Light is such a beautiful thing. It allows us to see in the dark, and sometimes, is the very thing that wakes us up each morning. Either way you look at it, light is very important in our day to day lives, especially in our homes.

Have you ever taken notice of how different your home looks in the dark, versus how it looks in the dark? It looks totally different! Kids can testify to that, due to being scared of the dark. I’m sure we can all recall asking our parents to leave the light on in our bedrooms after they gave us a kiss goodnight.

Even Hollywood recognizes the importance of light. In the horror movie Lights Out, a supernatural entity makes its appearance to torment a family, only in the dark. Mysteriously, when the lights are on, the entity disappears. It just goes to show that light, at least in Hollywood, does keep the monsters away!

Luckily, there are night lights out now, that allows your room to not be completely dark at night. These night lights are not only a defense against the monsters for children, but they’re also a great source of light for adults, who may have had one too many sweet teas at dinner, and are left being up all night, struggling to see their way to the bathroom.

Lighting can give your home a complete makeover, if you choose the right type of lighting according to the room. It can take a kitchen, where you cook food and eat it, and turn it into a fine dining experience for the whole family to enjoy. If you’re looking to give your home a facelift, try starting with the lighting first. Take a glance at some of the different type of light fixtures that will transform any room in your home, while still being functional.

Remember, go only with the best and most reliable lighting fixtures from reputable suppliers like lightingandsupplies.com. This gives you a sense of confidence that your home makeover would be worth every penny.

Kitchen

A kitchen has three functions: meal preparation, cleanup, and an area for social gatherings. When you’re considering lighting for your kitchen, you want to think about where the lighting should be focused, based on the functions of the kitchen.

So, two big places would be the counters, because that’s where the meal preparations happen, plus it’s also where people gather sometimes in social settings. The other lighting location would be over the sink, for the cleanup function of the kitchen. In lots of kitchens, sinks have been placed at a window to take advantage of the natural light, which is then enhanced with either ceiling or recessed light fixtures right above the sink.

For an average sized kitchen, you might consider a layout consisting of a ceiling-mounted light fixture. A chandelier with small shades on each arm is great lighting over the dining table. For lighting of the countertops, a nice touch would be under-cabinet fixtures for task lighting. If you have an island in your kitchen, pendant lights would also be great for task lighting, and even providing ambient light. For your ambient lighting, it should have a lumen range of 5,000 – 10,000. The task lighting that you have around your countertops and sink should be at least 450 lumens.

Living Room

Your living room is where family and friends gather for extended periods of time to do numerous activities. You can expect people to utilize their living rooms by watching TV and movies, reading, engaging in stimulating conversation, and even having a girl’s night!

With the living room being a room where people spend long stretches of time, you want to consider the concept of layered lighting. Layered lighting is a way that light maximizes the functionality of a living space. Adding various light sources will bring balance to your living room, reducing the effects of shadows and glare, while instilling dimension and depth.

You can set a table lamp on each end table on both sides of your sofa. Also, you can add accent lighting to highlight a certain item in your living room, such as a painting. If you have a desk in your living room, a desk lamp is perfect for when you have to review legal documents, check your social media, and even for starting your own blog… you don’t want to be in the dark when trying to get your creative juices flowing! For ambient lighting in your living room, the lumens should range between 1,500 – 3,000, while your task lighting should be at least 400 lumens.

Bathroom

The focus of a bathroom is personal grooming, and lighting is very important in this aspect. The lighting in your bathroom is what helps you look your best and ready to face the world. In your typical bathroom, there is a central, ceiling-mounted fixture, which causes shadows to be cast over the person standing in front of the mirror.

It’s also very common to see the big bulbs across the top of mirrors. This is very common in small bathrooms, and apartment bathrooms. If you have the option, go for two wall mounted sconces on each side of the mirror, and then one more wall sconce on another wall, opposite the bathroom mirror. To give your bathroom the right amount of ambient lighting, the lumens should be 4,000 – 8,000.

Bedroom

For your bedroom lighting concept, you want to consider bedside reading and closet lighting. Your bedside is very important in this regard, especially if you enjoy reading in bed. You’ll want either a wall lamp, or table lamps for your nightstands that are appealing to the eye, but are also functional in the aspect of having an on/off switch within reach. It will provide task lighting, but you want to make sure that the the light isn’t so bright that you won’t be able to relax. For your closets, ceiling-mounted fixtures are more common.

Another light fixture becoming popular in bedrooms now is floor lamps and chandeliers. Most people will place floor lamps in corners of their bedroom. These lamps alone will give your bedroom a warm feel. Chandeliers add a touch of elegance and romance to your bedroom. These will provide ambient lighting. Just a few decades ago, chandeliers were usually only found in living rooms and dining rooms, but my how the times have changed. A range for perfect ambient lighting in your bedroom should anywhere from 2000-4000 lumens. For bedside lighting, your lamps should be at least 500 lumens, and for your closet lighting, it should be 400 lumens.