When you design your home, you do so with your preferences in mind. But you may not even realize that the combination of those preferences falls in line with the seven key elements of interior design. These are shape, color, texture, line, space, pattern, and light. Each of these elements should be simultaneously aesthetic and functional. They work together to set a mood in your home. For instance, a well-lit room makes guests feel warm and invited.
Use the four basic types of lighting.
Task Lighting
Task lighting plays a role in making your life around the home easier. It focuses light on workspaces so that you can see what you are doing. To create the most efficient setup, you need to put task lighting in complementary spots to other light sources. A Georgetown home renovation company can help you establish where shadows need to be eliminated. By evenly illuminating a room, such as your home office, you are able to more comfortably get tasks done—hence the name!
- Pendant lighting
- Desk lamps
- Undercabinet lighting
- Downlights
Ambient Lighting
Ambient lighting, also known as general lighting, helps a room feel more welcoming. And the key to this is balance. As the primary source of light in a room, it keeps your eye focused on specific areas, such as your reading chair and bookcase by the fireplace. Trying to illuminate every single corner of a room makes the space too bright. With ambient lighting, Georgetown home renovation professionals find that subtle features work best. Simply put, ambient lighting creates depth, improving the dull appearance of anywhere in your home.
- Chandeliers
- Flush and semi-flush mounts
- Path lights
- Canopy lighting
Accent Lighting
Accent lighting highlights particular objects. It makes the best features of your house come alive. Rooms and outdoor spaces alike can be made to look more expansive with accent lighting. One area in which you should pick a great accent lighting feature is your entrance. This will be especially impactful if your entrance has a textured wall or piece of artwork. During a Georgetown home renovation, consider revamping this hallway to give it more visual interest and impress your guests.
- Directional recessed fixtures
- Tape lighting
- Wall-mounted fixtures
- Track lighting
Decorative Lighting
Decorative lighting is the icing on the cake. Accessorizing with lighting allows your home to literally shine. To achieve the effect you have in mind, think about the color and size of the light feature. Also, be mindful of the direct, upward, or downward lighting. If you are aiming to make a statement about your style, integrating aesthetic forms of light on your ceilings, walls, or mirrors does the trick. Georgetown home renovation experts recommend reflecting your preferences in every aspect of a design so that you genuinely enjoy coming home.
- Floor lamps
- Ceiling fan lights
- Pendant lighting
- Wall sconces
When selecting light fixtures, consider scale.
Pro Tip: There should be at least three light sources in each room of your home. Mix and match them!
Invest in energy-efficient light bulbs.
Install dimming technology.
Have you ever had a dimmer switch? It is not just a simple on-and-off switch. Dimming technology allows you to adjust your light fixture’s strength. Installing a dimmer switch is a fairly simple process. You need to have access to your home’s circuit breaker. Make sure the power is turned off before removing the switchplate and connecting your dimmer switch to the outlet. Once you have connected or capped all of the wires, you can reattach the switchplate and restore power. As you gain more control over your lighting, you save on your electricity bill!
Remember that natural light is valuable.
Don’t just focus on bringing artificial light into your home. Natural light should certainly be considered during your Georgetown home renovation. Find ways to bring more of the sun’s glow in. This is another way to save you energy and money, given that you are brightening the space without the use of electricity. Windows that bring in a lot of natural light even have the power to increase the value of your home. It makes your space look bigger and more inviting. So, be strategic about how you reflect natural lighting and keep your windows as clean as possible.