All About Layered Lighting: Why It's Important and How to Achieve It
Layered lighting—one of the top things I think about when designing a space! I’ll be sharing what it is, why to do it and how to achieve it in today’s post!
What is layered lighting?
Layered lighting is exactly what it sounds like— layering different types of lighting into a room for functionality.
Why is it important?
Having different lighting options in a space is integral to the comfort and functionality of that room. It prevents limiting the types of activities that can be done in that space.
How do you achieve it?
There are a few things to take into consideration:
size of the room
shape (are there nooks that need extra lighting?)
type of room (i.e. living, bedroom, bathroom…)
how will this room be used? (i.e. entertaining, relaxing, eating, sleeping, reading etc.) It’s important to take into consideration how each member of the home plans to use the space as well.
Overhead or ambient lighting: this will be the lighting that really illuminates the whole space. This could be recessed lights, chandelier, pendant, flushmounts or semi-flushmounts or a combination of 2.
Task lighting: exactly as it sounds, this lighting illuminates specific tasks like reading. In this category are floorlamps, table lamps, sconces, swing arm lamps or sconces, desk lamps
Accent lighting: this lighting isn’t necessarily purely functional, but could be more decorative. Once you have ample lighting throughout the room, this can add a decorative touch. Included in this category are picture lights, spot lights, strip lights and cabinet lighting.
Bonus if you’re lighting is on dimmers! It’s always nice to have options.
In our family room we have recessed lighting on dimmers, a chandelier on a dimmer and we just added this floor lamp, perfect for my little reading corner!
In our bedroom we have a chandelier and two sconces flanking our bed. We use the sconces each night for reading in bed—great task lighting and we don’t have to get out of bed to turn the light off :)