How to Choose the Right Lighting for Your Home

Slider Brixton Spot 50 in Private Residence, Pendant Lights, Innermost

Choosing the right lighting for the different rooms in your home can be complicated. There’re bright lights, and dim lights, and hanging lights, and wall lights, and chandelier lights, and LED lights; there are so many lights! And if you’ve been to a store that carries lights, you’ll understand precisely what we mean.

A lot of time and effort go into selecting the perfect lights that are right for you and the space they’re going in. For instance, you need to make sure you’ve chosen lights with an actual functional purpose, with the right amount of illumination shining off them, and with a stylistic element to add to the room’s aesthetic. You can’t put a simple, yet modern ceiling light in a room full of antique furniture, it just won’t match!

That’s what we’re going to help you out with. If you’re looking to learn a little bit more about the lighting options you have, and how to choose the right lighting for every room in your home, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s get started because there’s a lot to cover!

There are three types of lighting… What are they?

First, let’s start with the different types of lighting you can choose from:

1.    Ambient Lighting

2.    Task Lighting

3.    Accent Lighting

Often, you’ll find that every room has at least two different types of lighting, but there are times when a room will have all three. Check out what each kind of light does below.

Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting is generally the primary source of light found in a room. They can be anything from overhead fixtures to recessed lighting.

Usually, the amount of ambient lighting a room has will be decided by your contractor. He or she will likely measure the lighting in “foot-candles,” or how bright a light is one foot away from its ‘home.’ Typically, kitchens and bathrooms will need brighter lighting or more “foot-candles.”

Task Lighting

Task lighting is used to provide light for certain activities, like reading a book or doing your make up in front of a mirror. These lights are never used to brighten an entire room, just a small area of the room.

Task lights come in all shapes and sizes. They can be mounted on a wall, sit on a desk, or be implanted into a mirror. Some of them even have swivel or rotating capabilities to go wherever you need them to be, and at whatever angle you need them to be.

Accent Lighting

Accent lighting is the most decorative lighting in a room. These lights typically draw attention to something that you admire in the house, such as a painting, fireplace or bookshelf. In general, these lights make something stand out for all your guests to see.

Accent lights can be simple and elegant, but they can also, but they can also be luxurious and out-there. Chandeliers, sconces, and lamps all act as accent lights.

There are lighting categories, too.

Now that you know the details about what types of lighting you can choose from, next you’ll have to learn of the lighting options you have. Let’s check them out.

Sconces

Sconces are always directly mounted on the wall. They can be hardwired into the wall, or a cord can hang down to be plugged in.

Typically, wall sconces are purchased in pairs, each on either side of a mirror or a fireplace. Swing-arm sconces, on the other hand, are usually mounted by themselves as an accent light, bringing attention to a piece of art or a bookcase.

Flush Mounts & Semi-Flush Mounts

Both mounting lights are typically rooted in the ceiling, where they brighten the room and allow for extra walking space. In other words, they don’t take away from the room; the most they’ll hang away from the ceiling is approximately six to twelve inches.

Pendants

Pendant lights are not like mounting lights, in that they do hang drastically low from the ceiling by a cord, chain, or wire of some sort.

A pendant’s primary function is to act as a task light, hanging above a dining room table or a kitchen island. They do range in size.

Chandeliers

Chandeliers can be referred to as a large lighting system, as it gives off more than one light source at a time. These lights are always suspended from the ceiling, and they can be functional or decorative depending on where you place them in the house.

Lamps

You probably already have a floor lamp or a table lamp in your home, but if you don’t, it’s another option to add to your choices. Lamps don’t brighten an entire room, which makes them a perfect candidate for a task light.

This light category has endless options to choose from. What’s more, is that they’re easy to move around the room and they’re quite inexpensive.

Each room needs a different lighting scheme… what could it be?

Almost every house has an entryway, living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. Let’s see what each room should have for lighting!

Entryway

The entryway is the first place your guests will see in your home, which means you’ll want to make it friendly and inviting. Don’t pick a bunch of task lights and accent lights to shed brightness in certain areas of the room. Instead, try mounting a chandelier in the middle of the ceiling (this works well with tall ceilings).

If you don’t have a tall ceiling, that’s okay. Try to choose a lighting fixture that sends out a warm tone.

Living Room

The living room is made for entertainment or relaxation. With that being said, you’ll want to be able to have access to bright light if needed, but you won’t want to use the bright light all the time. Here, floor lamps, table lamps, and sconces will be your best friends.

Dimmer switches are also great for living rooms; that way, you can put the bright light on and dim it according to the mood of the room.

Dining Room

The dining room needs a bright enough light for you to converse and eat at the dinner table comfortably; that does not mean you should go out and purchase LED lights!

