Perfect Light Fixtures

In every room in a home, there is a constant give and take between natural and artificial light. This ever-changing dynamic unfolds over the course of an entire day and night. Thus, the features of a room such as its dimensions and architectural details; the size, type, and number of its windows; its orientation to the world outside; and the way it is used throughout the day are all key elements that must be considered from sunup to sundown when lighting that room. Ultimately, it is important to pay as much attention to the effect sunlight has in that room as it is to consider the impact that artificial lights have in the same space.

Few of us realize all this when setting out to light our living areas. Traditionally, a standard-issue lighting plan has evolved for each of the public spaces in our homes. The living room contains several seating or activity areas, as it is a multipurpose space for most of us, and these are generally lit with floor lamps. An additional form of general illumination is usually present overhead, either in the form of tracks, a central ceiling fixture, or recessed cans. In dining areas, the dramatic pendant fixture or chandelier reigns supreme. In bedrooms, the bed or an easy chair off to one side is usually flanked with reading lamps, while the entire room is illuminated with a ceiling fixture. While this standard approach is tempting, it is not the most effective way to light a room.

In a perfect world, we would be able to address the lighting needs of a room before it is furnished, or even while its blueprints are still in on the drawing board, but in reality, it is impossible for most of us to start from scratch. We move in and out of residences with more frequency than ever before, sometimes physically altering them by installing the sort of lighting we need when we get there. Often, we address immediate lighting needs with store-bought fixtures, yet carefully planned alterations to lighting at any stage can radically improve a room from both a functional and an aesthetic perspective. When those rooms are the ones we use most of the time, these changes become even more meaningful.

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