Luminaire

The Lighting Guide

Many factors come into play when creating a lighting installation that is perfect for your home; this is why the team at Lustria creates guides that are easy to consult.

Whether it is the colors of the light, the types of bulbs or the influence of lighting fixtures on your design style, we cover all of these aspects.

The Lighting Basics to Guide You

Types of Lighting for Your Home

All the lighting in your home belongs to one of the following categories:

• Generallighting.
• Direct lighting.
• Accent lighting.

General lighting refers to the main light in the room.

Also known asambient lighting, this type of lighting includes both light fixtures and natural light coming in through skylights or windows.

Accent lighting illuminates a specific area of the room.

Think of a reading chair, a kitchen island, a dining room table, or a beautiful work of art that you want to highlight. Theaccent lighting targets these areas and provides enough light to cover that element without overpowering it.

Task lighting uses fixtures and lamps to illuminate a work area.

Think of a desk lamp for paperwork, a vanity lamp for makeup, or a lamp above the sink for dishwashing. Sometimes, a lamp can belong to more than one category.

The kitchen island lamps can be both supplemental lamps and task lamps, while track lights can provide general or supplemental lighting. Add dimension and depth to a room by layering multiple types of lighting.

What light temperature is best for your home?

The bulb temperature is measured in Kelvin (K), and most households use bulbs with a temperature range between 2,000K and 6,500K.

While the spectrum runs from 1,000K to 10,000K, neutral tones typically fall around 4,000K to 4,100K.

Temperatures below 4,000K have a warmer glow, and temperatures above 4,100K have a cooler glow.

Warm tones

• 2,000K warm candlelight (Very warm tones, similar to the golden glow of a candle).
• 2,700K soft and warm light (A gentle, comfortable warmth, but not as intense as candlelight). This is a popular choice due to its warmth and flattering color.

Cool/Neutral White

• 3,500K bright white (Yellow-tinted for a brighter look).
• 4,100K neutral white (A clean white closer to neutral, with no blue or yellow).

Daylight

• 4,500K daylight (A vivid tone that leans cool, mimicking the look and brightness of daylight).
• 6,500K Extra Bright Daylight (Brighter than 4,500K; this temperature is dazzling with blue tints).

Although color temperature preferences are personal, we have a few recommendations to help you get started.

The soft and warm lights work well for bedrooms, living rooms, and family rooms—that is, places where you want to create an inviting and comfortable atmosphere.

We recommend clear or neutral-white bulbs for areas where you need bright, clear light, such as the kitchen, bathroom, or toilet, where it is important to see details.

The daylight bulbs are generally reserved for work areas or spaces where additional bright light is useful, such as garages, basements, or vanity areas.

Lumens and Watts

The lumens measure brightness levels and are especially important for LED bulbs. The higher the lumens, the brighter the bulb.

Watts refer to the amount of power used by a bulb, which is important for fluorescent, incandescent, and halogen bulbs. The higher the wattage, the more energy the bulb consumes.

Bulb Types: Which Is Best?

Different types of bulbs have distinct lifespans and uses, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. Find out whether incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs, fluorescent bulbs, or LED bulbs are suitable for your home.

Incandescent

This type of bulb is a popular choice because of its attractive warmth and low cost. The main drawback of incandescent bulbs is their inefficiency.

A large portion of wattage is converted into heat instead of light, and the average lifespan of an incandescent bulb is 1,000 hours, which is shorter than most other types of bulbs.

• Lifespan: 1,000 hours.
• Light temperature: 2,700K to 3,000K.
• Dimmable? Yes

Halogen

A different type of incandescent bulb with a similar lifespan. The halogen bulbs emit bright white color, closer to daylight than standard incandescent bulbs.

It is preferable to handle halogen bulbs with gloves rather than bare hands, as the oils from your skin can damage the glass—especially when the bulb is hot.

• Lifespan: 1,000 hours.
• Light temperature: 3,000K to 3,300K.
• Dimmable? Yes

Fluorescent bulbs and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs)

CFLs are 75% more energy-efficient than a standard incandescent bulb and last much longer. The fluorescent lamps are also available in a range of color temperatures from 2,700K to 6,500K.

However, fluorescent filaments contain traces of mercury, so they must be kept intact and the used bulbs must be recycled.

