Whether you’re designing a new home, remodeling your existing home, or simply looking for a few upgrades, lighting in Florida is one area to focus your time and attention on. It affects much of our home life and should be designed with care. Here are some things to consider when choosing how to light your living space.
Purpose of the Space
Kitchens and bathrooms should have fairly bright lighting to make working in those spaces easier. If your kitchen is also an eating space, however, its wonderful to have those bright lights on dimmers so that your meal can feel a little more cozy and relaxed. Living spaces should have ambient lighting that is not too bright, but that lights all areas of the room. Task lighting such as end tables or wall sconces can help create reading or crafting areas within living spaces.
Nighttime Safety
Bedrooms should be dark during the night to facilitate better sleeping, but people need to be able to move around their homes with ease after dark. Small plug-in nightlights are great for bedrooms and bathrooms. Some of these are motion activated, so they only come on when someone enters the room or walks down the hallway. Another option for nighttime lighting is to have ceiling or wall fixtures on dimmers, so they can provide low light over the whole room.
What About Smart Bulbs?
Smart bulbs can be fun, with the ability to light in different colors. They are more than just fun, though. In rooms where you don’t have a dimmer switch, smart bulbs can provide dimming with one touch of an app. In addition, you can control them even when you’re not home. If you’ve forgotten to leave a light on for yourself, you can turn one on before you arrive back at home. If you’re away from home for an extended period, you can use smart bulbs to make your home appear lived in.
Before purchasing lighting, consider how you will use the space you’re designing. Choose ambient and task lighting that provide the light needed for that space.