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Unexpected Ways to Use Lighting in Your Home

It’s hard to envision a home without light. Preparing a meal in the kitchen, reading a book in bed or getting ready for work in the bathroom all require adequate light. It’s common to find table lamps in the bedroom or pendant lights in the kitchen to make these rooms more functional.

Although lighting has practical purposes in a home, it doesn’t have to be boring. Lighting can be used in unexpected ways to create ambiance, highlight art and architecture, and make a room more memorable. Lighting can also be a work of art in itself. If you’re looking for fun ways to use lighting throughout the home, we hope to inspire you with this post. We’ll share ideas to transform your home lighting from ordinary to radiant.

8 Unique Ways to Use Lighting at Home

When you include unexpected elements in your home lighting design, you can make the space more visually appealing and unforgettable. That’s because humans long for surprises. According to a time-honored Chicago Tribune article, we need patterns to feel oriented, but once we get used to a pattern, our minds crave an unexpected break.

You can apply this concept when you arrange lighting in your home. The trick is knowing where to place a stunning light fixture so it adds an intriguing fluctuation to a pattern without being distracting. In general, aim to have one surprise element in each room. To help you get started, here are interesting ways to incorporate lighting fixtures at home:

1. Use Under-Cabinet LED Light Fixtures

Lighting makes a kitchen more inviting, inspiring and easy to use. Kitchens typically include an overhead fixture to provide the space with adequate light and allow people to navigate easily. You’ll also often find task lighting above kitchen work areas, such as countertops and sinks.

To make a kitchen more exciting and add a subtle surprise, you may wish to include some form of accent lighting to showcase architectural details or highlight a piece of art.Under-cabinet LED lights, for instance, function as both task and accent light sources. Under-cabinet lights brighten countertops and sinks, eliminate shadows and increase the usability of the area. They also highlight decorative backsplash tiles, kitchen decor or colorful dishes.

Another under-cabinet option isLED Button lights. These are puck lights that are excellent for showing off a unique vase or countertop sculpture. You can bring attention to tea sets or pottery by placing puck lights inside cabinets. You might use under-cabinet lights in other rooms throughout the home as well, such as the bathroom, office or living room to accent nooks, bookshelves or other small spaces.

You might use LED Tape Light if you want a lot of versatility. LED Tape can be used to frame cabinets, coves or other architectural elements and add an elegant touch. You can also place them above cabinets to highlight ceiling details and add dramatic cove lighting. If you wish to make it easier to find utensils or other kitchen items, consider installing LED strip lights or the Straight Edge luminaires inside kitchen drawers or cabinets.

When you shop for under-cabinet LED lights, think about the color temperature you want. Color temperature describes the shade of white a light emits. This shade may be “warm” and have an amber tone, or “cool” and have a slight blue appearance. Choose cooler temperatures if you wish to use the light mainly for work areas or to add drama to architectural details. Warmer lights have a relaxing effect and may be ideal for showcasing kitchen decor or art.

2. Install LED Lighting As Artwork

Artwork doesn’t always have to be a painting or a print. For something unexpected, consider using an LED light fixture as an art piece. With flexible LED technology, manufacturers can create interesting shapes and designs without bulky wiring.

You might consider an eye-catching LED chandelier with a unique form, for example, which can serve as a focal point and functional piece of art. Or maybe you’d like to install bold, geometric sconces to accentuate a wall. No matter where you place them, sculptural light fixtures look gorgeous — even when they’re turned off.

To choose artistic lighting, take the same approach as buying a new piece of artwork. Here are some tips to help you use LED light fixtures as art:

  • Choose what you like: Although you’ll want to follow some general principles when selecting a unique light fixture, such as choosing a piece that suits the size of the room, you’ll want to focus on picking something you like. Art is meant to be a form of self-expression, so consider how a light fixture makes you feel before deciding to purchase it for your home.
  • Consider the room’s size: If your room is big, a large chandelier or pendant should work well and can be complemented by smaller light fixtures in the space. A small room typically looks best with a smaller chandelier or pendant. According to Better Homes and Gardens, you can figure out the right size chandelier by adding the dimensions of the length and width of the room. Use the total to select the diameter of your chandelier in inches. For example, if your room measures 15 feet by 15 feet, choose a chandelier with a diameter of around 30 inches.
  • Think about the other colors and materials in the room: Consider the different materials and colors in the room and how a light fixture can fit-in while still being a conversation starter. For example, if you have brushed nickel hardware throughout your space, you might choose a brushed nickel chandelier to tie the room together.
  • Add new texture: You can use a striking light fixture to add a different texture to the room. If you have many pillows and other soft materials in your living room, a smooth, glass chandelier brings something new and unexpected to the space.
  • Consider your style: What is the style of your home? Is it modern and sleek? If so, look for a metal or glass fixture with clean lines. Do you consider your home to be traditional and ornate? If so, you might choose a more complex light fixture shape. Overall, think about your decorating style and how light fixtures can increase the harmony of the space.

