could also add lighting beneath the lip of any staircase to line them and accomplish your goals.
How To Make Sure You Use the Correct Colour of LED Light in the Home
One of the biggest benefits of LED lighting is the fact that you can choose the colour temperature of the bulb. Colour temperature refers to the warmth or coolness of the light, which is indicated by units Kelvin. The higher the Kelvin rating, the cooler the light colour. On the other hand, the lower the Kelvin rating, the warmer the light.
Generally speaking, cooler lights tend to be reserved for shop lighting and commercial areas. They are better for displaying products in a more accurate light but can be harsh when used domestically. For this reason, warmer colour temperatures are preferred at home. Choose a light with a warm white hue, somewhere around 3000k and 3300k, to get the best result. This will give you a light that is bright enough to see and perform tasks while still being pleasant to behold and gentle on the eyes.