• Lifespan: 8,000+ hours.
• Light temperature: 2,700K to 6,500K.
• Dimmable? Generally no

Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

LEDs are by far the most energy-efficient and longest-lasting type of bulb. Most LEDs have a lifespan of at least 25,000 to 50,000 hours. Although they are more expensive, they pay back their cost through their efficiency.

Some models even change color using remote controls or applications. You will find more information about smart bulbs in the following section.

• Lifespan: 25,000+ hours.
• Light temperature: 2,000K to 6,500K.
• Dimmable? Yes, but with specific requirements

Smart bulbs

All smart bulbs are LEDs, but not all LED bulbs are smart bulbs. Install smart bulbs in your existing sockets to increase energy efficiency further.

Use a remote control or a smartphone application to control dimming, change the bulb color, or set up a schedule for your lights to save energy. Did you forget to turn off the kitchen light before going to bed?

No problem—turn off the lights from your phone. The initial cost of smart bulbs is higher, but the investment is worthwhile in terms of convenience and lifespan.

• Lifespan: Varies.
• Light temperature: All.
• Dimmable? Yes

Wet, Damp, and Dry Location Ratings

Bulbs and light fixtures are given safety ratings that indicate which type of environment they are best suited for, based on your home layout and climate.

Dry location rating

The dry lamps can only be used indoors. Place these lamps in rooms with no condensation or water, such as hallways, dining rooms, kitchens, living rooms, and closets.

Damp location rating

This type of bulb includes seals and additional materials to keep moisture away from the electrical circuits, wiring, and filaments.

It is designed for areas where there is steam, moisture, or extreme temperatures. Ideal for bathrooms, vanity areas, porches, cold rooms, and covered patios.

Wet location rating

Like moisture-rated bulbs, wet location bulbs go even further in terms of water tightness and protection.

This type of bulb is ideal for showers or outdoor fixtures for landscape lighting, patio lighting, wall sconces, or any other lighting that is directly exposed to water, rain, or snow.

Ceiling, Wall, and More Lighting

From large chandeliers to small lamps, we offer a wide variety of lighting options for your home. Pair different fixtures to create a brilliant design.

What are your options for ceiling fixtures?

Chandeliers

A style centerpiece for hundreds of years, chandeliers are more popular than ever. In addition to the timeless crystal chandelier, styles have evolved to include modern chandeliers, farm-inspired styles, rustic styles, wood finishes, beaded designs, rectangular shapes, and even chandeliers with fans (charmingly referred to as ceiling chandeliers).

Chandeliers are more common in foyers, dining rooms and living rooms, but with so many options, you can easily add a touch to any room.

Add one in the foyer to welcome your guests, add one in the bedroom for a touch of sophistication, and even above the bathtub for a luxurious feel.

What is the best part about chandeliers? They are as elaborate or as simple as you like, with styles ranging from small and subtle to large and detailed.

Pendant lights

Pendant lights hang from the ceiling like a pendant necklace around the neck. The light is the main focal point, attached to a cord or a rod to illuminate a specific area or room.

Generally, a pendant light has only one light, but there are models with multiple lights, such as the FIRE model. Pendant lights are flexible in both use and placement—install one, or add multiple fixtures in a room.

Use them in the kitchens, porches, dining rooms, bathrooms, foyers, and bedrooms. When you add multiple pendant lights, such as over a kitchen island, the general rule is to space each fixture about 60 to 80 cm apart.

Just like chandeliers, pendant lights come in a variety of styles and sizes, from farm lanterns to modern glass fixtures.

Recessed lights

The recessed lamps are named for how they sit flush with the ceiling, making them ideal for low ceilings.

This style also includes semi-recessed mounts, which can hang a few inches from the ceiling but not as low as a pendant or chandelier.

This is one of the most flexible types of fixtures, ideal for foyers, porches, closets, basements, and bathrooms. Models range from subtle and elegant to ornate and eye-catching.

Recessed lighting

Recessed lights are popular for low and vaulted ceilings because they provide an even amount of light. Use a single lamp or group several lamps spaced three to six feet apart to provide complete and uniform lighting throughout the room. They work especially well when paired with pendant lights or chandeliers, adding an extra layer of illumination without interfering with the style. The simple design of recessed lights makes them a popular choice for kitchens, living rooms, and bathrooms.

