Do You Find Yourself in The Dark?
One frequently overlooked aspect when it comes to renovating any room is lighting. Most do it yourselfers will usually begin by painting and then as time and finances allow, redo things like flooring, window treatments and furniture, never stopping to realize that one of the most important aspects to any room is lighting.
How to Get More Light:
If your room seems dark or you struggle when working up close you have several options. First, you could begin by installing new window treatments that allow more light to come in. You could also paint the room a lighter color that will reflect more light making it seem brighter.
However, if these ideas still do not provide the light that you need, you are going to need to consider artificial lighting. The problem is that there are many different forms of lighting in many different styles so you have to be careful that the light that you choose provides the kind of light that you need. Let’s take a look.
Types of Lighting:
Ambient or general lighting is any overall lighting used to illuminate any space. Webster’s dictionary describes the word “ambient” as coming from all around or encompassing. Consequently ambient lighting refers to any type of lighting natural or man made that comes from over head.
If changing your window treatments to let more light in or painting is not enough, you might need a ceiling fixture or some type of light that once installed overhead will improve the overall lighting in the room. Ambient lighting is also good because it comes in a multitude of styles and prices to fit every taste. The only drawback with this type of lighting is that you are going to need an electrician to install it especially if you do not have the wiring already in place which can make the project very costly.
If your problem is that you do not have enough lighting when reading or working you may want to consider task lighting to be able to see better. Task lighting as its name implies refers to any type of lighting needed to perform a task. Examples of task lighting are lamps and under counter lighting. Drop down lighting such as over a pool table or work area are also examples of task lighting. Because this type of lighting comes in many variations it can be done with any budget and once installed will make a huge difference.
The last type of light fixture that I want to talk about is accent lighting. Such lighting also can be referred to as “mood lighting” and includes track and spot lights. Although this type of lighting does give off some useful light, it is better off used just to set the mood of the room. 
Don’t Forget the Bulbs:
One last point when choosing new lighting and that is to be sure to get the right bulbs. Not only do bulbs create the right decorative touch, but they are extremely important in determining the amount of light that a fixture will give off.
Lighting although often overlooked is one of the most important decisions that need to be made when designing a room. The right light will make a tremendous difference, not just for illumination, but for working and setting the mood as well. Choose carefully and watch your room come to life.
October 23rd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Great post Scott…..and I might mention that those nice soft pink bulbs help us older ladies look a little less tired at the end of the day.
Debbie
October 23rd, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Thank you Debbie, that’s fine, but what older ladies are those?????????????
October 24th, 2008 at 12:24 am
Great piece, lighting is so important, not only to remodeling. I’ve purchased some of the “natural” sun lamps and it’s amazing how much of a effect it can have.
We bought a very old home, and the windows in it needed replacement, they were all quite large, with mullions and we downsized them all, thinking, wow, this might take out a lot of light, but quite the opposite actually - they really brightened up the rooms, something with the newer glass, I suppose.
November 25th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
No mention of energy efficient bulbs! I’ve been using them for decades, and they are now much better, cheaper, come on instantly to full luminance and save money on the energy bill. They also come in colours and as ‘daylight’ bulbs. Eventually incandescent bulbs [the expensive to run kind] will be phased out, but until then, everyone needs to be encouraged to switch. You get the cost back in months, and they last for years. I’m still using bulbs I bought twenty years ago!