Interior Lighting Trends

Lighting helps maximize the full use of a modern home. The trend in home design is multipurpose rooms with energy-conscious, high-performance lighting. The right lights complement the decor without being obtrusive and provide sufficient visibility for every task. With more homes relying on daylighting for daytime illumination, lights for cloudy days or after dark are even more important to get right.

Living and Family Rooms
Rooms that serve as community centers have a host of functions to accommodate. A living room or mixed living room-family room will house the media center, conversation area, reading chairs, home art collection, computer station, library and entertainment and game tables. Use recessed downlights to draw attention to a fireplace without creating visual clutter. Take care of adjustable ambient lighting with a bar of small spotlights on dimmers that hit paintings and sculptures but can be lowered to accommodate computer screens and TVs. Task lighting in reading corners comes from freestanding lamps that are low enough to prevent glare. The rule is the bottom of the lamp or shade should be at eye level. A chess or pool table is more inviting, and better lit, with pendant lamps that hang about 36 inches above the table to provide adequate headroom. If the pendants are dimmable, the game table becomes a standing sculpture in low light when it is not in use.

Kitchens
The kitchen is another room that gets heavy traffic and near constant use. Various stations are provided for a variety of activities and each one has its own lighting requirements. Under-cabinet counter lighting should be placed toward the front of the cabinet so it is less visible and illuminates the whole counter. A kitchen island stands out with an odd number of matching pendant lamps over it. They should be 60 to 66 inches from the floor so the kitchen sightlines aren't interrupted. Recessed downlighting is ideal for over the sink and stove. It gives strong, focused light and is out of the way. A pendant on a dimmer over a breakfast nook provides bright or romantic dining. And light strips or LED downlights inside glass front cabinets highlight a collection of antique bakery tins, cut crystal or Fiestaware as if it were in a gallery.

Bathrooms
The bathroom has become a spa, hydrotherapy center, make-up station, peaceful reading retreat and warren of separate spaces for tub, shower and toilet. Lighting for all these divisions and tasks has to be coordinated or the bathroom will be anything but welcoming. A chandelier in the center of the room is a trend that shows up as flea market chic, crystal court-style ornate or sleek contemporary, depending on the decor. Mirror lights might be a row of theatrical bulbs across the top but wall sconces next to the mirror are a new look. They should be bright enough for grooming but soft enough to avoid harsh shadows. A separate shower stall needs a recessed ceiling light. A soaking tub could use a small spotlight on a dimmer, amplified by a tray of mono-color pillar candles. If you read in the bathroom, add task lighting to the toilet. A recessed downlight, correctly positioned, should make everything clear.



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