Please note: This article may contain affiliate links. All recommendations and styling advice are provided as helpful suggestions only, please always research thoroughly before making any major changes to your home.
Photo credit: with permission from Susanna @shnordic via Instagram | This post is in collaboration with dwell.
I’ll admit - as an amateur interior designer (rather than say, a professional), I’m a sucker for a good interior design tip.
Whether it’s a memorable piece of interior design advice, or one of those ‘mistakes you shouldn’t make’ suggestions, they’re pretty valuable for those of us who don’t know our sconces from our sleepers.
So, that’s why I’m excited to share this with you today.
Photo credit: with permission from Michelle (@michellematangi)
This piece of interior design advice is so simple you’ll find it hard to believe it carries such weight. But it does.
Photo credit: with permission from Malcolm (@designsixtynine)
The secret to creating a room that feels right? It’s to invest in good quality lighting.
See? It’s that simple. But give it some thought, and you’ll probably agree. When lighting is done right, we barely notice it at all.
The table lamp gives just the right amount of light? And those lights under the kitchen cupboards? They provide exactly the kind of illumination you need to read a book in the evening or prepare dinner long after the sun has set.
Photo credit: with permission from Fiona (@around_houses)
But when you don’t get lighting right, it’s all you’ll notice. You won’t enjoy having friends over for dinner if your guests can’t see what’s on their plates, and there’s nothing worse than a visitor sitting in your living room under the glare of intimidating overhead lights - it feels just like being interrogated.
Photo credit: with permission from Kristine of @restoringlansdowne
So if you can see the point of shopping around for a few good lights, here’s where I suggest spending your money first…
Dining room
As Nigella says, “food is not just food, and a dining table is not just a piece of furniture”. Whether you have a separate dining room or a kitchen-diner, it’s likely that this part of your home gets a lot of use.
Meals, drinks with friends, the kids doing their homework - it’s used for plenty of different things, and by various groups of people. So, you’ll need lighting that can multitask and look stylish while doing so.
Photo credit: with permission from Lucy (@summer_at_no.59).
Ditch the overhead spotlights in favour of wall lights - they’ll cast light upwards in a way that’s gentle enough to feel relaxing, but bright enough to actually be of some use.
But if you want a brighter light over the table while you’re eating or working from home, buy a stylish pendant light that be hung centrally over the table.
Photo credit: with permission from Sharon (@hornsby_style)
And finally, fitting a dimmer switch will ensure your table is puddled with soft, soothing glow when it’s time to serve dessert or share a bottle of wine with friends. (If you like Lucy's kitchen/diner above, you can see more of it here).
Photo credit: with permission from Susanna (@shnordic)
Bedroom
Next up, the bedroom. There’s no use pretending you can get away without having an overhead light (after all - how else are you going to see what’s at the back of your wardrobe on winter’s morning?), but bedside lamps are the way to go most of the time.
Photo credit: with permission from Rachel (@raspberry_flavoured_windows)
Opt for dark shades if you’re OK with reducing the amount of light they emit; it’s a good way of ensuring your bedroom feels relaxing and signals that it’s somewhere to unwind.
But if you’re like me and like to read in bed, make sure your bedside lamp is either tall enough to throw light on your books from beneath the shade, or bright enough to mean you’re not squinting.
Photo credit: with permission from Rachel (@raspberry_flavoured_windows)
Living room
Finally, your living room needs a combination of task lighting and ambient lighting.
Rarely should overhead spotlights be needed in a living room, as instead, table lamps, floor lamps and mood lighting (such as fairy lights) will create an atmosphere that feels cosy and welcoming.
This room will definitely cost the most to fill with lights simply for the quantity you’ll need, but it’s worth every penny, and you don’t have to spend a fortune.
Photo credit: with permission from Heidi (@my_home_and_other_stories)
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P.s I wish this was my kitchen, and don’t you think this the best use of space?
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