Any room looks better with good lighting. The best lighting takes into account not only personal style and decor but also your habits, use of space and budget.
"Lighting has the ability to make or break the look and feel of your home," said Jennifer Kis, director of marketing communications for Progress Lighting. "Without the right lighting, focal points, architectural details, unique textures and even colors can be lost, overlooked or nullified. Lighting can help set the right tone, mood and environment for a variety of events and celebrations."
For the most effective lighting, different varieties — ambient, task, accent — need to work together and be balanced.
"A successful designer must take the various forms of light and blend them into a cohesive total," said Jeffrey Dross, corporate director, Education and Industry Trends, Kichler Lighting. "Task and ambient lighting are much more clinical than accent and need to be placed in accordance with the demand of the space. Accent lighting can be used to balance the others as well as speak for itself as a stylistic point in the room.
"That said, because they are more purposeful does not mean care in placement can be abandoned."
On-trend tipsTo add drama, "a striking chandelier or a series of statement-making pendants can add a focal point to a living room or dining room area. Pendants are such versatile lighting fixtures and can truly be incorporated into limitless lighting designs," Kis said.
"Exterior landscape lighting is one of the easiest ways to add drama to a home," Dross said. "A well-lit landscape defines interesting elements of the architecture, plays against the assorted plantings and re-establishes the importance of yard art. It is generally accepted that a home with professional landscape lighting looks better at night than during the day, regardless of the level of landscaping. It makes that much of a difference."
"One of today's most popular design trends encourages individuals to create unique lighting designs by mixing and matching their favorite fixtures within the same space," Kis said.
Look across collections for pieces that feature complementing details, profiles and finishes.
"Coordinating complementary pieces creates a cohesive feel to the home. It can also reinforce a unique design style because the ultimate outcome is a custom lighting design," Kis said.
Stylish savingsLastly, don't forget energy-efficiency. While refrigerators, air conditioners and dishwashers have made substantial advances, "despite LED, we still spend an inordinate amount of funds for electricity for lighting. Consumers should make learned choices," Dross said.
The Department of Energy reports that homeowners use more power for longer periods of time on exterior lighting than any other light in the home.
"This should be a homeowner's first choice for energy-efficient lighting. Inside the home, the kitchen is No. 1. Make changes there, followed by the bathroom and living area," he said.