UPDATE YOUR HOME WITH GOOD LIGHTING

Replacing or adding lights to your home is less time-consuming than redecorating but can still change the whole atmosphere and feel of your home.

Aside from natural light there are four types of lighting that you should combine throughout your home: ambient, accent, task and decorative. 

Ambient - Ambient lighting is a general light that fills the room, providing a gentle glow and enabling you to see and walk about the room safely. You should aim to have a central source of ambient light in all rooms. Wall sconces, chandeliers or a dimmer switch on an overhead light can achieve ambient light.

Accent – Accent lighting highlights a particular part of the room or object in the room. To be effective, accent lighting requires as least three times as much light on the focal point as the general lighting surrounding it. Halogen spotlights and wall-mounted picture lights are good ways to achieve accent lighting. 

Task – Task lighting provides lighting for performing daily activities such as cooking, reading and shaving and is bright light directed onto a specific surface. Task lighting should be glare free and bright enough to prevent eyestrain. Pendant lighting and under cabinet lighting, as well as portable floor and desk lamps can all provide task lighting.

Decorative – Decorative, or aesthetic, lighting includes candlestick chandeliers and sconces, and decorative table lamps. Its main purpose is not to give out much light, but provide a decorative touch.
Your choice of lighting should depend on several factors  - the amount of natural light available, the main use of the room and the mood or ambiance that you want to create. Joseph Hawksby, Manager of our Accessories Department, provides some helpful tips:

Most rooms need three light sources so layer your lighting - combine ceiling lights, table lamps and up lighters for example.

Overhead lighting, with the exception of chandeliers, is usually too harsh. Instead, try table lamps, floor lamps, up lighters or spotlights.

Functional rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens can afford brighter lighting whereas subtler, ambient lighting is preferable for rooms that you want to relax in, such as bedrooms and living rooms.

For high ceilings and modern décor use recessed lighting.

Nightlights or overhead lights on a dimmer switch are good for children’s bedrooms.

We stock a wide range of beautiful lighting for all rooms in the home with new items arriving all the time. We're always happy to advise on the best lighting for your room. Please pop in and see what might brighten up your home.