Track lighting

Track lighting is a type of

flexible lighting with multiple light heads, or pendant lights, on a track to highlight specific elements in a room. They can serve as general lighting, task lighting, or accent lighting depending on how many heads you use.Tracks come in straight or curved styles, with a selection of accessories available for turns, curves, or connecting multiple tracks. If you are looking for a way to customize your home lighting, this style is an excellent choice.

Because the light heads are flexible, you can reposition and rearrange them to customize your room. The most common uses of

track lighting include highlighting artwork, photos, or workspaces.Light fixtures with fans

Solve two problems with one device by purchasing a

ceiling fan light. Fans help reduce energy costs by circulating air throughout the room, while also providing light when needed.This is an excellent choice for bedrooms, family rooms, and patios. The larger the fan, the more air it circulates to keep the room cool. These styles range from classic to modern, with multiple colors to match your home’s aesthetic.

What about sconces and chandeliers?

Bathroom vanity lights

The

vanity lamps are installed above the bathroom mirror or vanity. There are two different types of vanity lights: light bars that are installed above the mirror, and sconces that are installed on each side of the mirror.Choose

light bars above the mirror that are either shorter or as wide as the vanity and installed approximately 190 cm up on the wall above the floor to provide the best lighting for your face.Install sconces at eye level if possible, about 150 to 180 cm from the floor. They make morning and evening routines easier, such as shaving, hair styling, brushing teeth, using dental floss, applying makeup, removing makeup, or any other task where complete and uniform lighting is important.

Sconces

Sconces are an ideal way to accent other lights in a room. They work well for bathroom vanities, but they also have other applications.

Sconces pair beautifully with the

reading corners, bedside tables, hallways, living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens. They are stunning on their own or when paired with works of art, photographs, mirrors, fireplaces, or chandeliers.They have the unusual ability to be both

traditional and contemporary, making them design chameleons and a popular choice for your home.LED mirrors

The

LED mirrors integrate the energy efficiency of LEDs directly into the mirror itself. This provides light all around the mirror, allowing you to enjoy consistent, even lighting along the entire length of the mirror.They give your room a premium look and offer a larger reflective surface than smaller LED beauty mirrors. LEDs have a lifespan of several tens of thousands of hours, making them a solid option for your vanity area.

Lamps and lamp shades

While the fixtures you install are intended to last, lamps and lamp shades are easier to replace as your style and needs evolve.

Add a

table lamp to complete an office, a reading corner, or a bedroom. Are you considering a new rug or a new color palette?Simply change the lamp shade and keep your favorite lamp base. Lamps come in every shape, size, finish, and style, from

floor lamps to desk and table lamps.Combine furniture and lamps to create an eye-catching, functional décor. The possibilities are endless.

Room-by-Room Lighting

Each room has a different function, and the lighting you choose affects the type of atmosphere you want to create.

Your kitchen has a different look from your bedroom, which is different from your bathroom. Discover below what works best for each room.

What to Consider for Kitchen Lighting

Kitchens are generally brighter than any other room. They are the focal point for conversations, cooking, food preparation, meals, cleaning, and organizing food and utensils.

Because it serves so many purposes, there is a wide range of

kitchen lighting options. A good rule of thumb is to make the space as open and bright as possible, since shadows darken the entire room.For a crisp, clear look, layer different types of lighting. For general lighting—which is the main light in addition to windows—install

recessed lights, flush mounts, or larger fixtures.Then, for accent and task lighting, include island lights and lights above the dining table to highlight these elements.

Place lamps under wall cabinets to cast away shadows and create a brighter counter space. By layering lights, you create a more inviting atmosphere.

Bright lighting for your vanity and bathroom

The most important consideration when installing bathroom lights is to use fixtures designed for wet or damp locations. Check product descriptions when shopping to find the safety cues that are provided.

Beyond that, bathroom fixtures are flexible in terms of style and type. Recessed lights above showers and bathtubs are common and reliable choices for providing even lighting.

To add a stylistic touch, opt for pendant lights or

chandeliers that hang above bathtubs or are freestanding.Pair other types of

bathroom lighting above the bathtub with sconces, bedside lamps, or LED mirrors to complete the look of your bathroom.

