Shining the Spotlight on Lighting Design
Lighting. Often the unsung hero of a home, but tremendously influential on the spaces within it. Not only is lighting a core function of a room – essential to completing everyday tasks safely and effectively – but also has a powerful impact on its ambiance and aesthetic. Finding, selecting and installing lighting can be a significant challenge for many homeowners. Luckily, at Sprinkman Design, we live for things like this. Providing expert advice and tips for developing a lighting plan – including design, selection and placement – is one more way we can deliver exceptional results for you and your home.
Let’s shed some light on the topic.
Start with a Plan
When we first evaluate your space, we consider lighting from every angle to create a comprehensive, intentional plan. One of our initial considerations is how to best layer the lighting — creating depth, interest, and balance by combining different types of lighting in the various lighting zones of your space. Considering multiple light sources at varying intensities and positions to achieve a well-rounded and dynamic effect enhances the atmosphere of a space, highlights different elements, and optimizes functionality without creating harsh shadows or flatness.
We look at four basic types of lighting:
Don’t Forget Design
We often compare light fixtures to jewelry. Because just as jewelry enhances an outfit or draws attention to a particular feature, light fixtures can elevate the overall design of a room, creating a specific atmosphere or visual impact as an elevated focal point or statement piece. When determining the best lighting selections, we consider the style and architectural features of the room, and how lighting could enhance or highlight these things. We also consider lighting temperature, not only for function and comfort, but also aesthetic.
Measured in Kelvin, the color temperature of your lights can be either warm or cool — and can significantly affect the mood and functionality of a space. Warm light creates a cozy, inviting atmosphere that is ideal for living rooms, bedrooms and dining areas. Cool lighting provides brighter, more focused light for workspaces, kitchens, bathrooms and offices. We work with you to define the needs – and wants – of each space, ensuring each light selection enhances the room to its fullest.
Measured in Kelvin, the color temperature of your lights can be either warm or cool — and can significantly affect the mood and functionality of a space.
Make the Best Choice
There’s an old adage that says you get what you pay for. And we certainly agree. While optimizing the budget is always on our radar, investing in some higher-quality fixtures that deliver longevity in both style and function is often a smart path to take. Our access to exclusive, trade-only resources means you have a broader choice when considering lighting options. We work closely with you to determine the best mix of options that will work for your space — and your bottom line.
This also applies to finding fixtures that work well for open-concept rooms. We often hear that homeowners struggle with how to make lighting in large, open spaces flow well, so they default to the proverbial ‘matching set’ lighting options. This typically results in a room that lacks strong design and functionality. Having a more expansive list of options enables you to pick what truly complements your space just as easily as if you were adding it to your cart.
Get It Right the First Time
Once your selections are made, lighting installation is the final step. Finding the appropriate scale and placement of fixtures is equally as important as the style! Our preferred list of professional electricians have the knowledge and experience to ensure the size of fixtures is appropriate and positioning is optimal. Oversized light fixtures in small rooms can overwhelm the space, while too-small fixtures in large rooms may not provide adequate illumination.
Likewise, proper placement is crucial. For example, hanging pendant lights too low over a dining table can obstruct views, while placing them too high may not provide enough light. Finally, we make sure the lighting selections are appropriate for your home’s electrical load and capacity, as well as existing wiring, minimizing the risk for potential hazards. Coordinating with electricians and providing final recommendations ensures you have a beautifully-enhanced, perfectly lit space to enjoy for years to come — and we leave no detail overlooked.
SDC can help ensure your home is the haven you need it to be. Fill us in!
We’d love to hear about your project and answer questions.