Lighting is an extremely crucial element of decor. Whether we’re talking about the interior of your home or your exterior, there are a number of factors you should consider when picking out a light. Wall and ceiling lights are a particularly versatile choice when it comes to illuminating the home, both inside and outside. They can be an incredible aesthetic addition, on top of providing light from a practical angle. Here are some tips on how you can pick the best wall and ceiling lighting for your home.
Wet and damp-rated light fixtures
This is an aspect that is going to be much more important to external lights, but it’s definitely not to be neglected for interiors, especially if you’re planning to illuminate a basement. Lights, in general, are categorised into wet-rated, damp-rated, and dry-rated. A wet rating generally means that light can handle ice, snow, intense rain, and other instances of direct contact with large amounts of water, making them ideal for building exteriors, even if you live in a wet environment, or even by the waterside. The damp rating is great for damp areas, as the name suggests, such as porches, patios, bathrooms and kitchen. They can withstand some water, as long as it’s not direct exposure. Finally, dry rated lights are for indoor use only, as they cannot be exposed to any type of moisture – put these in your bedroom, living room, or even a basement, as long as it’s been completely sealed.
How much light?
Ideally, you’d want your interior to have as much natural light coming in as possible, and the artificial light fixtures are meant to illuminate things in the dark. If your home is on the older side and you have smaller windows, but larger rooms, it might turn out that you’ll need to light up some corners even during the day. Consider the function of the room as well – you likely won’t need to illuminate your bedroom very much, so that it remains a quiet, secluded place for you to sleep in and nothing else. For your patios and driveways, pick out lights that will illuminate your way, but will also not come into your home too much – wall lights are the perfect solution here.
Consider your bulbs
Your light fixtures are one thing, but consider the fact that the power and colour of your lighting also makes a difference. And that is usually determined by the size and hue of your lightbulb. 40-watt incandescent bulbs, for example, will provide much less light and are ideal for a bedroom, but larger, 150-watt incandescent bulbs will probably be necessary for areas where you need precision, such as the kitchen or patio. Cooler lights are also better if you need to see exactly what you’re doing, but keep in mind that they may make the interior seem a bit less welcoming, so apply it with caution. You can also choose from a selection of LED light bulbs, which are not only incredibly varied in terms of the light they can provide you with but are also a far more economical option.