Vanity cabinets lights are perfect if you have a narrow vanity unit or a small bathroom, while sconces work best in pairs to provide even lighting.

Beautiful bedroom lighting

While kitchens and bathrooms need bright, even lighting, bedrooms are synonymous with comfort and privacy. Bedroom lighting can be simple and warm, or brilliantly decorative—every detail contributes to a sense of satisfaction.

For simplicity, add a ceiling fixture as the main luminaire with a pair of bedside sconces or table lamps. For a more ornate look, add floor lamps, recessed lights or track lighting to illuminate the room and add points of focus.

Nice living room fixtures

The living room is an ideal place to layer general, accent, and task lighting. While the kitchen offers an practical light for cooking and entertaining, living room lighting highlights your personality.

For a classic look, pair an illuminated ceiling fan or a recessed fixture with a few lamps. Add a large chandelier to make a statement, use recessed lights for a subtler effect, or combine both for a dazzling atmosphere.

Highlight artwork, photographs, or your favorite chair with accent lighting, or create the ideal corner with supplemental lamps. While the bedroom is your retreat away from the world, the living room showcases your style and home to everyone.

Exceptional entryway and hallway lighting

Foyers are the first impression of the interior of your home, while hallways lead to other rooms. In these areas, people’s eyes look for something to draw their attention.

A chandelier or hanging fixture in a foyer makes a welcoming statement. For lower ceilings, choose recessed, semi-recessed, or flush-mounted fixtures.

To create an art-gallery effect, add sconces or track lighting to highlight photographs, posters, wall hangings, or interesting décor.

Exceptional outdoor light fixtures

As with bathroom lights, only install outdoor lights designed for wet locations. Indoor fixtures cannot handle elements such as wind, dirt, water, ice, and snow.

The number of lighting fixtures you need outdoors depends on the size of your home, your garage, your patio, and your yard. Wall sconces, such assconces and carriage lamps,work well around garages or front doors and are mounted just above eye level to light visitors without blinding them.

The outdoor ceiling fixtures are well suited for porches and patios, while post lights can be installed anywhere in the yard (as long as you keep a distance of 30 cm from curbs and entrances).

Path lights highlight landscaping and walkways, and patio lighting illuminates parties and gatherings.

Lighting tailored to interior décor styles

With thousands of fixtures to choose from, it helps to narrow your options by selecting a design style. What style best suits your home? Read on to find out.

Farmhouse lighting

The farmhouse lamps have rustic simplicity, relying on clean lines and bright light. Wood, iron, matte black, and antique white are popular finishes.

The farmhouse fixtures include chandeliers, pendants, sconces, recessed mounts, and ceiling fans.

Modern lighting

Modern lighting focuses on bold rooms with shiny finishes in chrome, glass, black, or metal. They celebrate clean lines, avoid extra ornamentation like crystal, and lean toward minimalism to stand out.

Modern lighting is available in the form of chandeliers, pendants, recessed mounts, sconces, track light fixtures, and ceiling fans.

Transitional lighting

The transitional fixtures are flexible, borrowing design elements from other styles such as traditional and modern to create a unique look.

Because this design style is defined by combining styles, almost all types of lighting fit this aesthetic. Discover transitional fixtures, including pendants, recessed mounts, chandeliers, and more.

Classic lighting

Classiclighting has an everlasting charm, highlighting traditional finishes such as satin nickel, polished brass, oiled bronze, and iron.

This style highlights additional small details that add character to a room, such as crystal, the candelabra bulbs and lamp shades. Browse classic chandeliers, pendants, sconces, recessed mounts, and more.

Cottage lighting

The cottage fixtures feature vintage-looking finishes such as white, iron, and wood. The goal is to combine charm, a touch of vintage, and eclectic designs to create a comfortable aesthetic. Embrace cottage chandeliers, pendants, sconces, and lamps to create the perfect look.

Industrial lighting

Industrial lighting is bold, minimalist, and utilitarian, emphasizing simple lines and a sense of cleanliness and openness. Most fixtures highlight the shape and design of the bulbs without hiding them behind lamp shades.

The Edison bulbs work exceptionally well in this style, and most finishes are in black, white, brass, or chrome. Industrial chandeliers, pendants, recessed lights, lamps, and track lighting are unique in their design.

Consult an lighting expert

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