What is the Best Advice for Updating Lighting in my Home or Cottage?

Updating your lighting is one of the best ways to modernize and freshen your design approach. As designers we think about each room and the role that lighting needs to play. From reading to food prep, there is a wide range of lighting requirements for your spaces.

Let’s cover off each room and talk about ideas for how lighting is making a difference in recent home design.

Kitchens

Task lighting is integral for food and meal preparation. Also, having ambiance for dining and kitchen party conversation is something to consider. If you have an island using down lighting can help provide both task and ambiance along with character and mood. However, new trends suggest you can consider ceiling options and create an entirely unexpected look. Under counter lighting aids in showing the way for practical kitchen activities and in some cases a counter lamp can provide a touch of personality.

This cottage kitchen counter peninsula utilizes two hanging lights characteristic of the cottage era style. They add both detail and function.

An additional over the sink light provides more task lighting yet with its subtle design doesn’t deter from the outside view.

Ceiling mounted lights pinpoint art and highlight the curved wall design. At the same time they offer a layered option along with recessed lighting.

The ceiling mounted option acts like art lights and creates a focal point for this lakeside walkout basement kitchen.

Great Rooms

In larger more open areas, layered lighting is used to create vignettes of liveable and usable space. Overall recessed lighting may provide a base layer with a dimming option, while table lamps can warm the space and provide reading zones. Floor lamps are also a good way to add lighting layers to the overall space. 

Wall sconces are also an interesting way to frame entertainment units, shelving or fireplaces. Sconces can cast light upward to highlight a taller ceiling or when positioned downward can focus on art or other decorative accents.

A focal point chandelier pays off the coffered wood ceiling and brings a wow factor to this lower level.

With the wood ceiling design, the chandelier becomes artful and a conversation starter!

This view provides an idea of how layered lighting interacts together. Recessed provides a base, the chandelier provides specific zone lighting and the wall mounts hone in on specific points of interest within the room.

Bedrooms

Having a statement light feature as a focal point for the ceiling is a good start. Current designs are using everything from ceiling mounted to more creative options like hanging decorative styles. 

Reading lights are important for guests and can create visual interest to flank a bed. With today’s options it’s not difficult to make a stylish statement with lighting in almost every area of your home.

Two gold hanging lights match and provide uniformity to flank the bed in this guest room. Creating harmony with matching styles, allows for flow and consistency in a small space.

The ceiling mount light allows for yet another layer and with exterior natural light filtering in, this room becomes a bright and airy space.

A darker room on a lower level, takes advantage of a decorative ceiling light that provides both form in a stylish way and functionality by giving the room the much needed lighting it requires.

Wall sconces create a reading light source and also work together with the furniture design to balance all of the room contents.

This office space or extra guest room, uses the ceiling mount style along with a desk lamp. With optimal exterior light, this room can function for many tasks.

Small lighting details like a gold desk lamp provide stylish detail which allows designers to accessorize with lighting. 

Bathrooms

Layers are key to bathroom design. Having a lit up mirrored area is integral for daily life and sconces are a way to add both form and functionality. When it comes to form, almost any kind of sconce can create an accent for your design approach. This can be further accented with a light above the mirror to provide a surround lighting solution. 

An alabaster sconce provides balance in this design. With recessed lighting, the layers provide all the task lighting required by our client.

Sconces flanking double sinks provide another lighting layer. At the same time the style of the sconces match the home interior so that a design theme is brought to life through lighting.

In this design, we used sconces on the actual mirror wall to further reflect ambiance back into the bathroom space. The glow against the mirror is a reflective effect that provides a feeling of luxury and hotel inspired design. 

In our client’s home gym, we used recessed lighting and wall mounts to accent the TV wall and the storage cabinet. Lighting allows an otherwise dark and forgotten space to become a useful and warm area.

Entry lighting is also important to provide a first impression. In Project Corn Cob, an iron cottage style option helps to convey the historical connection that we wanted guest to have with the cottage.

Exterior lighting is equally important to set the tone for your home or cottage design style. Lights flanking an entry provide functional light but also present an opportunity to build a decorative and welcoming entry. 

This exterior light example provides a subtle detail against the wood and timber frame entry. Its period design works to communicate a style that continues upon entry to the home. 

A small cottage style light works in this porch because it continues the cottage design story! As part of a screened in porch, it becomes an accessory to play up the cottage feel and to keep in touch with the historical feeling of Project Corn Cob.

At Home by Tim + Chris we are always exploring beyond the ordinary. We are excited to continue designing your Kawartha Lakes home and cottage lifestyle! Design, that is driven by us but highly influenced by you!

If you have a design question you would like to submit for the next Town Crier issue, you can send it to the Home by Tim + Chris design team at: info@homebytc.ca

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