Lighting is often an overlooked aspect of home remodeling, but it can make a significant difference in the atmosphere, functionality, and overall aesthetic of a space. From creating ambiance to enhancing productivity, the right lighting can completely transform a room.
Here at Sea Pointe we have a few designers who like to call a remodel’s lighting plan the project’s “jewelry”. While it may sound like a funny idea, a room’s lighting really can be the icing on the cake. Imagine that you just spent thousands of dollars on your dream kitchen but when all is said and done, there are shadows on your island or the space under the cabinets where you prep your vegetables is dark!
Many people don’t place much value on a project’s lighting design because they believe that lights are just lights. But that’s far from the truth! A room’s lights can dramatically beautify a project with just the flip of a switch.
Types of Lighting That Can Transform Your Remodel
Let’s explore the various types of lighting that can elevate your remodel from ordinary to extraordinary and help you enjoy your new space for years to come.
1. Ambient Lighting
Ambient lighting, also known as general lighting, provides overall illumination to a room. It sets the tone and creates a comfortable brightness level. Strategic placement of ambient lighting can help you navigate throughout the room and easily perform everyday tasks.
Ambient light can come from a variety of sources, including overhead lights, windows, or canned lights. Work with your professional designer to determine the right type and placement of ambient lighting for ultimate results.
2. Task Lighting
Task lighting is designed to illuminate specific areas where activities such as reading, cooking, or working take place. It provides focused, bright light to enhance visibility and reduce eye strain. Incorporating task lighting into your remodel can improve functionality and productivity in targeted areas.
While large windows and a door provide copious amounts of ambient light for this San Juan Capistrano kitchen, strategically-placed, steel dome pendant lights offer focused task lighting above the L-shaped island.
3. Accent Lighting
Accent lighting adds drama and visual interest to a room by highlighting architectural features, artwork, or decorative elements. It draws attention to focal points and creates depth and dimension within the space.
Common types of accent lighting include wall sconces, picture lights, and track lighting directed at specific objects. During your remodel, consider how accent lighting can enhance the aesthetics of your home and create a focal point in each room.
In this Irvine remodel, unique wall sconces highlight the newly refurbished floor to ceiling fireplace while recessed lights above open shelves draw the eye to stylish decorative pieces.
4. Natural Lighting
Natural lighting, often considered the most desirable type of lighting, comes from windows, skylights, and glass doors. It not only brightens a room but also provides a connection to the outdoors, improves mood, and promotes a sense of well-being.
When planning your remodel, maximize natural light by strategically placing windows and using reflective surfaces to bounce light throughout the space. Consider factors such as orientation, size, and placement of windows to optimize natural lighting in your home.
In this Newport Coast bathroom remodel, large windows shower the room with natural light while highlighting the gorgeous ocean view.
5. Under Cabinet Lighting
Under cabinet lighting can enhance both the functionality and aesthetics of a workspace. Commonly installed beneath kitchen cabinets or shelves, this type of lighting illuminates countertops and work areas, making tasks like food preparation easier and more efficient. Under cabinet lighting can also add depth and dimension to the space, creating a warm and inviting ambiance.
In this Lake Forest kitchen remodel, under cabinet lighting provides additional illumination for spaces not easily lit by the nearby window, ceiling lights, or island light.
6. Canned Lighting
Canned lighting, also known as recessed lighting, is a versatile and space-saving lighting solution that provides ambient illumination without taking up valuable floor or wall space. These fixtures are installed into the ceiling, with the light source recessed above the surface, creating a clean and streamlined look. Canned lighting is commonly used in living rooms, kitchens, hallways, and bathrooms to provide general lighting or accent specific areas of the room.
Recessed lighting can also be a low-profile, valuable addition to outdoor living spaces such as this one in Rancho Santa Margarita. Here, canned lights are used to create a uniform and diffused light that fills the entire space without creating harsh shadows or glare.
Work with a Professional Designer for Maximum Lighting Aesthetics, Function, and Efficiency
Lighting plays a crucial role in the success of any remodel, enhancing the functionality, aesthetics, and ambiance of your home. By incorporating different types of lighting, you can create a space that is not only beautiful but also practical and comfortable. Whether you’re planning a major renovation or a simple upgrade, don’t underestimate the power of lighting to transform your home!
It’s also important to consider energy efficiency in your lighting choices. This is especially true here in California where Title 24 outlines acceptable building energy efficiency standards and influences your overall lighting plan. When you work with a design consultant here at Sea Pointe Design & Remodel, we take regulatory guidelines into consideration while also focusing on your specific needs and desires.
Give us a call at (949) 861-3400 or fill out the form below to schedule your complimentary design consultation today!