Make the most out of natural light

Natural light plays an important part in illuminating your home. Make sure to take natural light into account as you place your furniture; for example, place the kitchen table and your work desk by the window for light and, of course, the view. Also, bear in mind that the hallway is where you enter from natural light to an indoor space. You don’t want to feel like you’re entering a dark cellar as you come home!

Shine a light on beauty

It makes sense to use various kinds of lights at home. This way, you can use light in different situations to create all kinds of atmospheres. Your workstation needs light, and when you’re cleaning, you need light in each and every corner. You can also use light to emphasise on what you like most about your home – its most beautiful spots – and leave out the less lovely areas.

When directing light in different rooms, consider what it is used for. For example, by the beds it makes sense to have lights that can be aimed to the direction of your choice. For bedtime reading, wall, table, pendant and floor lights are all possible options. Opal glass lights disperse light in all directions and thus aren’t best fit for reading. When you’ve got a double bed, be considerate of the person you share it with and don’t disturb them with light.

Don’t forget fire

Candles can be a great addition to the lights of your home. Living flames are fascinating to look at, whether it is in a campfire, a fireplace or a candle. The light temperature of a candlelight is almost the same as that of sunset, so it’s proven to have a calming impact.

Don’t let the glare get you

The most important thing when choosing a light is that it doesn’t cause glare; and spots of light that are much brighter than their surroundings do so. The eye always adjusts to the surrounding light, so you’re bound to feel glare when your eye catches a brighter spot.

You can recognise a glare-free light when you can’t see the source of light. Different kinds of shades are used to cover the light source.

Take advantage of directions and materials

In many spaces, it’s a good idea to make use of lights at different heights that are aimed at different directions. How the surfaces of the room appear depends on the direction of the light.

Take note of the materials, too. A light colour reflects light much more than a dark one; and a steady surface is often evenly illuminated, but a surface with shapes can create shadows. A stable light coming directly from above makes the space uninteresting, as there is no tension between light and shade.

Home textiles can also have an impact on lighting. For example, the textiles in your bed reflect light beautifully into their surroundings.