Designer Secrets to Getting Perfect Lighting Throughout Your Home

Want to turn your home into a cozy and inviting sanctuary? It’s as easy as flipping a switch. Proper lighting is essential in creating a comfortable atmosphere, and at Brumbaugh’s, our dedicated design team has curated a collection of lighting tips tailor-made for each room in your home.

Understanding Different Types of Lighting

Having a mix of lighting in your home is essential for striking the right balance all throughout your home. One size does not fit all when it comes to your lighting choices because every room has a different mood and purpose. According to the experts at the American Lighting Association, you should be treating your lighting like layers in your home. Want to understand how this layering works? Read on to learn more:

 

General or Ambient Lighting: Work Beautifully

General or ambient lighting sets the foundation for your home’s overall brightness and atmosphere. Think overhead ceiling-mounted fixtures, recessed lighting, or pendants. If you’re planning a new build or remodeling an existing home, getting this particular feature correct is so important to the overall flow of your space. Carefully plan out how you want each room to feel, taking into consideration any special architecture you need to work around or even highlight. This foundational type of lighting should create a soothing glow that spreads throughout the room, illuminating every corner and evoking a sense of warmth and comfort.

PRO TIP:
Work with a designer to plan out your general lighting scheme to ensure a harmonious flow from the inside out.

 

Task Lighting: Illuminate Your Focus Areas

Task lighting is practical and functional, directing light precisely where you need it the most. Every room’s activities should be taken into consideration. Meal prep, recipe reading, and cooking require different types of lighting than say reading in your bedroom. Some rooms will require brighter light while other leisure activities might call for soothing alternatives. Specific task lighting ensures you can comfortably engage in your daily activities and brings a touch of utility to any room in this house.

PRO TIP:
Plan out how your family lives in each space to ensure every room will be beautifully and practically lit.

 

Accent Lighting: Spotlight Your Unique Style

Accent lighting is the artistic touch that elevates your decor and emphasizes the distinctive features of your home. Employ lighting to artfully highlight a captivating feature wall, showcase intricate architectural elements, or draw attention to cherished possessions like your handcrafted dining table or buffet. Artwork can make a greater impact in your home if it is illuminated correctly. By strategically positioning lighting near your favorite pieces, you can infuse a room with a touch of drama and flair.

PRO TIP:
For a touch of elegance, complement the mantelpiece of your fireplace with symmetrically arranged wall lights, casting a soft glow upon a statement mirror or dramatic artwork.

Lighting Tips for Each Room

Living Room

Your living room plays so many different roles — your private sanctuary after a long day’s work, hosting get-togethers, and family game nights. How you utilize the space depends wildly on what you are doing at the moment. Make sure your living room lighting is adaptable and reflects your personal style by following these tips:

• Control lighting with dimmers: By controlling your general lighting with dimmers, you can strike the right vibe to suit the activity. Toggle the intensity of your lights up or down based on your preferences — movie nights need drastically different lighting than entertaining family and friends.
• Integrate lamps for cozy reading corners: Enhance the comfort and functionality of your living room by placing lamps strategically near seating areas. A well-positioned floor lamp will provide ample light for tucking into your fave novel and a pair of table lamps flanking a couch will cast just the right glow when stretching out to catch up on your reading.
• Add your own rustic touch: If you’re like us, and you enjoy the luxury ranch style, there are small details that can help pull off the look, even in lighting. Seek fixtures with finishes that exude a time-worn allure. Opt for rich tones of bronze, aged copper, distressed metal, reclaimed wood, or even cowhide or antlers. These finishes not only impart a vintage charm but also add a sense of character to your lighting, embodying the Old West spirit of generations past.

