Light up your life!

A skilfully lit home is one that is cosy, welcoming and beautiful. Lighting plays such an important role in lending ambience to a home. Bright fluorescent lights everywhere can make the home look harsh while lighting that is too dim can make it positively dull and uninviting. So, how do you go about maximising the lighting in your home?

In these days of environment consciousness, we all need to do our bit to save power. CFLs are ideal for saving significant amounts on power consumption. They are more expensive than the incandescent light bulbs but they last far, far longer and you save on electricity. CFLs today come in different wattages and also come in both yellow and blue-white light so you can choose the colours and watts according to the rooms.

The living room is where you can experiment with a variety of lights. Apart from the wall lights, where you can choose some pretty lampshades, you can also have accent lights to highlight paintings or exquisite curios. Scatter table lamps around the room for a cosy but lovely feel. A stunning chandelier hanging from the ceiling can add a touch of grandeur.

The kitchen is a work area so you should have bright lights that will aid your cutting, chopping, mixing etc. Ideally have a tubelight in the kitchen so you can read your recipe book, and not mistake the salt for the sugar! You need bright lighting at the sink and worktop. You could put mini fluorescents underneath wall units to evenly spread light.

The bedroom is a place for rest and relaxation, a haven for you to retire to, after a rough and tough day. The right lighting can soothe you and help you unwind. The most important lights are the bedside ones – it could be table lamps or wall-mounted lamps (ideally with dimmers). Bedside lights are not only aesthetically appealing but are useful too, as you can read in bed without disturbing anyone else.

Again, this is a space that needs to be well lit so that you don’t slip and fall. Also, bathroom fittings must be totally encased to avoid shorting and electric shocks, and double insulated with the bulb and all metal parts covered. Don't use a conventional light fitting that's not intended for bathroom use.