How to Determine the Correct Wall Lighting for the Room

Each room that you decorate has a certain style or theme that you created by the type of flooring, furniture, window treatments, art on the walls, table tops and shelving. Whether you knew it at the time you started to put the room together or it fell into place over time. You gave the room a personality and with that personality you have expressed the type of surroundings that make you feel comfortable.

So when it comes to wall lighting you will want to create an atmosphere that is both up tempo at times and laid back and relaxing at the flip of a switch. Don’t worry, I will show you exactly what you have to do to accomplish both of these atmospheres with the same wall lighting fixtures. It really isn’t as difficult as it sounds. Just follow my suggestion and you are well on your way to wall lighting success.

Let me first start out with each and every room you are about to grace with wall lighting. The room and what you have in the room will determine what style of wall lighting will most likely add an artful touch to the room. As I go on, you will get a good idea of what will and what will not fit into the décor of the room.

I will begin with your floors. Take a look around each room in your home that you wish to install wall lighting. What is the color of the floor? Do you have hardwood floors, wall to wall carpeting or area rugs?

Next take a look at your furniture. What style of furniture do you have? Is your furniture Jacobean, Early American, William and Mary, Queen Anne, Colonial, Georgian, Pennsylvania Dutch, Chippendale, Robert Adam, Hepplewhite, Federal, Sheraton, Duncan Phyfe, American Empire, Shaker, Victorian, Arts and Craft (Also referred to as Mission), Art Nouveau, or Scandinavian Contemporary?

If you are not quite sure what style your furniture actually is, believe me, you are not alone. To make things easier to calculate, all you really need to know is what your furniture looks like. Take a piece of paper and a pen. Write down the type of wood that is in the room along with the color of the wood. Does your wood furniture have any metal accents? If the room is furnished with a lot of chrome, put that in your notes. Is glass a major part of the room décor? Does your wall art and decorations center over a single theme? Write all this information down so you can make an educated decision on the type of wall lighting would go well.

Your final decision on what style of wall lighting to choose should be a combination of 2 to 3 of the elements you have written down in your notes. Your wall lighting should be constructed with some of the elements of the furniture in the room. This could be wood, metal, glass, plastic and fabric (Some wall lighting has lamp shades).

Just so you know, this also goes for hallways. Try to match any furniture that may be in the hallway and the wood accents that may be part of the hallway. Also in hallways you may want to include wall lighting that would match the color of the metal and style of doorknobs of the rooms you enter through the hallway.

Always make sure your wall lighting will fulfill your needs. Know whether you are planning on lighting up the room or putting the finishing touch on some sort of wall art by giving it just the right amount of light. Remember, by installing a dimmer switch to your wall lights you can have the lighting atmosphere of your choice at any time.

I have some words of advice. If you are planning on installing wall lighting on a wall that does not already have the power wires in place, always seek the help of a professional electrician. There are licensed professional contractors who are available to help you get the job done correctly. Also, if you are planning on adding lighting to some sort of wall art, be careful and use lighting that will not damage or fade your art. There are special bulbs to insert into your wall lighting fixture that won’t damage your wall art.

Now you have a good idea of the research involved in finding the perfect wall lighting for any room. This is a quick and easy way to bring out the professional interior decorator in you.