Perfect Light Fixtures

If a room is awkwardly proportioned, too large or small, prosaic and bland, or boring and lackluster, clever lighting can help correct some of these defects.

To make a ceiling look higher
Use floor or wall-mounted up-lights to throw light up on the ceiling or conceal lighting
behind a cornice or cove mounted high on the walls at the perimeter of the room.

To make a ceiling look lower
To make a ceiling look lower and give a room an intimate demeanor, keep light away from the ceiling by placing wall lights fairly low and using shades or pendant fixtures with closed tops that won’t throw any light back on the ceiling. Also draw attention to items placed at a low level, such as pictures or wall hangings positioned low on the wall or groups of accessories placed on low surfaces, by lighting them from above or with a lamp standing on the surface.

To make a long narrow space seem wider
You can focus attention on a feature on one of the end walls, such as a window with an elegant treatment or an interesting piece of art, by highlighting the wall with a spotlight and wash the other walls in the room with an even but less intense light.

To make a space seem larger
Wash opposite walls with light to make them seem farther apart. Alternatively, combine lighting with mirrors and reflective surfaces to increase the illusion of space. Use recessed cans or track-mounted spots, pointed downward, above a large wall-mounted mirror or position lamps to be reflected in a mirror.

Surfaces with sheen
Glass, metal, tile and gloss paint reflect, heighten and amplify light, while matte or textured surfaces absorb light rather than reflect it. The darker in tone, the more light is absorbed. Use matte surfaces in an overly bright room to cut the glare from too much sunlight.

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