For Housing

Mood Lighting

Lighting in a home does so much more than illuminate a room. Designers know that lighting can be used to set the mood of the room. When you are remodeling or building, think about how you want the room to feel when you walk into it…..active, cozy, intimate, welcoming. Types of lighting and how lighting is placed in a room creates the ambiance.

Active – Active lighting motivates and maximizes productivity. For this, you want to use bright overhead lighting coupled with focused task lighting for work areas. Recessed down lights work well over countertops and other work areas of a kitchen while under-the-counter lighting is a good source for task lighting.

Cozy – Highlight the seating area and focus track lights on centerpieces. Use soft white light bulbs for emitting a soft, warm glow. Include reading lamps. A lamp should be tall enough to shine onto the pages of a book, but not into the eyes of the reader. A floor lamp placed behind the reader is ideal. A fireplace adds to this “comfy-cozy” feeling.

Intimate – Intimate lighting creates a romantic feeling that will leave you breathless. For this atmosphere you want to steer clear of harsh glaring lights and avoid overhead lighting unless you attach a dimmer switch. Dimmer switches allow for versatility, especially in overhead lighting. Use lamp lighting with lower wattage bulbs and warm or dark colored shades.

Welcoming – Make your visitors feel at home before they ever step foot inside with a well-lit outside walkway and porch lighting. This also directs your visitor to the entrance you wish them to use. Once inside, the entry should exude gentle lighting making people feel comfortable. Accent lighting is useful when showcasing an item of interest. This raises anticipation and urges your guest forward to the rest of the house.

Home Improvement