Lighting Your House Room By Room [INFOGRAPHIC]

Living Room Lighting

• Create ambient light by bouncing light spread up to the ceiling rather than downwards at the floor.
• Create layers of light for a better balance. For instance, use both overhead track lighting and lamps to create different light spreads.
• Color Temperature: Choose a color temperature that is warmer rather than cooler. Warm temperatures create ambiance and warmth which is helpful for this room because most people relax in this room. A color temperature ranging from 3000K to a maximum of 3700K on the Kelvin color temperature scale is appropriate for this area.
• Use task lighting for reading. You want to avoid overly right or harsh lights due to the television screen and glares, but reading is a common activity in this room so a well-placed lamp for task is lighting crucial.
• Lumens: Aim for around 1,500-3,000 lumens for the space, depending on the size of the room.

Kitchen Lights

• Focus on general lighting and task lighting. The kitchen needs adequate lighting for cooking, cleaning, and other tasks. Layer the lighting with an overhead fixture and smaller task lighting options as well.
• Use accent lighting. Accent lighting is ideal because it gives a light source that is gentle without being overpowering and can help create added ambiance in this sometimes harsh lighting area. Consider adding can lights above the counters or recessed can lights above the cabinets.
• Consider LED. This room needs bright, powerful lighting for visibility but that can create glares from appliances and sinks. LED is known to have less glare over compact fluorescent fixtures.
• Color Temperature: Aim for a color temperature between 3500K to 4000K to create a lighting plan that balances warmth and visibility.
• Lumens: Since the space requires a high visibility, aim for a range of 5,000-10,000 lumens.

Dining Room Lighting

• Make the table the focal point for lighting. From eating to game night, the table is where the light should be centered. Make sure the table is placed in the center of the room with the light fixture placed directly above it.
• Choose pendant over recessed. A pendant fixture which hangs down will give you a better outcome for task lighting without being as powerful as a recessed or overhead mounted fixture.
• Consider a chandelier. A chandelier is a great way to spread light both up and down in direction to create a balanced light spread.
• Add wall sconces for ambiance. Ambiance lighting should be a part of every room. Wall sconces in the dining room are perfect for adding this element without overpowering the space.
• Use a dimmer. The dining room is a great place for a dimmer because it allows you to have more control over when you need ambient lighting or task-based lighting.
• Color Temperature: Aim for between 3000K to 4000K.
• Lumens: Aim for 3,000-6,000 lumens for this room.

Bedroom Lights

• Use multiple light sources for layering. A bedroom should have an overhead fixture directly in the center of the room for gentle lighting, but lamps or wall sconces are a nice way to control the light sources when ambiance is needed. You can also use floor lamps and wall sconces if an overhead fixture is out of the question but be sure to balance both sides of the room to avoid shadows.
• For this room, avoid hanging fixtures since it will not give enough light spread. Opt instead for a surface mounted fixture for the best results.
• Don’t forget the closet! Closets can be tricky to light. Consider the use of an overhead surface mounted fixture or several recessed can lights to get the best result. You can also employ rope lighting on the shelves to create even more visibility.
• Color Temperature: Aim for around 3000K-3700K for bedrooms.
• Lumens: A suggested lumen output of 2,000-4,000 is recommended.

Bathroom Light Fixtures

• Avoid shadows. Most bathrooms use overhead lighting that casts downward and creates harsh shadows. Choose fixtures with both uplight and downlight in their designs and light both sides of the mirror for the best effect.
• Get rid of overhead fixtures. A single overhead fixture is less effective at light spread than using several smaller fixtures throughout the space. Consider the use of recessed cans overhead and wall sconces near the mirrors for the best overall lighting scheme.
• Consider dimmers. This is a room most people skip when thinking of dimmers, but it would greatly benefit from dimmers. Since the bathroom is for everything from grooming which requires high visibility lighting to relaxing bubble baths which benefit form a dimmer light, a dimmable fixture is a smart investment in the life of the space.
• Color Temperature: Aim for between 3700K to 4500K for best results.
• Lumens: Aim for around 4,000-8,000 lumens for this room, depending on the size.