Instead, try placing a chandelier directly in the middle of the dining room table. If you don’t like the look of a chandelier get a couple of pendant lights and hang them over the dining room table; remember, don’t get extremely low pendant lights, you don’t want to be hitting your head on them consistently.

Kitchen

The kitchen can be difficult to light; as different areas of the room require different lighting schemes. For instance, you’ll want to put bright lighting over the kitchen island, but you’ll want to have dimmer lighting in areas of the kitchen that are not used as often.

If you have a wide sink, an open bar, or a beautiful kitchen island, pendant lights will be your best choice, both functionally and stylistically.

Bedroom

The bedroom needs warm lighting, nothing more. You’ll want to center the room around task lighting, that way you’ll be able to read while relaxing, or watch television with a lamp on by your bedside table.

Living rooms operate nicely with a dimmer switch, but bedrooms do, too. If you decide on a dimmer switch, you’ll be able to provide bright light when necessary, like during cleaning.

Bathroom

The bedroom is a place where light becomes a necessity. Sconces and bright LED lights are recommended above the mirrors in the bathroom, as these areas are key focal points in the bathroom.

Be sure to put these lights near face height, as you’ll get the best usage out of them here.

We’ve covered the types of lights, the lighting options you have, and a few examples of what lights to put in the different rooms of your house. Now, the choice is all yours, but at least you know all you need to know to start on your lighting endeavors!

Written by Nikki Kingsley
Editor
Marble.com

Looking to add new Lighting to your space? Check out our trusty retailers ↓

Dowsing & Reynolds, Utility Design, Holloways of Ludlow, Lighting Lover, Beut, Amara, Naken and David Village Lighting.

Copper Pendant Light: Inspiring Ideas To Light Up Your Home

brixton cluster aluminium pendant light in copper

It’s no secret that copper accents enhance interiors with a metallic luster that look stunning against both light and dark color schemes. Copper pendant lights are a fantastic way of bringing copper tones into an interior, combining the warm tones of the metallic gleam with soft lighting for double the effect.

Copper lighting can work in a surprising number of areas in the home – don’t overlook rooms such as the bathroom where modern pendant lighting makes an unexpected statement. A simple pendant like the copper Boule will work perfectly against simple white tiles in a bathroom or kitchen. As well as minimal pieces there are some fantastic statement pendant lights available in copper tones, and we’ve gathered a few examples to inspire you to light up your home.

One of our favourite examples of minimal copper lighting is inside this pretty pastel room, which brings in single copper units to give a tougher side to the pink base colour.

The new copper Brixton Spot looks sumptuous, mixing crushed velvet, metallic copper and pastel pink. A single pendant of Brixton 20 gives an effective and sophisticated look, showing a simple designer light can give a big impact.

Private Residence in Rome
Photographer: Eller Vainicher
Architects: Filippo Bombace and Teresa Paratore

Glaze Pendant Light in Private Residence in Rome

This beautifully light and bright interior, designed by Carlos Garcia Interiors features our Glaze pendant light in Cream & Copper. The Glaze pendant is framed by bold colours, patterns and textiles, as light floods the spacious apartment. A great example of a modern copper light working against a busy and colourful backdrop.
Check out more wonderful interiors by Carlos Garcia here.

London Private Residence
Design: Carlos Garcia

Bramah Pendants in London Private Residence

This open-plan kitchen with marble, brushed aluminum & wood accents ticks all the boxes! Here the copper pendants really add to the sense of luxury with high-end fittings and minimal space. The use of the mirror also multiplies the copper pendants giving a greater sense of space and doubling the pendants in use. The designers make great use of the Bramah pendants by EOQ, for luxury contemporary lighting.

Private Residence, Sydney, Australia
Project: by Bates Smart

Beads in Private Residence, Sydney, Australia

If you want to make a bold statement with some contemporary pendant chandeliers then look no further than Beads for maximum impact. Spheres of copper create these striking forms which, when lit, provide an array of infinite reflections, as if the interior was inlaid with jewels. The copper tones of these pendants wonderfully highlight the oranges in the room they have been placed in

Private Residence London
Designer: Morph Interior

Beads in Private Residence London

Copper is a great tone that works with many different color schemes and will be a timeless investment for decorative lighting. Check our further inspiration on our Pinterest board of metallics inspiration.

10 Questions for Peter Wall of Assemblyroom

innermost designers peter and cathy wall

10 questions for innermost’s contemporary lighting designers: Peter Wall, Assemblyroom

Founded by Peter and Cathy Wall in 2003, Assemblyroom is a London based design practice with a strong reputation for creativity in both commercial interior and furniture design. Peter studied Interior Design at Middlesex University and Furniture Design at Oslo National College of Art and Design, whilst Cathy studied Furniture and Product Design at Kingston University. Both then went on to gain experience in commercial practice, engaging in a collaborative and human centred approach, that is still an important part of their design ethos today.

