Prospective new home buyers may not always pay special attention to the interior lighting designwhile touring a builder’s newly constructed home. More than likely, they’ll be preoccupied with admiring the more noticeable, show-stopping elements of the home—fireplaces, windows, cabinetry, built-ins, and architectural features.
But don’t write off lighting just because it may go unnoticed in the early stages of design. A well-crafted lighting plan is what makes a home go from good to great. Lighting affects the ambiance and mood of every space within your new home. Do it right and the whole look of your interior will instantly improve. Have you ever strolled down a street at dusk or dark, peered into the windows of softly lit beautiful homes and become instantly drawn in to want to see more? Beautiful interior lighting fixtures and enhancements are often the finishing touches that make your home stand out, softly glow or brightly shine.
New home features grab so much more attention with proper interior lighting. Lighting can also become an awe-worthy home feature in itself when you incorporate stylish and modern house light fixtures like sconces and chandeliers into your new homes. Other special considerations when choosing interior lighting include:
- Maximize ceiling height.Knowing your ceiling height is important when selecting hanging light fixtures. Some lights come with adjustable cables or rods, but others don’t. Don’t get stuck with a light that hangs too low or too high. As a rule of thumb, the bottom of a light should hang about 12 to 20 inches below a standard 8-foot ceiling. For each additional foot of ceiling height, add 3 inches.
- Look Up.When hanging a light over a table or a kitchen island, 28 to 34 inches is the recommended distance from the bottom of the light to the surface of the table or island. However, the size of the light makes a difference. In general, a smaller light can be moved lower, and a larger light can be moved higher.
- Make a plan. Consider your lighting preferences during the initial designphase of a new build or renovation. For example, if you want three pendant lights over your dining table instead of one or two, that should be taken into account before construction starts.
- Get your swag on.If you are adding new pendant lightingbut don’t want to deal with the expense or hassle of changing your home’s electrical setup, cord swags can be a stylish solution. Swag them loosely over a bar or a hook, as seen in this kitchen, or secure the cord tight to the ceiling for an industrial look.
- Turn it up.Don’t limit lighting to down lights. Depending on the location, consider wall sconces or up lighting to create a softer ambiance and avoid potentially harsh down lighting that can cast ominous shadows
- Go with the glow.The light fixture should not be your only consideration — the type of light bulb is equally important. Halogen, compact fluorescent and LED bulbs come in a range of warm or cool hues. Much like the color of your walls, the type of glow you want is mostly a personal decision. If your walls are covered in cooler tones, you might want to warm them up with a light bulb that casts a warm glow. Conversely, you may want a cooler glow to brighten up a darker space.
- Step it up.Adding lights to stair risers is beneficial since it can be hazardous negotiating stairs, especially at night. Staircases are often enclosed, so light them from the sides or embed lights in the risers as a unique design element.
- The glow below.Rethink that adding lights to your toe-kicks is a trendy, aesthetics-only decision. Strip lighting at the underside of base cabinets is a great way to create a soft night-light that always looks fabulous and warm.
- Sparkling jewels.Many people spend much of their allowance budget on other upgrades and fall short when it comes to lighting fixtures and upgrades. While standard fixtures can be upgraded later, other electrical enhancements such as overhead, recessed, nook and cove lighting are important to consider pre-drywall as the addition of these features becomes difficult and costly if you wait until your new home is finished. Hence the importance of a well thought out lighting plan before construction begins. Also, a focal placed beautiful light fixture or chandelier is alike a jewel in the crown of your new home. Often times it is the first thing someone sees upon entering or glowing through a window and many times is more affordable and attainable than you realize. With a little thought and creativity, lighting and the fixtures that provide it will set your homeapart from others and maximize the overall value.
- Light up the night.When deciding on your final light plan for your new home, don’t forget the benefit and ambiance of exterior lighting. Soft lights under the eaves, beautiful pendants or fixtures over your doorway or showcasing that outdoor porch, patio, courtyard or fountain will not only add curb appeal, it will transform the ordinary to extraordinary with a welcoming glow.
