Have you ever experienced being soothed by the ambiance brought about by the muted lights and candles when you walk into a fine restaurant? Or walking into a hotel lobby and being awed by the display of a grand chandelier that’s all lit up? Apart from music, light is considered to be an element that has a direct effect on our moods. Consider being caught in a traffic jam at night with the headlights of approaching cars hitting you right on the face. It’s not a very pleasant experience. With that in mind, just imagine the important role that lights play in the design and layout of our homes, it might just spell the difference between a tranquil existence and a chaotic one.

The different spaces in our homes require different lighting conditions to fit the activities that we do. For instance, in the kitchen, you can consider adding lights underneath hanging cabinets to allow you to have adequate lighting when preparing the meals. With the open floor plan being used in the layout of more and more homes now, the combination of the kitchen and dining room has altered its function as well There are families whose mainly used area is the kitchen/dining room. It is where they gather to eat and discuss things, where the children do their assignment and where visitors are entertained. It is very important that you consider the right kind of lighting in order to maintain a positive mood when people gather in this area. Recessed lights are the logical choice to light up the different areas in the kitchen. Installing a pendant light over the kitchen counter or the work table satisfies both the form and function need for the room. In the dining room, a popular choice would be to put in a chandelier right above the dining table or a big pendant light. Using the right shade and the right type of bulbs, preferably the environmentally safe kind would transform the home dining area into a room which can rival a restaurant. Dimmers can be placed at strategic points to provide adequate lighting all over the area. The living room on the other hand, requires a variety of lighting tools to meet the need for the area. These days, the living room is also a multi-purpose area where families watch TV, children play games and read, and another area where visitors are entertained. Accent lights can be distributed all over the living room area to bring note to collectible pieces and work of art. Lampshades can be placed strategically at a reading nook and table lamps scattered all over the place to make sure that the entire area is illuminated but the light would not be too harsh or glaring.

Paying attention to the lighting need for the major spaces in your homes can be richly rewarding because in the end, it is your family who will gain from the experience of truly living in a comforting home.