We turned to the experts to find out how to light a room, which lights work best, and what so-called rules we should keep in mind for our favorite places and spaces. Before that, though, one thing’s for sure: Every single designer we spoke to agreed that one rule is paramount—never rely on just one light source to light a room. “Are you a maximalist who gets lost in the dripping reflection of a glass chandelier, or more of a minimalist who prefers a 1920s style globe drop chandelier? Or [do you prefer] the more modern approach of a surreptitiously placed LED tape or spotlight?” asks Lizzy Laing of @renovationHQ. “Period properties with modern extensions give lots of opportunities to play with a multitude of lighting styles, too.” But while one or two of these styles might co-exist well depending on the space, mixing too many light source styles is just going to make a mess. Case in point: This eclectic living room by Dazey Den boasts unexpected lighting fixtures that match each other, thanks to the curved shades and silver metallic accents, while furthering the playfully eclectic feel of the room. Designer Courtney Sempliner agrees: “They really help you adjust the ambiance of your home for the different times of day and for various occasions, like entertaining. This is one item that I strongly recommend to all clients—it makes a huge difference.” No matter what, Lindsey always advises using multiple light sources. “Using only one source often results in a room with light that glares or shadows that dull.” It’s also why she tells people to beware of overdoing it with overhead lighting. McKeown has the same warning. “Overhead lighting should not be the main source of light. While it does provide ambient, even lighting to a space, it casts shadows that will inevitably not make you look or feel your best.” Instead, she says it’s all about layers: “There is not a simple cut and dry formula for [how many light sources you need in each room], but rather an alchemy that is created when light is layered and integrated seamlessly into a space.” McKeown is particularly systematic about selecting a bulb tone. “One of the first things to consider when selecting a light bulb is the color temperature of the bulb,” she says. “Color temperature refers to the amount of whiteness of the light and is measured in kelvins, with low kelvin light appearing warm and high kelvin light appearing cool. To put this in perspective, daylight at noon is about 5500 Kelvin. For residences, I always stick to around 2700-3000 Kelvin so that the light feels warm and inviting.” “Another important measurement of the light quality of a bulb is the CRI, or color rendering index, measured on a scale of 0-100,” McKeown says. “This derived measurement describes how well the bulb renders colors true. For residences, we try to ensure that a CRI of at least 80 is being used in the lighting so as not to distort the colors used in the design of the space.” Lindsey agrees: “We love warm-white shades. They make a space inviting. Avoid blue-white—it gives off an industrial look.” Similarly, your light sources should work with the flow of your room. “Make sure [your lights are] also not in the way of walking space,” she adds. Entryways are typically lit by overhead lights, but that’s not always an option—which isn’t to say that you’re resigned to tripping over a floor lamp with every entry. This charming entryway by Light and Dwell uses a table lamp on a tucked-away console table to illuminate the space. Considering you’ll use the light switch every day, it makes sense that you’d want this tiny detail to fit the flow of your space, too. Take this living room by House of Harvee: The lampshade on the pendant light is bursting with character, tempering the pink of the sofa and giving the room a natural. feel.