Our Picks

Vail Floor Lamp SHOP THE VAIL FLOOR LAMP

Cline Table Lamp SHOP THE CLINE TABLE LAMP

Winslow Table Lamp SHOP THE WINSLOW TABLE LAMP

 

Dinning Room

When you gather all of your fave people together in this room, you want the lighting to be oh-so-right. The fixtures you choose for this room can serve more than just the purpose of illumination — here’s where your home’s character can really shine through. Read on for some tips on how to choose the perfect lighting:

• Consider all your options: Chandeliers are the darlings of the dining room, but pendant lights can make a stylish statement, especially when hung in multiples. Other options you might want to consider include adding sconces, wall-mounted with upward-directed light, to elegantly flank buffets, mirrors, and artwork.
• Insert your own style: Don’t be afraid to love — and we really mean LOVE — your chandelier or pendants you choose for this room because they will quite possibly hang there for a long time. This is one area it’s okay to give yourself permission to invest as it will become a focal point for all to see. Whether you want a fixture that blends seamlessly with your surroundings or a captivating centerpiece, don’t be afraid to let your unique style shine through.
• Turn the lights down low: Similar to the living room, you’ll want to consider adding dimmer switches to adjust the lighting level during meals or gatherings. Adjust the brightness according to the occasion, whether it’s an intimate dinner or a lively gathering, to set the mood just right.

Bedroom

One of the most relaxing rooms in the house should be your bedroom. How can you style an ultimate retreat you’ll love kicking back in? Elevate your lighting.

• Incorporate stylish bedside lighting: You’ve planned the bedding and your statement bed perfectly — just don’t go ignoring the lighting that you pick for your space. Enhance the charm and coziness of your bedroom by placing bedside table lamps with your unique style on either side of the bed. These lamps will not only provide soft reading light but also complement the overall decor of the room.
• Use soft, ambient lighting: Opt for soft, ambient lighting in the bedroom to create a tranquil and relaxing environment. Consider using wall sconces with warm-toned bulbs or consider hanging chandeliers to diffuse the light gently.

Our Picks

Anderson Table Lamp SHOP THE ANDERSON TABLE LAMP

 

Kitchen

In the kitchen, task lighting is essential for safety and functionality. Plus, no one wants to prep, cook or entertain in a dark or dreary kitchen.

• Install task lighting under cabinets: Ensure practicality and efficiency in the kitchen by installing task lighting under cabinets. This will provide focused illumination for food preparation areas, making cooking tasks much more manageable (and fun!)
• Splurge on pendant lighting with interesting accents above the kitchen island. Entertaining at your beautiful kitchen island means you need equally outstanding lighting. Don’t skimp on the pendants that go above this key guest gathering space.

Outdoor Lighting Ideas

If you have an outdoor space where you love to host pool parties, football pre-game gatherings, or family affairs, it’s important to illuminate it properly for both safety and aesthetics. Not only does outdoor lighting provide visibility for walking paths and stairs, but it can also highlight landscaping and add ambiance to your gatherings. Consider these outdoor lighting ideas to enhance your outdoor living experience:

• Pathway Lighting: One of the most important areas to illuminate in your outdoor space is your pathways. This will not only help with safety but also highlight and define the space. Use solar-powered or LED lights along the walkway, or try placing lights in the ground for a dramatic effect.
• String Lights: A popular and easy option for outdoor lighting is string lights. These can be hung between trees or along the perimeter of a patio or pergola. They come in various shapes, sizes, and colors to fit any style and can create a cozy ambiance for nighttime gatherings.
• Spotlighting: If you have an outdoor feature you want to highlight, such as a fountain or statue, spotlighting is a great option. Place a fixture in front of or behind the feature to create a dramatic effect. Use LED lights to save energy and provide a long-lasting glow.

Want to Light Up Your Home? Brumbaugh’s Is Here To Help

Brumbaugh’s has 50,000 square feet of elegant ranch home furnishings like these and others you just won’t find anywhere else. If you’re unsure about the best way to position your light fixtures, which ones to buy, or how to achieve the desired lighting effects, come visit one of our designers at Brumbaugh’s. We can help you create a customized lighting plan that takes into account your specific needs and preferences.

Contact us today if you have any questions, or visit us in Fort Worth to see our showroom.