How to choose a lighting style that reflects your personality

Choosing lighting for the interior of your home? It can be tricky – there are so many options, inspired by different historical eras and regions of the world. So where to begin? From ambient to task to accent lighting, this guide is here to help you make choices that fits with your individual style and personality.

Lighting style begins with the style of your home

You chose where you live for a good reason, because the architectural style resonates with you. Perhaps you were drawn to a house that is traditional, timeless and classic, with a look that will never go out of fashion. Or maybe you opted for a more modern and austere style. In either case, there are lighting options that will work in the space that you are filling with light, and there are also options that could contrast and clash in a bad way. 

Lighting style also begins with your tastes and preferences

When thinking about your own personal tastes, a good place to start is with your favorite art movements and fashion styles. Are you attracted to the bare impression of form and unblended color of Impressionism? The free-spirited and eclectic vibe of Bohemian art, that mixes different cultures and artistic expressions with an emphasis on nature and organic elements? Perhaps you are a fan of minimalist abstract art with its simplicity, clean lines, and monochromatic palettes, with color used only as an accent? These can be great hints as to which lighting fixtures will delight you every time you walk into a room. 

Fashion is by its nature trendy, and your style might shift from year to year or even season to season, but there will be certain constants: do you invest in timeless neutral pieces, take some creative risks, lean heavily on accessories to put your outfits together? This is another fun way to figure out your interior design style. 

Another question to ask yourself is: what kinds of activities do you enjoy? Are you a home chef? Then you will want the lighting in your kitchen to be functional as well as attractive. A book lover? Not only will you want lighting for reading before bed, but you might also want to install accent lights to illuminate your bookshelves. 

The three types of lighting

Traditionally, designers think of lighting in three categories: ambient, task, and accent, all three of which should be used in cooperation with each other through a strategy called “layering.” This technique calls for consideration of the overall character of the space through overhead ambient lighting that diffuses throughout the room, accent lights that cooperate with overhead lights to produce subtle or dramatic effects and highlight key features in the room, and task lighting for focused brightness when you are reading or working. 

Using all three types of lighting together is called layering because it is achieved by positioning lights at various heights to create a layered, balanced, and harmonious effect. 

Lighting styles based on the mood of the room

Now that you know how layering works, decide the mood you want to create in each room. Do you want the space in question to be warm and cozy? Vibrant and stunning? Clean and understated? This is another good early step in deciding how you want your fixtures to look as well as to light the area.  

For kitchens, many people want to set an inviting atmosphere in the space overall, with focused task lighting aimed at counters and cooktops so you can clearly see when meals are being prepared. These task lights are often turned off or dimmed when not in use, to help maintain a mood that is inviting to family and friends. 

Living rooms are lively and active spaces, but we also like for them to be calm and peaceful as the evening wears on toward night, and a chandelier or pendant lights can help set the right tone when used in conjunction with wall sconces and lamps. Home offices benefit from functional task lighting, often used in conjunction with natural daylight during work hours. And a mix of overhead ambient, accent, and even task lighting in a bedroom should take into account the fact that bedrooms are made for relaxation and rest, but also reading and romance. 

Popular lighting fixtures by lighting style

Now let’s look at some styles that you might find inspiring, to help you narrow down your search for the perfect fixtures. 

Modern style of lighting

Modern fixtures, from lamps to ceiling lights, are often nothing but a bulb with simple structural components, such as a glass globe. But modern as a category can also include lights that include bold ornamental details or riff on classic concepts like the chandelier, breaking from tradition through experimentation with form. No matter which direction it goes, in modern design simplicity is king. 

Contemporary lighting design is much like modern design, in that both typically employ neutral palettes and prominent bulbs, but contemporary is very much of the moment. In textures and base colors, these fixtures are highly creative and inspired by the present time and the world around us. They often borrow elements from multiple eras and styles, then update them to fit present-day tastes. They typically feature long lines that can be either straight or curved, interpreted in a dynamic way. 

Geometric shapes and clean lines with limited color are defining features of minimalist lighting. Their overall effect is strong yet subtle, with a color scheme that includes only black, metal hues, and white or ivory. 

