Lighting is an essential component of any good design. It is commonly an afterthought in many people's homes, but having the right lighting can definitely make or break a space. Proper lighting can create the perfect mood, boost productivity, and relax the mind. Here are some of our favorite tips for maximizing the lighting in your home.
Recessed Lighting
Be sure to take your ceiling height into account. The higher your ceilings, the more fixtures you'll need to evenly light the space. 4-inch diameter fixtures are great for smaller spaces and a more modern streamlined look. For spacing, good rule of thumb is to have 4-6 ft of space between 4-inch wide fixtures. LED lights are the most energy efficient and have much longer lifespans than fluorescent, CFL and halogen bulbs.
4" LED Recessed Downlight
Kitchen Island
Pendant lights are by far the most popular for lighting over a kitchen island or peninsula. Depending on the size of your island, you could do anywhere from 1 to 4 pendant lights. Be sure not to hang the pendants wider than the length of the island, and hang them so that they are not blocking the view if people are having a conversation while standing on either side of the island, 36" above countertop height is the standard.
An alternative option to pendant lights is a statement making chandelier over the island. We recommend this option for larger kitchens, generally with bigger islands and higher ceilings. Having a huge chandelier that doesn't fit the scale of a space can be obtrusive and throw off the design.
Kitchen from our El Nido project
Dining Room Chandeliers
Generally, a chandelier above a dining table should be around 1/2 to 2/3 the length of the table. For example, if your table is 72" long, a chandelier that is around 54" long would be an ideal size. We like to hang the chandelier so the bottom of the fixture sits about 30-36" above the top of the table (depending on the space and fixture itself), which allows for people to sit down without bumping their heads, but is still close enough to illuminate the table.
Dining room from our Sky Terrace project
Bathroom Lighting
The bathroom is one room where you really want to avoid harsh overhead lighting that creates unflattering shadows, especially while looking in the mirror. Here we added pendant lights on either side, so you can still have your face illuminated without needing a recessed light directly above. If you're adding a light above the vanity mirror, center it above the mirror.
Powder Bathroom from our Hanover project
Picking the right size, style, and hanging height of the light fixtures in your home is not an easy task. We're here for you if you have any questions or concerns regarding all things lighting! You can always find us on our Instagram where we post about our current projects and design inspo @naomiewertinteriors.
XO