How to Contour Your Space with Light
Make the most of every space with these lighting tricks.
When most people set out to brighten and liven up an underwhelming room, they typically turn to décor: Paint, pillows, and the like. But perhaps the easiest way to boost the colour and ambiance of a space—especially those awkward areas like entries and bathrooms—is to rethink the lighting. Follow our editors' tips and tricks to transform any room in your home from sombre to sunny with the flip of a switch.
Living Room
Designs: IG Workshop
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The Challenge: Big or small, narrow or wide, the living room is one of the most common gathering areas in a home, so flexible lighting is key.
The Fix: Layer in ambient, task, and accent lighting! Start with adding a chandelier for ambient lighting, and as a focal point in your space (so pick one that best suits your style).
Have a favourite reading nook on the couch or enjoy playing board games on the coffee table? Bring in task lighting to avoid straining your eyes. Place a lamp on a side table to act as a reading light and park an arched floor lamp behind the couch to assist with general task lighting. For additional flexibility, add a floor lamp that you can adjust via swiveling or tilting the shade.
Illuminate a few of your favourite things (finds from travels, favourite books, or pretty decorative trinkets) with accent lighting. For built-ins and free-standing bookcases, place a small stick-on accent light underneath each shelf to spotlight the object below it. To show off art work, either tilt one of your track lights or install a picture light directly above the piece for optimal illumination.
Tip! Place lights at varying levels to pique visual interest and help vertically illuminate your room.
Kitchen & Dining Room
Design: Chango & Co.
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The Challenge: While these two task-oriented spaces are neighbours, their opposing functions mean they have different lighting needs.
The Fix: In the kitchen, bring your task lighting up a notch. With food prep you need to ensure that all work surface areas are clearly visible so you can see the job ahead. Place LED strips under cabinets and hang adjustable wall-mounted lights above the sink. Give your light something to play with; metallic backsplash tiles reflect light around the room.
In the dining room, centre ambient light directly over the table. For a long table, use multiples of the same light or bring in a fixture with multiple heads. Hosting an evening party? Create ambiance with candlelight—clusters of tea lights and candlesticks at varying heights create an intimate feel. Avoid overwhelming your senses by only purchasing the unscented variety!
Tip! Install dimmer switches in both the kitchen and dining room for additional hosting and food prepping flexibility.
Bathroom
Design: Clean Design Partners
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The Challenge: Often windowless, bathrooms frequently rely solely on artificial light, which isn't optimal for early morning beautifying (side-eye to bronzer that's a bit too sun-kissed and eyeliner that's a tad too dark).
The Fix: A proper blend of ambient and task lighting is crucial in the bathroom. While overhead lights help illuminate the space, they also create unflattering shadows on you and your space—making it feel darker. Balance it out by flanking your bathroom mirror with sconces. If you're really at a loss for light, add high polished chrome finishes and crystal lamp shades, which will reflect light back into the overall space.
Tip! If you can’t get any natural light in your bathroom, opt for bulbs with a colour temperature between 2700K and 3000K (closest to that of daylight). Incandescent, compact fluorescent, and LED bulbs all come in this range.
Bedroom
Design: Building Solutions and Design
https://www.wayfair.ca/https://www.wayfair.com/shop-the-look/slp/master-bedroom--photo-id12558
The Challenge: Reserved for recharging, the bedroom is frequently underlit but still requires adequate light for winding down with a good book in the evening and riffling through your wardrobe in the morning.
The Fix: Place a table lamp with an opaque shade on your nightstand to create a diffused glow before bedtime. Avoid using bright white lighting, which can hamper your ability to fall asleep at night. Looking for a minimalist approach? Install small hooks in the ceiling and string up a plug-in corded light. To augment your lighting, work whites into the room on walls, major furniture, or bedding to organically make it feel lighter and brighter.
Tip! We know beauty rest is vital. If you have blackout curtains in your bedroom, open them every morning to let in natural light.
Entryway
Design: IG Workshop
https://www.wayfair.ca/https://www.wayfair.com/shop-the-look/slp/melissa-foyer--photo-id145214
The Challenge: This small space creates a lasting first impression, but is commonly overlooked and underlit.
The Fix: Work from the outside in. Ditch the blinding driveway spotlight, and opt for a large outdoor pendant or a pair of wall sconces on either side of the door. Introduce lighting elements in strategic spots: Illuminate pathways and stairs with LED or solar-powered lights.
Lead guests into your home by mirroring the outdoor pendant or duo of sconces inside
Make use of a high ceiling by placing a pendant above the doorway—for additional sparkle, consider a crystal chandelier, which will pick up and spread the sun's rays throughout the day. For a low ceiling, get the same level of illumination with a flush-mount and paired wall sconces nestled alongside the entryway vignette.
Tip! Want to get real light in your home? Do a little reno. Install a glass front door, a transom window, and sidelites hugging the front door.