Traditional style lighting is timeless rather than trendy, designed to coordinate with almost any other design style and have staying power. It is inspired by the past, in particular the decorating styles of the 18th and 19th centuries, which in turn were inspired by Greek and Roman architecture. In traditional design, you’ll often see meticulous crafting and elaborate detail. 

Vintage style also looks to the past, at least 20 years before today. Some cues are ample ornamentation, the use of glass detailing, simple silhouettes that have been accessorized with lovely accents, and old school bulbs. Exposed bulbs are often a notable feature of vintage lighting, especially with today’s popularity of Edison-style light bulbs. They also often employ a natural and organic look to materials. 

If you own a country cottage or simply love that style, then rustic fixtures might be right for your space. Many of them are also antique-inspired, but often have the flavor of the farm about them, including gas lantern looks, flush mount ceiling lights with an antique nickel finish, and throwback accents.

We’ve created a helpful table with some of the features of each lighting style, to help you narrow down your options: 

Mixing Lighting Styles

Of course, you are free to mix and match lighting styles in any given room, especially if it is a space that is eclectic by design, or a transitional space that combines modern style with traditional design. According to Architectural Design magazine, transitional spaces are defined by a tonal, textural, monochromatic, and minimal aesthetic and so leave you with the elbow room to combine lighting styles. 

Some tips for using multiple styles in concert with each other include choosing finishes and fixtures that either harmonize with the rest of the room or contrast with it deliberately, to draw attention to the fixtures as if they were works of art. Remember that you want textures and tones that play nicely with each other, and don’t forget the strategy of layering light sources when shaping the overall effect of the space. 

Common mistakes in home lighting style choices

The first mistake that people sometimes make is underlighting a room. Keep in mind that every room is a functional space, and you want to have enough light to use it in the way that it was intended. Another is overlighting. Unless it is a very large or open concept space, you should usually have no more than four light sources for every room, lest they become too much and you lose its comfortable atmosphere or create a look that is crowded and scattered. For more insights on lighting open concept spaces, check out our article on Lighting Ideas. 

Another mistake is neglecting task lighting. The kitchen is a great example of this: you want to have adequate light to see when you are chopping, slicing, and sautéing, so under cabinet lighting is a great option. This also goes for home offices and workspaces, as well as being a good reminder of the value of bedside table lamps for reading. 

Also, don’t forget the power of a dimmer. Installed for a ceiling light or even table lamp, these turn a fixture into a multi-purpose tool: sometimes brighter for focused light, sometimes dimmer to create the ideal ambiance. 

Mismatched Color Temperature

Many of today’s lighting fixtures can be integrated with smart home technology. This might include connecting the light source to your mobile phone through an app or voice technology, both of which can allow you to turn lights on and off, or even dim them. Another exciting trend is adaptive lighting, which grew out of car headlights that adjust to the daylight surrounding. In interior design, adaptive lighting automatically dims or brightens the color temperature of its lightbulb in reaction to ambient light, so during the day or to increase energy efficiency, so the light is more cool like daylight or more warm and inviting. This means warmer colors as you’re waking up to start your morning, cooler temperatures for focus during the workday, and the removal of insomnia-causing blue light when you’re headed to bed.

No matter what your lighting needs, we’ve got you covered. Visit visualcomfort.com to explore your options and find the perfect fit for every room. 

FAQs

What lighting style is best for a minimalist home?

Can different lighting styles be mixed in one room?

Absolutely, especially if it is a transitional room that blends modern and traditional styles, or one that is eclectic in design features or the furnishings that you have selected. 

How often do lighting styles trend change?

Interior design trends are always evolving and changing, and this goes for lighting as much as paint color and furniture styles. Unless you are someone who likes keeping up with the latest and shiniest fashion, then choosing lights for your room, look for something that will continue to be stylish for 10 years or more. This means looking for macro trends, as architects do, and taking inspiration from styles that will last and even be able to incorporate new technologies that arise. 

What should I consider when buying lighting for dimly lit rooms?

First, consider the function of the space and use the layering technique to ensure that you have adequate light for everything that you will do in the room. Second, think about the aesthetic effect of the fixtures themselves, and how they work in unison with the other component fixtures. Lastly, consider employing dimmers so that a light becomes multi-purpose, brighter when you need focused light and dimmer when you want to create a relaxed and comfortable ambiance.