How to create a perfect lighting plan

Perfect Lighting Plan

The lighting in your apartment supports your daily living needs. In addition to functionality, it also should complement your decorating scheme and enhance the ambiance you want to create. Think about lighting as much as you think about all the furnishings in your apartment. A plan will help you decide where to place lighting and what to install.

Assess your needs

Survey your apartment to decide what type of lighting you want to install in each room. Lighting will vary from room to room. For example, kitchen light should be similar to natural light so that you can see items clearly, such as when the food is done cooking. In the living room, on the other hand, you may want to create a mood. Dimmers will help do that.

Complement your décor

Choose lighting to complement your décor. If you have a contemporary look, track and recessed lighting will work well. A vintage chandelier by contrast would brighten a French country style apartment.

Understand different lighting

• Natural light comes through windows, doors, and skylights. Depending on the time of day, season, or weather, it can vary in brightness and intensity
• Ambient lighting illuminates the whole room. Recessed or track lighting is often used along with a dimmer switch.
• Accent lighting is much brighter than ambient lighting. It is used to illuminate some area or object in a room.
• Task lighting needs to focus on the area you are using for cooking, reading computer work and other activities. It should be glare free. Halogen, tungsten and fluorescent bulbs work the best.

Formulate your plan

Formulate your lighting planafter you decide on the types of lights you need and the effectsthat you want to create.Include in your plan where you want to install fixtures to blend with the decor and balance the arrangement of your furnishings.