How to Use Lighting to Transform Your Home

How to Use Lighting to Transform Your Home Featured Image

Lighting is a powerful tool that can transform your home’s look and feel. By layering different types of lighting and considering how light interacts with your space, you can create a comfortable, functional, and visually appealing home environment.

When creating a lighting scheme, it’s helpful to consider it on three levels: lamp level for mood lighting or task lighting, accent lighting to create features and highlight areas and central pendant lighting to create an overall feel, either bright or ambient. The dining area of Erris Homes’ Burlington house type at Calder Mews in Greetland, shown here, demonstrates the use of pendant lighting to focus on the dining space.

The Impact of Lighting on Mood and Atmosphere

The way a room is lit can dramatically affect how it feels. Poor lighting can make a space feel dull and uninviting, while the right lighting can transform a room into a cosy retreat or a vibrant gathering place.

  • Warm vs Cool Lighting: Warm lighting (yellow or amber tones) creates a relaxed, cosy atmosphere, perfect for living rooms and bedrooms. Cool lighting (white or blue tones) promotes focus and alertness, making it ideal for workspaces and kitchens.
  • Brightness Levels: Bright, intense lighting is great for areas where tasks are performed, such as the kitchen or bathroom. Spotlights are often used for this purpose – as shown in the below image depicting a kitchen in one of our Phase II properties at Calder Mews. Softer lighting is preferable for spaces meant for relaxation, like the bedroom or lounge.
  • Directional Lighting: The way light is positioned can change the feel of a room. Upward-facing lighting makes a space feel more open, while downward-facing lighting creates a more intimate and focused effect.

Different Lighting Styles and Options

There are several types of lighting to consider, each serving a different purpose. A well-designed lighting scheme usually combines multiple lighting sources to create layers of light that add depth and interest to a room.

1. Ambient Lighting

This is the primary source of light in a room, providing overall illumination. It ensures the space is well-lit and comfortable.

Options for ambient lighting:

  • Ceiling-mounted fixtures such as chandeliers, pendant lights, and recessed lighting.
  • Floor or table lamps with soft, diffused bulbs to fill the room with a gentle glow. This effect is shown below with the use of a bedside table lamp in one of our properties at Calder Mews.
  • LED downlights or track lighting to provide a balanced level of brightness.

2. Task Lighting

Task lighting is designed to illuminate specific areas where activities such as reading, cooking, or working take place. It provides focused, brighter light that helps reduce eye strain.

Options for task lighting:

  • Under-cabinet lighting in kitchens to brighten work surfaces.
  • Desk lamps in offices or study areas to aid concentration.
  • Adjustable wall sconces for reading nooks or bedside lighting.
  • Overhanging or arc floor lamps focused on a specific space – as shown below in one of the house designs on Phase II at Calder Mews.

3. Accent Lighting

Accent lighting is used to highlight features such as artwork, architectural details, or statement furniture. It adds depth and visual interest to a room, creating a dynamic and inviting space.

Options for accent lighting:

  • LED lighting.
  • Spotlights to showcase artwork, sculptures, or feature walls.
  • Wall-mounted uplighters to add a dramatic effect to hallways or living space.

4. Decorative Lighting

Decorative lighting serves both an aesthetic and functional role. These lighting fixtures act as statement pieces that enhance the overall style of a room.

Options for decorative lighting:

  • Chandeliers or pendant lights as focal points in dining rooms and living rooms – as shown below in the bedroom of a Phase II house design at Calder Mews.
  • Unique table lamps with stylish designs to complement the decor.
  • Fairy lights or neon signs for a playful and personalised touch.

A new-build property from Erris Homes provides the perfect space to illuminate your creative vision, from pendant lighting in the living rooms and bedrooms to energy-efficient LED lighting in the kitchens, bathrooms and en-suites.

We’re currently building a wide range of three and four bedroom homes at Calder Mews in Greetland.

To find out more, contact Erris Homes on 0113 531 0000 or caldermews@errishomes.com

To find out the latest availability at Calder Mews and arrange an appointment to view, contact Edkins & Holmes on 0142 255 3510 or enquiries@edkinsandholmes.co.uk