Lighting plays a more important role in our homes than one might initially recognize. Many interior designers have begun referring to lighting as the “jewelry of the home,” because lighting can certainly add a special decorative sparkle to every room. 

Lighting is a functional necessity that can become a highly aesthetic feature. For example, strategic lighting in a minimalistic apartment can transform it into an elegant, well-defined space.

The Versatility of Lighting

Lighting’s purpose in a home is multifaceted. It can create bright workspaces for those intense sessions or a mellow atmosphere in areas dedicated to relaxation. Lighting can emphasize certain elements such as collections or architectural features, helping them gain attention. 

Lighting also contributes to mood. You’ve probably noticed that cool-tone lights have a much different vibe than warm-tone lights. Sculptural pieces say something different than the traditional standards.

The Different Types of Home Lighting

A successful lighting design has three key ingredients - ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting.

• Ambient lighting provides the overall tone for a room, complimenting your underlying color palette.

• Task lighting zeroes in on specific areas that require light, like the kitchen countertop or your favorite reading chair.

• Accent lighting is used to highlight specific features, objects, or art in your home.

Combine all three artfully, and you can create a beautiful layered lighting effect. Rooms with layered lighting are highly functional but also visually interesting. 

To add another level of customization, intelligent lighting systems include dimmers, timers, sensors, and other smart home features. These high-tech features allow for a highly personalized lighting experience that can transition beautifully. Intelligent lighting systems often allow you to pre-program settings to complement sunlight shifting throughout the day. Various members of the family can hit their favorite room settings for activities requiring specific lighting settings (homework, movie night, game night, dining, etc), increasingly through voice-command.

Features of Lighting Fixtures

The wide range of fixtures available cater to different lighting needs, from concealed and track lighting to more prominent fixtures like chandeliers, lanterns, and sconces. 

Today's lighting fixtures also include more unusual and artistic forms like opaque and translucent cones, cylinders, spheres, and diamond-shaped lights. 

Fixtures often come in a variety of finishes - white, gold, silver, chrome. Each finish should correspond to the home’s overall style and each room’s color palette.

Yes, there’s a lot to consider as there are more options today than ever. Lighting specialists and professional interior designers can provide needed guidance to simplify the process of selecting lighting systems and fixtures that will work best for your needs and budget. 

Typical East Coast Lighting Styles

Taking a look at regional styles, East Coast homes, especially in Buffalo, New York, often feature bold chandeliers alongside more unassuming cove lighting, creating a pleasing balance and contrast of ambient luminescence. However, different types of homes may require different lighting strategies. 

For example, elegant New York City penthouses typically draw upon accent lighting to help architectural elements and fine art pieces shine. Traditional New England Colonial homes often use a combination of chandeliers and sconces, creating a cozy and inviting feel. Brownstones and townhouses, due to their typical lack of natural lighting in the center of the home, frequently have a mix of concealed lighting, sconces, and pendants. Meanwhile, East Coast beach houses aim to blend lighting techniques for seamless indoor-outdoor transitions.

I see lighting design as an integral element of any home, as it can illuminate and enhance every space when done well. By understanding and applying basic lighting principles, it's possible to greatly improve the look and feel of your home. 

What could we create together?