Lighting is a very important element in any home so I thought I would do a little design lesson about lighting. It is such an important element and can be overlooked.

We need three kinds of lighting for the best results: ambient or general lighting, task lighting and accent lighting. A common mistake that is made is that recessed lighting or an overhead fixture is installed and people think the lighting is complete. Keep reading to find out about the different layers of lighting.

These pendants of different sizes and lengths creates a stunning focal point. Source: Unsplash: Jean Phillipe-Delberg

General lighting

Overhead lighting is a valuable part of the equation but not the only part. We need overhead lighting for safety; to illuminate spaces so we can see the stairs, see the change in elevation etc. There are formulas that one can use to get the optimum spacing for recessed lighting but the general idea is if you want overall lighting you don’t want pockets of light, you want the light to be continuous or you will get shadows which can be uncomfortable on the eye. For example, in a kitchen you would likely want the lights to be closer together to ensure no shadows, to have brighter light and for the best overall result. BUT try to really think about your space and how you use the kitchen in order to layout the lights optimally. For instance, you do want a bank of lights on the perimeter of the cabinets, the stove, the fridge but you don’t need the middle of the floor to be illuminated greatly, it can have spill over light from the lights around the perimeter. One note about recessed lighting, I put all my recessed lights on dimmers. This will give an option for less harsh light when you may want dimmer light at night in the dining room.

Using a combination like pendant lights and recessed lighting in a kitchen is a great idea. Source: Becki Owens

Task lighting

Now that the safety issue has been dealt with, you will need task lighting. In a kitchen this will mean under counter lights and perhaps pendants over an island or table. If you just have overhead lights, when you lean over the counter you will get shadows which is uncomfortable for working in the kitchen or at a desk. I like to use pendants over an island as it also adds more interest to the lighting plan and gives you an opportunity to use a decorative light which will add to the kitchen design. The rule of thumb for hanging height of pendants over an island is 30-36. This means the bottom of the pendant is at 30-36” above the island. This height works well for a dining room chandelier as well. It is a common mistake for people to hang their dining room chandelier too high. If a fixture is installed too high it can look like it is floating and not relating to the table below. The table, light and chairs should all relate to each other. In an office, task lighting would be a desk lamp and in a living room task lighting may be a table lamp or floor lamp for reading.

Accent lighting

Now all the ambient and task lighting is in place. Time to add more interest. Lighting is a great way to highlight art or an architectural detail. Accent lighting is beautiful at night when other lights are dimmer to add drama to the room. This can be done by using recessed lighting that tilts towards the wall (called accent art lights or gimble recessed lights). These units are individually placed to highlight specific details and are not used for general lighting although light will spill over somewhat to add to the overall light in the room.

This interesting light fixture compliments and highlights the texture and materials in this feature wall beautifully. Source: Unsplash Loewe Technology

Sconces can also be used as accent lighting or as task lighting. On either side of a bathroom mirror they would be considered task lighting and in a hall or in a living room etc. they may be considered accent lighting. I usually like these sconces to be installed at around 66” on centre in a bathroom as this puts the light at about eye level for the average person. This height can be adjusted to the homeowner’s preference. In a hall one may like them higher. The exact height can be lighting fixture dependent and project dependent so this is important to keep in mind.

These sconces above this vanity are perfectly placed above eye level, but still creates enough light for the homeowner. Source: MDY Design

One of the very best lighting tips I can give is to use dimmers on most lights. There are very few lights I may not use dimmers. To have the ability to take a light from high to low is undervalued. It can add ambience to a space in the literal flick of a switch.

This gives you a very general idea of how lighting can be layered to add to the overall lighting plan in a home. There are many, many variables to consider when pulling together a lighting plan but this will give you an overall idea of lighting layering for optimal lighting results. And of course, discussing lighting with your designer and contractor is a key piece of your project planning. If you are in the Victoria region of Vancouver island get in touch with your next project!