Having established Assemblyroom and undertaken a wide and diverse range of interior projects, the pair went on to develop their interest in small batch production, where their enthusiasm for form, function and materials led to the creation of a range of quality pieces that combine simplicity and elegance with colour and a sense of playfulness. The Assemblyroom collection reflects a timeless quality and an understated familiarity, and this is evident in the Portobello pendant light. We caught up with them to ask 10 big questions..

1. You designed the new Portobello for Innermost, what inspired these beautiful pendant lamps?  
The Portobello Light draws inspiration from the simplicity and functionality of industrial warehouse lighting of a bygone era.

2. Who would you invite to your dream designer dinner party? (Let’s call it your ‘innerparty’..)  
Too many to list, but here’s a few… Jasper Morrison, David Adjaye, David Byrne, David Hockney, Wes Anderson & Eley Kishimoto; or is that too many Davids!

3. What is your favourite piece of architecture?
Again, there are so many, but if I had to choose, it would probably be the Stahl House by Pierre Koenig

4. What would you name as the most useful piece of tech?
Digital callipers & a coffee machine.

5. If you could take any found object and make it into a lamp, what would it be?  
Coiled spring

6. What’s your favourite object from childhood?  
Skateboard

7. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever been asked in a meeting?  
Can you design it to look like my Grandad’s workbench, but with three legs!

8. At Innermost we are big fans of the Negroni… what is your favourite cocktail?
It’s got to be a margarita, every time!

9. What’s the last exciting project you worked on?
A new Lounge Chair, which is being launched this May

10. If you could choose your teachers at Fantasy College – who would you choose to be taught by?  
Pierre Koenig, Jasper Morrison, Alvar Aalto, Donald Judd and David Hockney

Thanks Peter! Find out more about Assemblyroom and their latest projects here.

Milan 2019 highlights

innermost exhibition at euroluce

A wonderful mix of technology and vibrant new aesthetics, the 2019 Milan Collection wowed at Euroluce.

Having worked with new designers and proven contributors we presented a collection that proudly displays our belief that: ‘light is a material’.

Thanks to everyone that visited us and made it such a fantastic show! From being drawn in by the stunning Kepler, to testing out our eye-catching Bud, the stand was packed with faces new and old.

It was great to share some Ginnermost & tonics with you all and show off the new collection. We hope to see some Bud tote bags glowing away at our next event!

Innermost Imitations

Authentically Innermost

At innermost we work with our designers to develop unique products using only the best quality materials combined with the latest innovative technology.
Our products come with a genuine 3 year warranty as we have total confidence in their design and durability and are proud to offer our customers the best after-sales care.

When you buy an original Innermost product you can trust in our high standards of intellectual property, ethical employment and environmental responsibility. And you can be sure that beautiful, genuine product will arrive in pristine condition.

Unfortunately, copies and imitations of our products do exist on the market.

Please beware of any fake products.
– These counterfeits most likely offer no assurances of CE, ETL, or WEEE certification: all the stuff that ensures they are safe for use and safe for the world.
– They rob designers of their royalties and can be crushingly harmful to the creative industry.
– It is unlikely that VAT is collected or tax is paid so purchasing them does not contribute to the economy and puts local shops and jobs at risk.
– The products are most likely not covered by any warranty, so money and time are wasted on replacements in the long term.

At innermost we want to continue to protect the IP rights of our designers and keep supporting creativity. If you are in doubt about the authenticity of a product for sale please let us know, we would be happier to offer you a discount for a genuine innermost product than for you to risk buying a dangerous imitation.

Thanks for continuing to support Innermost and original design.

Innermost

info@innermost.net

5 Bright Ideas On Using Chandelier Pendant Lights For Your Decor

doric chandelier pendant light in white marble over kitchen table

If you are looking for new ideas for modern chandelier lights then let us inspire you with some alternative designs that will illuminate your interior. We offer a wide range of modern chandelier pendants that make a dramatic impact and will enhance your decor. Our modern designer lighting range uses the latest technology, so it can be integrated with your modern interior.

Facet-Nating Chandelier

This amazing chandelier creates a centerpiece for any space. It set the standard when it was devised by Tom Kirk for flatter format chandeliers, so this is a piece that will suit lower ceiling heights. It has since gone on to grace numerous interiors as the perfect centerpiece. Reflecting its surroundings via the hundreds of etched and folded strips at different angles around both its exterior and interior, the effect is like looking at glass or crystal until you get closer and realize it’s all perfectly polished metal. It is available as pendants of varying sizes and as a wall light in polished stainless steel, brass or bronze, giving you plenty of option if you want to integrate more pieces into the surrounding interior.

