We all have a bit of a responsibility when it comes to interior decor. Every piece we choose, every little nook we carve out, every empty space we leave, each can have a purpose. Lighting has the magical power to bring all that to life.
So the most common general mistake that people make when lighting their home is not matching the atmosphere to the purpose of the space. Think about what the room space is used for and how it should feel, and then use lighting to help achieve that.
Of course, that’s easily said and nobody gets it right all the time. But to help you avoid going completely off beam, here are five common lighting mistakes, with practical remedies supplied by the lighting experts
Using Only One Type of Light
Being one-dimensional with lighting rarely cuts the mustard, and a classic interior design mistake is relying on a single overhead source of light, usually these are pendants or recessed spotlights.
Yes pendants are important and they make a fine focal point, but you simply can’t create atmospheric options if you only have a single source of ambient lighting.
How to fix it:
The secret to interior lighting design is an understanding of layering light. You can learn more about light layering here.
With a bit of thought and care and experimentation you can ‘sculpt’ light in a room to create different zones, moods and textures, and then change them to suit different occasions or uses.
But to have any chance, you must have multiple light sources: pendants, floor lamps, table lamps and, ideally, a few wall lights too.
Ignoring Shadows
As someone once said, “you don’t light for the light, you light for the shadows”. The contrast between light and dark makes a room interesting. Shadows create depth, texture and ultimately ambience. But you need to understand and control where the shadows fall, or else rather than creating an enticing atmosphere they can become a serious inconvenience.
How to fix it:
This is all about positioning. Put your lights so that shadows fall where you want them and are eliminated in spots where you don’t. Naturally, this is where eminently portable and moveable floor lights and table lamps come into their own.
Misplaced lights can form shadows that hinder the functionality of a room so it’s also worth thinking about practical shadow-elimination. For example, in a bathroom a pair of wall lights at eye level either side of your mirror can remove the shadows from your face and make making-up a lot easier.
Using Wrong Lamps
You’ve bought a beautiful lamp, positioned it perfectly…and then you go and spoil it with the wrong lightbulb. But with the days of the energy-munching incandescent bulb now long behind us, and so many options about lumens, light temperature and style to think about, choosing a bulb can be surprisingly headachy.
How to fix it:
LED Lamps are lower cost to run, are better for the environment, and these days they cast a lovely warm light and they even look gorgeous. The trick is to pick the right one for your lamp and its use.
Choosing Incorrect Shade Size
Finding the shade colour that sits perfectly with your decor is marvellous, but bringing it home to find it looks absurdly small is less so. Sadly, this happens all the time, as instead of measuring we just look at a nice shade in the shop and tell ourselves: “I think that looks the right size”.
How to fix it:
For a chandelier or pendant over a dining table, find one you love that’s one foot smaller in size than your table’s narrowest width, and voila, you’ve found the perfect fit. If in doubt, go bigger. That’s especially true for ceiling lights, where you can generally go surprisingly large.
When you are ready you can visit our store to find your perfect shade from the list or get in touch with us to discuss your bespoke pendant.
