5-step checklist for great lighting—brighten up your home!
What are the five most important factors for functional and cozy lighting? See this easy checklist and find out if you've done these in your home.
1. Have enough lamps
One lamp alone won't work wonders. A well-lit room typically has 5 to 7 different light sources: a ceiling light, table and floor lamps, and possibly wall lights. This combination offers flexibility for different situations. You need strong general lighting for cleaning and softer lighting for a cozier mood.
2. Remember the four types of light
Make sure the room has general lighting, a task light for detailed work, an ambient light to set the mood, and spot or accent lighting to highlight details.
3. Ensure the quality of light
When choosing a bulb, always consider these three factors that significantly affect light quality:
Lumens indicate the bulb's brightness. Eight hundred lumens is a good general guideline: it roughly equals a 60-watt light bulb and suits most home spaces.
Kelvins reveal the hue: warm light (2,700–3,000 K) is calming, neutral (3,000–4,000 K) works for general lighting, and cool light (over 4,000 K) is energizing. However, you shouldn't mix different color temperatures in the same space.
For the CRI (Color Rendering Index) choose at least 80–90 to ensure natural colors for your decor.
4. Adjust the dimming
A dimmer makes a light more versatile. With a dimmer you can turn the same lamp into a bright cleaning light or a soft ambient evening light. If your light switch doesn't have a dimmer, pick a bulb with three-step dimming. Then you can adjust brightness easily with the light switch: a quick on-off press changes the brightness level.
5. Take advantage of daylight
Good lighting isn’t just about lamps. Make sure heavy curtains or furniture aren't blocking the windows, and let natural light pour in.
