You can design the perfect house with all the features and rooms that you desire. You can decorate it just the way you want to reflect your style and personality. When it comes to home design, however, one factor you should never overlook is the lighting. It’s what creates the ideal ambiance and you have to find the right balance between form and function.

Here are a few home lighting tips from The HD Group:

1. Make a Lighting Plan

All of your interior design elements should have a plan. Home lighting is no different because it is so important to enhance the living space. Whatever types of bulbs, fixtures and layouts you use, plan it all out carefully and this will help you achieve the desired results. Think about the features you want to highlight in each room and what overall style you want to achieve with the lighting and let your plan come together naturally.

2. Layer Your Lighting

Some of the best home lighting is achieved through layering. Use multiple light sources and angles to achieve the perfect ambiance for each room in the house. Layering can help you make rooms feel larger and/or more inviting.

3. Don’t Forget Functionality

Some decorative lighting can add a lot of style, while other lighting is meant to be purely functional. You want to find the best balance within each living space. I filmed this brief interview with Gregg Smith, who is one half of Smith Brothers Restaurant Corporation. He and his brother, Bob, own three of Pasadena’s most popular restaurants and they understand how important a role lighting plays in their dining rooms. All three of their restaurants have different lighting designs to reflect the mood they want to achieve for each unique gourmet eatery.

“If I could give one piece of advice to homeowners on lighting, I would say to incorporate decorative lighting with functional lighting,” Gregg says. “Play with it and put everything on a dimmer.”

Watch the full video below:

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment

It’s important to have a lighting plan, but you also have to be willing to experiment and try different solutions. Home lighting is one of those things that doesn’t always translate perfectly from paper to real life. Each room will require its own attention and care to get the lighting just right.

5. Think About Who Will Use the Space

Reflecting back on my interview with Gregg Smith, something that stands out to me is the fact that they do have different lighting schemes for each restaurant. This shows the importance of designing your lighting to have multiple purposes. Think about creating a “wow” factor when guests walk into a room. Then, think about how you will be using this room in your every day life. It is your home after all. Again, it’s all about striking the balance between form and functionality to have a space that is comfortable to you while still creating the desired ambiance when entertaining. I like Gregg’s tip to use dimmers on many lights. This is a great way to have the room bright for everyday use and then lower it a bit for a softer mood when guests are visiting.

6. Less is More

When it comes to lighting like so many other interior design strategies, the old saying that “less is more” often applies. It is not something you have to overdo. When done right, the lighting won’t stand out much at all. It is there to enhance the space and highlight each room’s best qualities. Unless it’s a grand chandelier or light fixture that is meant to be the focal point of the room, the functional and decorative lighting should be there to improve the presentation without overpowering.

7. Let in the Natural Light

On the heels of the less is more strategy, remember to take advantage of natural light. This is especially true in Southern California where we have sunshine almost every day of the year. Let the natural light brighten certain living spaces during the daytime and then use your other lighting to create the desired ambiance at night.

These are just a few home lighting tips to consider as part of your interior design, new home construction or home remodeling plan. The point is to understand how much of a difference good lighting can make in any residential space. Use both decorative and functional lighting to achieve the lighting plan of your dreams.

For all your real estate needs in Los Angeles or the San Gabriel Valley, contact The HD Group today. We are passionate about interior design, as well, and we use this knowledge to help both buyers and sellers make the most of their homeownership decisions.