10 Common Lighting Mistakes and How You Should Avoid Them

Lighting is an important component of ambiance and creating a mood in a space. Whether you are designing a small sitting room or a hip office, the difference between an okay space and a great one often comes down to lighting. Unfortunately, lighting mistakes can damage a space without anyone even realizing it. In this blog post, we will discuss 10 of the most common lighting mistakes and provide simple advice to fix them. Let’s get to it and shed some light on a properly illuminated space and increased aesthetic!

1. Forgetting Decorative Lights:
The most common mistake people often make is forgetting the importance of decorative lights. These lights both provide light and add personality and a touch of style to the room, becoming statement pieces. When you add a decorative light, such as a pendant light or chandelier, to a space, it changes the look of that room right away. Don’t be afraid to combine different materials and designs to complement or contrast your current design style.

2. Over-Estimating the Height of the Fixture:
When a light is suspended such as a pendant light or chandelier, careful attention is needed to how it is hung. Most mistakes will happen when a light is hung too low, obstructing the view, or making shadows look pronounced. The minimum accepted height for hanging lights is about 30” above the surface that the light is illuminating; this can be different according to the ceiling height and how big the fixture is. You will want to try different heights, to find the right height that makes both a functional place for the light while accommodating to the aesthetic.

3. Excessive Chandeliers:
Even though chandeliers offer a great design focal point, if used excessively, chandeliers create congested and imbalanced lighting. Consider the size of your room and the scale of your furniture when deciding on a chandelier. If you have a bigger room, select a bigger chandelier, smaller rooms call for smaller chandeliers. Remember, the chandelier serves to enhance the space, not overwhelm it.

4. Forgetting Wall Lights:
One of the biggest mistakes in lighting design is neglecting the wall lights or sconces, which are generally not utilized. Wall lights provide nice ambient lighting as well as accent lighting. And when you place them on either side of a mirror or art piece, it accentuates the piece even more. Just be careful about the direction of the emitted light from the walls and kill their intensity, so the room becomes more balanced and inviting.

5. Forgetting Floor Lights:
Floor lights do not just include floor lamps, if you need to include uplights, they are an option too. Floor lights are great options to engender versatility in any room. Floor lights can provide spectacle illumination as well as contribute to the overall elegance and depth of the space. Just won’t place floor lights in a high-traffic area, so they don’t get knocked over. You also want to be careful that they blend into the decor design, and you may want to navigate angles and heights to create a desired effect and not overbear the room.

6. Overlooking Task Lighting:
Task lighting is important to provide adequate light when doing an activity such as reading, cooking, or working. One common mistake people make is only relying on ambient lighting and not providing enough light to complete their tasks. It’s best to add task lighting, such as table lamps, where focused light is required. Choose adjustable lamps with light bulbs that match the right brightness for the specific task at hand.

7. Neglecting Lighting Layers:
The final consideration is creating layers of light. Layers will help support the overall balance and aesthetic appeal of the space. Combining ambient, task, and accent light creates a feeling of depth and dimension. The different light sources and fixtures provide an easy transition between any combination of the layers to create various lighting options for a specific mood or occasion to match lighting fixtures to achieve an overall feeling of light. Experiment with different combinations of layered lighting and dimmers for that perfectly blended light.

8. Ignoring Lighting Temperature:
Lighting temperature is a descriptor for the color of the emitted light, or whether it has a warm or cool tone. Lighting temperatures are appropriate for different types of activities or spaces. A warm light (yellow or orange) adds warmth and comfort to an area while supporting an intimate or cozy feeling, such as in the bedroom or ambiance of a living room. A cool (blue or white) light reveals a working or task-type area that may encourage focus and concentration, such as in a kitchen or office. It is important to consider how each light will be used and choose the correct light temperature.

9. Overlooking the use of Dimmer Switches:
Dimmers are frequently under-appreciated; however, dimmers can make a huge difference in the control you have over your lighting. Dimmers allow you to control the brightness of your lights by creating an atmosphere for any event you can think of. Dimmers give you flexibility; you can control the light when switching from bright to dimmed settings. Not giving a single thought to dimmers is a mistake in creating a cozy flexible lighting environment.

10. Ignoring for energy efficiency:
Lastly, another major thought when buying lighting fixtures is to consider energy efficiency. Always, should select LED lighting before incandescent bulbs due to using less energy and lasting longer. Another thought to consider is using natural light whenever possible, and there is daylight; this will keep you from using bulbs. Not only will this keep money in your pocket, but your choice will help make the environment a little more sustainable as well.

In conclusion:

Now that you know these common lighting mistakes, you can now transform your home into an aesthetically pleasing, cozy, and functional space. Adding festive decorative lights, forgetting the placement of your lights, and considering scale are all vital elements of perfect lighting design. Remember, lighting is an art form; with some trial and error, knowledge, and feedback surrounding your belief, you can master it. So, go ahead and light the world around you while enjoying the glow of your well-lit, warm lighting!