Lighting a room seems simple enough: Plug in a lamp, flip a switch, and voilà! What was once dark is now bright. But certain missteps can make a comfortable space feel, well, off. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

 

1. You don't think in layers.

“Homeowners tend to light rooms as if they're hosting a convention — too much overhead light,” says Robert Gross, an architect at Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design. “This doesn't add warmth or character to a room.”

 

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Overhead lighting is a go-to option in many spaces, but it is often not enough. Leaving out task lighting such as floor and table lamps, reading on your couch, or writing on your desk can strain your eyes. And if you can only install lights in your bedroom, you won't have the cozy quality nightlights can provide.

In addition, different light sources make your common areas more flexible. Ambient (overhead) lighting will come in handy if you're hosting large holiday parties, but you'll crave the intimacy of a table lamp if it's just you curled up with a magazine.

Want to get super fancy? Accent lamps that highlight art, cabinet interiors, or walls (think sconces) can add a luxurious design element to a room. Advertisement – Read more below

 

2. You fire dimmer switches.

Many of the designers we spoke to referred to this flaw as a major pet peeve. “Dimmers are the best kept secret of lighting design,” says interior designer Jeff Fiorito. “They allow you to control your lighting from day to night, for different events, and depending on your mood.” A scenic dinner party just isn't as scenic when your dining room is lit up like a stadium.

 

3. You forget where shadows can fall.

Put a light in the wrong place, and you could end up with more of a problem than a solution.

“In the bathroom, try sconces on either side of the mirror, rather than a single light above.” says Erin Davis, of Mosaik Design & Remodeling. “Overhead lighting can cast shadows on your face.” If you must go with an overhead light, choose a longer, horizontal fixture (rather than one with a single bulb) to help fully illuminate your face.

Shadows can plague your kitchen workspace, too. “As a kitchen, lights can be positioned over the edge of the counter, when you're standing at the counter to work, you're casting a shadow right where you need the light,” says Christine Beehler of Beehler Kitchens. Solve this problem by installing lighting under the cabinet.

Do you notice the same overhead shadow problem in your office? Make sure your desk has a task lamp.

 

4. You choose the wrong size fixture.

“This is a common mistake I see homeowners make,” says Abbe Fenimore, the designer at Studio Ten 25. “A chandelier that's too small over a large dining table or an oversized lamp on a table next to a sofa will leave the area looking disproportionate. look.” Advertisement – Continue reading below

Try these design tricks from Wayfair for choosing the right chandelier size: Add together the height of the room and the width in the feet. That number, in inches, should be the approximate diameter of your chandelier. In dining rooms, you should choose a chandelier that is a foot smaller than the narrow width of the table.

And don't rely on seeing it when you're in the store. “Fixtures often look smaller in lighting showrooms, so bring measurements,” says Kerrie Kelly, home design expert at Zillow Digs.

 

5. You do not place lamps at a useful height.

“The bottom of a pendant lamp should be 30 to 36 centimeters above a kitchen island,” says interior designer Noelle Miceck. “The bottom of a chandelier should be 66 inches off the floor in a dining room, and if you're sitting next to a table lamp, the bottom of the shade should be at shoulder height. If the lamp is too high, you will be blinded by the lamp!”

 

6. You don't consider the paint color of your room.

It doesn't matter how many lights you put in a room, it just won't have that light airy feel if the walls are too dark. This seems obvious, but even slightly different shades in the same color family can make a difference. “I painted my kitchen a grayish color, and it caused the room to appear very dark,” says home rehabber Jaquetta Turner. “Repainting with a ligther tan color will brighten it up.”

 

7. You forget that lights use energy.

OK, so you're probably not completely unaware of this fact, but taking stock of which bulbs you're using is important. Longer life CFL and LED bubs may cost more up front, but can save you money over time. Of course, they won't be perfect in every space; For example, they often do not work with dimmers.