Lighting Elements

Know Your Purpose

By considering how each space functions, lighting and interior designers are able to suggest appropriate applications throughout the entire home. Certain areas, such as the kitchen and bathroom, need extra attention. “These tend to be the most poorly lit rooms—and the ones people use the most,” Frank says. “Homeowners will purchase a single light fixture that may be decorative, and they think that’s going to light the whole kitchen well.”

For the kitchen, Frank suggests first focusing on task lighting. This can include under-cabinet light sources that illuminate countertops, cooktops, and workspaces, along with recessed downlights that shine directly onto the surface. Pendant lights continue to be popular for lighting kitchen islands. Sconces and above-cabinet lighting can bring ambient lighting to a space, while mini-track lights are great for accenting any interesting architectural elements.

In bathrooms, the traditional lighting scheme has comprised a row of three lights above the mirror, and perhaps one additional ceiling fixture. “The worst experience is not having a lot of light to put on your makeup or shave,” Soojian says. “If lighting is directly above the head or mirror, it casts shadows around the face.” To that end, consider vertical sconces for either side of the vanity. Also, don’t forget to appropriately light the shower area with a recessed light. For a soft glow that doubles as a night-light, consider adding a lighting source to the toe-kick of your vanity and cabinetry.

Because of the potential for glare on screens and monitors, home offices and media rooms need special consideration as well. The biggest culprit tends to be natural light. “Window treatments are the way to control daylight,” Gillespie says. “Most of the time they filter light, cut the glare, and provide privacy.”

For windowless home theaters, extra shine from lamps and fixtures can still pose a problem, particularly on plasma screens. In addition, lighting can affect contrast and brightness of the TV’s picture. Designers can address these concerns by finding the right placement for lighting and relying on dimming controls. The home theater can also be a great place to add some whimsy with elements such as pathway lights on the floor or fiber-optic lighting on the ceilings.

Dining rooms, foyers, and hallways are ideal candidates for lighting that’s a bit more ornamental. “You still need to make them bright enough to [function], but you want to make these spaces subtle,” Sheldon says. “We would use far fewer recessed lights and do mainly decorative, like chandeliers and wall sconces.”

In addition, hallways and corridors are a great place to highlight favorite works of art. Take care, however, not to overlight a piece. “You want to expose it to the least amount of light possible, because light can damage paper art,” Soojian says. “Use UV or conservation glass to protect the art.” Where possible, Soojian will install a light right over the piece or will use a recessed light with a narrow beam focused directly on the sculpture or painting.