3. Hang Pendant Lamps in the Bedroom

Instead of placing the usual tabletop lamp on either side of your bed, consider installing bedside pendant lights. Pendant lights are popular in kitchens but can be an interesting choice for the bedroom. Pendant lights hang closer to eye level and add direct light to space below. They’re typically made of glass or metal, though they come in various materials. You have plenty of options to choose from to add to your personal style and complement the other elements in your bedroom. Mini pendant lights, in particular, might be the ideal size for bedside lighting. Another option is swing arm wall sconces that provide excellent adjustable illumination alongside your bed.

If you want to experiment with other non-traditional lighting sources, consider hanging a chandelier in the bedroom or adding sconces directly to the headboard. If you’re going to keep your nightstand lamps, you may consider adding a pendant light to your reading area.

4. Try a Chandelier in the Bathroom

You might expect to find a chandelier in the dining room or foyer and not in the bathroom, but there’s no reason it has to be this way. Using a chandelier in the bathroom adds another layer of ambient light to the space along with an unexpected glamorous glow and an elegant design statement. Consider hanging the chandelier in the center of the room or over the tub to create a focal point. Depending on the size of the bathroom, you can also position a chandelier so it illuminates a corner.

When choosing a chandelier, consider the room’s size and how the light fixture can complement the space. For example, if your bathroom has low ceilings, choose a chandelier that hangs closer to the ceiling.

5. Use More Than One Fixture

It’s common to find a single light fixture hanging over a table or adorning the center of a living room, but if you want to try something different, consider using an array of light fixtures in the same space. For example, instead of hanging a chandelier over the dining room table, you might hang three mini-pendants, which draw as much attention as a chandelier but are more unexpected. If you have a long dining room table, consider placing two chandeliers side by side. Whether you choose one fixture or several, make sure they hang over the center of the table for a balanced look.

6. Use Lighting as Architecture

Modern light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures can appear as part of the actual building rather than an accessory and can even support well-being. For example,STRUT is a lighting, power and control system that adds attractive architectural elements to a home or business and allows you to easily modify lighting as you wish. It also features dimming functions and the ability to control individual lights from an app.

You might also consider installing a rail/track system to make an impact or use recessed lighting for a dramatic and practical effect. For the exterior of your home, outdoor sconces and accent lights can be used to emphasize architectural details and make your home look complete.

7. Illuminate Your Landscaping

A home’s landscaping doesn’t need to disappear when the sun goes down. Instead, you can install outdoor lighting in creative ways to draw attention to your beautiful landscaping details and increase its safety and security.

You don’t need to illuminate every inch of your property, but consider showcasing interesting trees, plants, water features, sculptures or other focal points by installing spotlights. It’s also important to light walkways and make it easy to navigate. For out-of-the-box outdoor lighting, consider LED tape. Add a mix of warm and cool LEDs in an outdoor seating area to make colors pop while keeping the area secluded.

8. Light up the Floor

How often do you look down and see a light source? With LED tape, you have plenty of ways to add an eye-catching glow around a room’s perimeter, under cabinets or at the base of a bookshelf, kitchen island or bar. You can also use LED tape to illuminate hallways, dark corners or stairs and create an unforgettable look while eliminating the need for nightlights with toe-kick illumination. Another fun way to implement an LED light fixture is to add a sliver of color to a space by installingcolor-changing LED tape. Overall, you can use LED tape to highlight any feature in the home.

How to Use Light to Display Artwork

Adding light to your favorite art pieces is worthwhile if you want to experience the display fully and mitigate shadows and direct accent illumination on the pieces you love most. Here are tips to help you light artwork the right way:

  • Prioritize preservation: It’s important to consider the type of light source you use to display artwork to keep the pieces in great shape. To save art from damage, avoid placing pieces in direct sunlight and choose low-heat light sources, like LEDs.
  • Consider the angle: Angle your lighting at 30 degrees to provide enough light without producing an intense glare. You can add five degrees to avoid casting shadows with a large piece and subtract five degrees to emphasize texture in a painting.
  • Go bright: Although you do not want to use an aggressive light source to showcase artwork, you’ll want display lights to be about three times brighter than the ambient light in the room.
  • Choose the right light source: Picture lights can be ideal for creating an intimate view of a framed piece of art. For wall sculptures or an alternative to picture lights, consider using a track light or spotlight. If you wish to cover an entire wall with light rather than illuminating paintings individually, consider a wall washer.

Trust WAC Lighting for LED Light Fixtures for Home Use

LED fixtures offer great flexibility, provide limitless options and enable you to create a truly unique and personal space. If you’d like to explore LED light fixtures for your home or business, we’re here for you at WAC.

As a technology company, we are committed to helping our customers create customized environments with high-quality LED products. Whether you’re interested in smart technology, responsible light solutions or elegant fixtures, we’re ready to exceed your outdoor or indoor lighting needs. To learn more about our products,please visit a dealer orcontact us today.