Facet Innermost Product

Go Bold With Panel

Try Panel for an exciting modern chandelier pendant. This multi-faceted chandelier uses both polished and matt surfaces, inspired by contemporary jewellery as well as architectural metal cladding. Designer, Steve Jones, layered a mix of finishes and forms to create this exciting chandelier with a contemporary feel. Panel reflects different sections of the interior it is placed in, so would make a great modern statement piece and something totally different from the usual traditional chandeliers.

Panel Innermost Product

Discover A Cluster

Use a cluster as a modern alternative to a chandelier in a hallway or above a dining table. Our multifunctional ceiling rose, Radiate, allow you to hang multiple pendants in a number of configurations. This means that options for a modern cluster chandelier are endless and you can achieve a dramatic designer lighting effect with a neat aesthetic that eliminates the needs for multiple ceiling roses. Radiate is compatible with all Innermost modern pendant lights and can be used with other designer fixtures.

Cluster Innermost Product

With Brixton Cluster The Options Are Endless

In the Spot Cluster, Brixton pendants are suspended around a circular disk. The clusters can be arranged in various patterns to give different design options. Arranged as a down-lit cluster chandelier, the cords themselves criss-cross to create decorative geometric patterns. This creates a truly modern chandelier effect and it can be tailored to the space that you have to fill.

Spot Cluster, Brixton Pendant

Integrate Your Chandelier With Modern Lighting Control

Consider the ability to easily adjust, dim or monitor your chandelier lighting. By selecting fixtures that can use bluetooth control, you make the lighting fit the changing atmosphere and mood. Innermost products can be paired with Casambi, which has a simple user interface that anyone can operate, via tablets, iPhones or switches.

Fashion Lighting Showroom

innermost fashion lighting showroom taiwan

Great to visit the Fashion Lighting showroom in Taipei recently to see a variety of Innermost products on display, including the Brixton Cluster installed with a shallow drop format and alternating unit lengths. We’ve got some very exciting projects in the pipeline in Taiwan, we’ll share more soon!

Brixton Cluster by James Bartlett

The New Definition of ‘Industrial’ in Lighting and Home Decor

New, Post, Soft, Salvage, Heritage, Technical; the term ‘Industrial’ is constantly being re-defined with the changing style of this genre. With the ever-evolving parameters of what can be classed as ‘industrial’, the Innermost team have been debating and defining the many sub-categories that come under this umbrella term.

We have spent the last few months categorising the innermost lighting range to make products quicker to find, as well as give immediate visual suggestions for items by style or material. From Large & Luxury,to Glass, Minimal or Brass/Copper/Gold – we settled on some of the most popular categories and terms that are used to spec modern lighting.

But one of the most debated was ‘Industrial’, a category that in recent times has really expanded to cover a variety of aesthetic styles. We often get asked for ‘Industrial’ though it came to light that our definition can be rather broad. One staple of this category is our latest addition to the collection, Foundry, an industrial item with sourced parts – that looks like something stripped out of a steampunk interior. But the category also extends to items like Lighthouse (part industrial, part science lab) or defined as ‘minimal industrial’ with bare bulbs and metallic finished bulb holders. The phrase ‘soft industrial’ (industrial that has been updated and modernised to make it less harsh- a term coined by industry guru Bobby Haidinger in the US market) can be used for products such as ‘Hoxton’, and then there is ‘modern industrial’ which references the modern tech industry.

What is interesting is how the genres are now being mixed so that technical schemes are combined with some basic industrial styles and are also incorporating high tech chandeliers. The look could be described as ‘workshop meets control room’. Also interestingly, in some areas the reclaimed industrial look is also being mixed with high-tech modern chandeliers.

This mixed modern lighting style all fits with the idea of zoning and the creation in many F&B interiors of what are really modern day ‘snugs’, an interior within an interior. The old fashioned ‘snug’ was a small alternative room in a British pub that was more like a cosy sitting room. It’s no longer just a thing in cafe and restaurant interiors, it’s also typical in the new shared workspace concepts that are in all major cities now, as well as inside meeting rooms and break out areas of traditional workplaces.

In trying to make sure we have the entire product to provide for our clients projects we have attempted to map this and make it easily searchable. You can visit our recently updated website and see all we consider to be industrial with one click! We will also be expanding the industrial Foundry collection in the coming months with 8 new options.

Keep checking our site for new additions to the categories and do join in the debate to define what important modern lighting categories you feel have emerged!

About Innermost

Innermost is a British design brand with a rebellious approach to lighting and furniture. Founded in London and working with designers from all over the world, Steve Jones and Russell Cameron aimed to create an innovative and diverse brand, making products of the absolute highest quality. Since 1999 the company has followed its initial philosophy, to be ‘as British as London itself’: a unique mixture of classic English tradition and vibrant global diversity.

Press contact at Innermost:

Emma Royston

emma@innermost.net or info@innermost.net

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