A comfortable and cozy atmosphere conducive to rest and relaxation – this is something that a well-thought-out lighting system will help you to achieve. It will also help to create a unique atmosphere for every corner of your apartment, emphasize the advantages of the interior, and hide the flaws “in the shade.”
When choosing the light for your apartment, you should not only focus on the decorative component but also think about your eye health, peace of mind, and emotional harmony. In this post, we will share with you some practical recommendations on how to choose lighting systems for the key rooms in your flat.
Cold or Warm?
Modern people spend a lot of time during the day at work behind the screens of laptops, computers, and telephones. For them, the question of what color of lighting is better to choose for an apartment is relevant so that their eyes can rest at least at home.
However, you will be surprised to know that there is no effect on health based on the color range of lamps. Neither white nor yellow colors will harm the eyes, but they can affect the psycho-emotional state of a person.
The color of the lamps depends on the color temperature, which is measured in Kelvin (K). There are three shades of glow:
- Cold white – 6000-6400 K;
- Natural white – 4200 K;
- Warm white – 2700 K.
Warm white light is pleasant and comfortable to the eye, creating a cozy atmosphere. It is recommended for the following zones in an apartment:
- Living rooms and bedrooms;
- Dining area;
- Bathroom.
But in order to avoid unpleasant situations, it should be noted that the warm white glow can distort some colors. For example, violet may appear red; cyan will take on a greenish tint; dark blue will become black.
Natural white light is great for:
- Children’s room;
- Reading area;
- The working area in the kitchen;
- Illumination of mirrors.
Cold white light tunes to the work atmosphere and helps to focus, which is why it is recommended for:
- Cabinets;
- Bathroom sink zones to make it easier to wake up in the morning;
- Large areas decorated in a minimalist or hi-tech style.
A cold color can also distort colors, turning red to purple, orange to brown, and yellow to greenish.
Choosing the Lighting
The lighting required for different rooms in an apartment depends on the function they perform. The lighting system that works well for the kitchen area may be completely out of place in the bedroom. There are certain recommendations that help to correctly plan the location of light sources and their number in accordance with the purpose of the room. Let’s check them all.
#1 – Hallway
As a rule, there are no sources of natural light in the hallway, so you need to think carefully about what kind of lighting will be in this room. Lighting fixtures should be bright enough and create conditions that are comfortable for being in the hallway. With the help of the light, you can correct the shape of the hallway, etc.
#2 – Bathroom
The most important requirement for a bathroom lighting system is safety. All lighting fixtures must be waterproof. You should also take special care of the bathroom mirror – it should be well lit. You also need to carefully consider the choice of the light color. For example, too cold light combined with tiles can create the feeling of a hospital in a room. So think about this detail.
#3 – Kitchen
The kitchen can rightfully be called the most popular space in the apartment since it is here that most people spend most of their time. Therefore, lighting in the kitchen must be multifunctional and cope with different tasks. The ideal option for illuminating the working area in the kitchen would be illumination with a LED strip or lamps installed under the cabinets.
The dining area can be highlighted with interesting lamps on long lightning elements hanging over the table. If you wish, you can also use one chandelier for the entire room. If the kitchen plays the role of a living room, it is worth choosing decorative lighting elements: sconces, floor lamps that match the style of the room or think over the arrangement of ceiling lighting. The dim light will create a great backdrop for a friendly conversation or family watching TV.
#4 – Bedroom
For the bedroom, it is recommended to install one lighting fixture, which will act as the main light source. It can be a LED chandelier with a matte shade or a classic chandelier with a fabric shade. You can also make accents with sconces installed at the head of the bed or on the opposite wall. You can also use night lamps on bedside tables if they match the room interior. You can always use a virtual staging solution from the spotless agency when selecting different lightning systems for your bedroom.
#5 – Living Room
The lighting system that you choose for a living room is highly dependent on the room size. Thus, large rooms require zoning and the creation of multi-level illumination based on the currently required lighting scenario, whereas small-sized rooms can be perfectly illuminated with a single chandelier.