Last updated on April 8th, 2022
Imagine this – you sit at your beautiful work setup, full of ideas and energy. Your chair is comfy, your Wi-Fi is fast, and your posture is great. And yet, you feel drained after forty minutes or so. Your eyes are tired; your brain is foggy. What gives? The answer may be the lights in your room.
We underestimate the impact of correct lighting on our productivity. While harsh, excessively bright lighting can cause headaches and eye fatigue, dim lights can make us feel drowsy and lose mental alertness. But before we start thinking about changing the lights in our rooms, we need to have a clear map of where lights are required in our home and which ones.
Do we need to showcase a work of art? Do we just need diffused, ambient light? Is there a workspace that needs to be lit better? Once we have a clear “light-map” of our space, we can then look at these splendid options!
1. Flush and semi-flush mounts
Flush mount lights run along the ceiling, and semi-flush mounts lay close to it but aren’t attached to it. Semi-flush mount lights typically hang 4-6 inches off the surface of the ceiling.
Flush lights do not have to be boring tube lights – there are many versatile options available today. These lights are best for providing ambient light, and the fixtures can be quite discreet. What’s more, they can be fitted with any type of bulb you prefer.
2. Chandeliers and Pendant lights
If you want your ambient lights to stand out, consider a chandelier. It can be as minimal or as ornate as you like. There are chandeliers available in the most futuristic and vintage styles, so you can go all out and take your pick to express your decor style.
Chandeliers also help make a bold style statement in your home and can be fitted with any type of bulb. However, if you require task lighting in one area of the room, consider placing a single pendant light over that space.
3. Recessed lights
Recessed lights are often also called “secret lights” since they are hidden by a false ceiling or by molding. These are used as soft accent lights and are not suitable for ambient lighting. They look super stylish and can be used even as ceiling art.
These can also serve as night lights when you do not want complete illumination. Many such designs use LED strips.
4. Track lights
Track lights are great for illuminating specific parts of a space. You may have seen these being used to shine a spotlight on a piece of art or as task lighting to illuminate a workbench. A very useful feature here is that each of the individual bulbs in it can be rotated to highlight small, specific areas.
5. Ceiling-fan lights
Many ceiling fans come with lights- and though this is an unusual choice, it can look chic, especially if the overall look of the room is kept in mind, when choosing them.
Other Ceiling Light Considerations
Setting up an entire room will require a combination of the above, as per the task at hand and the overall style of the room. You will also need to consider the natural light available and try to maximize its use during the day.
The other major decision is the type of bulbs that you would place in these fittings. Go for LEDs for general lights, as even though they are a bit expensive at the outset, they have the best efficiency overall and come in various colors. For a more vintage look, go for filament bulbs or Edison lamps. These look beautiful but can cause the room to heat up a little.
For outdoor lighting, we recommend halogen floodlights, as they can cover a large area. Be sure to check the damp or wet location rating of the bulb.
Also, keep in mind the color of the lights – a room can have a mix of bright white task lighting and soft yellow ambient lights. This is because white or slightly blue-toned light increases alertness, whereas red-based hues are better for relaxing.
Changing up all the lights in a space may seem daunting, so start small. Adding a task light to a poorly lit workspace or changing the hue of harsh white light to a softer yellow can change the look and feel of a room.
You can find some great ideas for trends in lighting here. You will be amazed to see what difference great lighting can make to your space. Once the lights are taken care of, try these interesting tricks to beautify your home further here.
Happy decorating, you all!
