Mood lighting: how to make it work for you

Mood lighting is not about following a trend, but the best way to use artificial light in the home, especially during winter when we tend to rely on it so much more.

Stark white light may work best in the kitchen when prepping for dinner, but softer lighter is preferable when watching TV in the evening. It’s these light nuances that can make a home that much more comfortable according to interior designer Adrianna Doueihy, who heads up A Designer’s Life.

Lighting is about experiences, says Adrianna, who says it’s best to turn off overhead lights in the lounge room at night, and go with side lamps instead.

“Use the warm yellow of the downlights for dinner or watching TV, then put the lamps on when you have your girlfriends over,” she says.

THE RIGHT HOME LIGHTING

Coco Republic head of interior design, Diana Ribarevski, agrees saying that the right lighting, much like a warm throw or a soft paint hue on the wall, can change the way you feel.

“Lighting is all about layering with table lamps, floor lamps and task lighting,” says Diana. “You need to think about how people use and enjoy a particular space as opposed to what is purely necessary.”

Her first rule — use restraint particularly overhead and make living spaces cosy instead. The family room in particular should be a place of relaxation, with floor lamps taking preference, especially after dark.

“Successful lighting design will often hide the fittings themselves,” she says.

With floor lamps sitting in the corner, you want the focus to be on the light that is projecting on the wall instead of the lamp itself.

“During the day, pieces that are structural do effectively add to the design style of the room, but at night the focus should be more on how the light is projected,” says Diana.

Homeowners will often spend big on lights in communal spaces, but leave a sad single bulb as the only light in the bedroom. Yet Diana says this room, in particular, should be included in the budget.

As the ultimate room of peace and relaxation, table lamps with warm globes are the best way to go.

“To be honest, a lot of times the bedroom is ignored, but I would say don’t compromise in one of the most important rooms in your home,” says Diana.

“Bedside table lamps or hanging statement lamps are so elegant in the bedroom.

“They may not come cheap, but they provide that feeling of luxe. You can simplify everything else around it and have an understated bedhead and tallboy, but it’s important to treat yourself with lighting that will relax you.”

BEST BATHROOM LIGHTING

In a personal ensuite you want a surface-mounted light on a bathroom vanity cabinet that will create a warm glow to the face rather than harsh overhead lighting that will cause shadow.

In a guest powder room, go the complete opposite and create a memorable room with a decorative chandelier.

IDEAL LIVING ROOM LIGHTING

Ceiling pendants and downlights are fine for when the TV is off, but when you’re watching a movie, stark bright light is less than ideal.

To create a theatre-style mood with lighting, use tall floor lamps that will indirectly light up a room around you.

BEDROOM LIGHTING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT

Recessed lights in the bedroom are also a fine choice, but wall sconces on either side of the bedhead can make night-time reading that much more enjoyable.

Table or standing lamps are also options.

STUDY LIGHTING OPTIONS

Any lighting with a cool, white light that is close to daylight as possible, is ideal.

According to a study at the Korea Advanced Institute of Technology in South Korea, lighting is a dominant factor in the brain’s ability to focus. Those studying in brightly lit environments do better than those in dimly lit classrooms.

BEST PRACTICE KITCHEN LIGHTING

The kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home and the area where the big bucks are spent in a renovation.

To that end, a pendant light above the breakfast bar is almost a given. Fancy, high-end and an expressive piece of design, the kitchen pendant is often a talking point in the home.