Guide To Lighting

Matching pieces of furniture and personalized statement accessories are only half the battle when it comes to redesigning the house. One aspect of interior design that is often overlooked is lighting. And as with every other aspect of interior design, it is also about finding a balance between aesthetics and function. There are three types of lights you will need in your home: basic lighting, accent lighting, and work light. And don’t worry if you need a little help. Our skilled designers have these tips to help you get the right lighting in your home.

base layer

The basic lighting is the first layer to think about. Provide a large light fixture in every room in the house that provides enough light for the entire room. However, make sure that your base layer isn’t too light. In order to be able to control the basic lighting in your apartment optimally, we strongly recommend dimmers. See how we used a large, defused light fixture to create a soft, glowing base layer in this windowless foyer.

Accent lighting

In order to get the right appearance for the lighting, interesting layers need to be created. Once you get to the base level, you’ll want to focus on accent lights. There should be at least one accent light for every large piece of furniture. A chandelier works well in your dining room, but we also like the look of a large overhanging floor lamp. Check out what we looked like in this luxury apartment in the Upper East Side.

Work lights

There is no hard and fast rule for lighting tasks other than personal preference. Find the places in the house that are likely to curl up with a book and place a small work lamp there. We placed a lamp from Restoration Hardware next to this comfy sofa to create a cozy nighttime reading space.

Under the counter lights

A work lamp is not just for reading. If you’re looking to give your kitchen a quick upgrade, consider some under the counter lights so you can see what you’re doing as you cut and dice it. Check out what we looked like in this mid-century palace on the Upper East Side.

Built-in light strips

If any part of your home is made of a beautiful material, consider adding a built-in band of light to show it off. This home office in San Francisco is designed for concentration and the built-in strip lighting highlights the beautiful dark wood.

Natural light

Don’t forget the largest source of light in the world: the sun! Your window treatments have a huge impact on how much natural sunlight your home receives. Once the sun goes down it doesn’t help much, but see-through curtains will keep your room light and airy during the day. Check out the white curtains we placed in this light-filled high-rise.