The debate about whether to turn on your overhead downlighting or rely on a series of smaller lamps is one many households take very seriously.
Freelance interior designer Audrey Lock says she would “never, never, never” use what many of us refer to as the big light.
“Overhead light doesn’t feel as homely – it feels like you’re in an interrogation room,” says Lock. “Lighting is the main ambience of the house. Anyone can have downlights, but as soon as you add detail lighting like pendants, sconces, it becomes visually more interesting.”
Winter is the perfect time to rethink the lighting in your home. So, we asked interior designers how to perfectly light a room.
How to avoid ‘hospital lighting’
Ainslie Woodham, country home furnishing and retail design manager at IKEA Australia and New Zealand, says her daughter often jokes that they never turn on the big light.
Instead, to add dimension to a room, Woodham suggests looking at lighting in layers.
“First is functional lighting, the light you need to read, cook, get ready for work in the morning,” she says. “Then you have ambient lighting, which is all about creating the mood and the atmosphere. Getting a combination of both hits the nail on the head.”
What light bulb should I use?
Woodham says modern LED is the best bulb option because it is energy-efficient and long-lasting.
She says there is a common misconception that higher wattage means brighter lights. “Forget about wattage and focus on lumen,” she says.
While wattage equates to energy consumption, lumen tells you how much light is emitted. The higher the lumen, the brighter the light.
How many lamps per room?
There’s no magic number of light sources to have in a room, but having more than one goes a long way in creating atmosphere, says Woodham.
“I would encourage people to think about how they use the room, where do you read, gather, sit and highlight that,” she says. “My suggestion is to try for three light sources at different heights.”
The lights and lamps don’t need to match either.
“If it works, it works,” says Woodham. “I think placement is more important. Or is there something connecting the dots, like fabric or a colourway.”
Lock agrees, saying that at a minimum, a room should ideally have a functional bright light and another softer light. “Have two feature lights in a room – one being a lamp that’s bright enough for reading and another that you can turn on when you want to relax or if you are watching a movie.”
Rental-friendly tips
Lock, who is renting, says her house is full of lamps: “I have plug-in pendants and I hang them with hooks and cover it with a shade.”
According to Woodham, lighting does heavy lifting for renters because it’s not a permanent change such as painting a statement wall. And while it doesn’t need to break the bank, she says the statement lamp is back.
“You don’t need to fill every corner, but if you purchase a beautiful floor lamp, make it a statement piece,” says Woodham.
Portable lamps are another option: “I’ve seen people use them on a stool next to the bath. Also, on the long kitchen island bench.”
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Abby Seaman is a digital producer and lifestyle writer at The Sydney Morning HeraldConnect via email.
