How To Choose Lighting for Your Hallway + Ideas for Hallway Lighting
Lighting is an important element in Interior design. You can look for Ideas for hallway lighting everywhere on the internet but there is no one-size-fits-all lighting composition for the different areas of the house.
Interior designers know this. The process of interior lighting includes calculating daylight penetration, artificial lighting computation, and choosing the perfect lighting fixtures to make the room come together. It is more than just placing light bulbs on your ceiling and buying expensive pendant lights, lampshades, and chandeliers. There’s actually a lot going on behind the scenes to achieve the lighting ambience perfect for a specific space.
But let’s save all of that discussion in the next posts because, in this blog, I am going to talk specifically about choosing light fixtures for your hallway and also drop in a few of my ideas for hallway lighting.
Lighting your hallway can be a little bit tricky because of two things. First, the integration of daylight or natural light. If you have a huge window near your hallway or a clerestory in your hallway ceiling, you need to take note of the amount of light that gets in. That way, you will know how to cohesively mix your artificial hallway ceiling lights with the natural light. The second is the style and layout of your hallway. You need to select the ideal ceiling light and fixtures that will make your hallway look a lot more interesting.
To perfectly light your hallway, there are 3 types of lighting to consider:
1. Ambient Lighting
Ambient lighting or sometimes referred to as mood lighting is the overall lighting in the space. It creates a natural glow similar to that of natural light. When coming up with lighting designs, you need to understand that ambient lighting should come first. It is the base upon which you will add the rest of the lighting layers. To create ambient lighting for your hallway, search for entryway ideas to get inspiration, but I recommend using the following lights:
Chandeliers
Track lighting
Recessed ceiling lights
Pendant lights
Look for lighting fixtures that match the interior design style of your hallway. A series of pendant lights, for example, works best for high ceilings. If you wish to create a statement, go for stylish ambient lampshades. I highly recommend you to check out our very own Volta lampshade. It has an expressive design that induces a sense of intrigue and it can really jazz up your entryway. Its intricate structure and design provide a soft, natural ambient glow to light your hallway.
2. Task lighting
Task lighting means the light that you need for a specific task. It is meant to provide you a more focused light in areas where you do things like reading, writing, and cooking. Task lighting is usually found in home offices, desks, and kitchen counters. Kitchen lighting is a common example of how task lighting is used.
One way to add task lighting in your hallway is by including it in the details as a decorative lighting element. You can use it as low-level lighting to brighten your staircase. Another way is by placing table lamps in your console. For entryway ideas, adding a decorative lampshade to a table makes your hallway look more inviting and appealing to guests. These drum tier lampshades that we have creates a striking emphasis in a console. It illuminates light both upwards and downwards creating an elegant effect. If you have a long console table, have two of these lamps and place them on both ends to achieve symmetry and coherence.
More lighting options for task lighting:
Table lamps
Floor lamps
Desk lamps
Under-cabinet light
Vanity light
3. Feature/Accent Lighting
Accent lighting is the cherry on top when it comes to lighting designs. It is the third layer that completes the dramatic composition of light in a specific area. Accent lighting is decorative in nature. It highlights the architectural features in the interior and it is also commonly used to create a focal point and draw attention. You can incorporate accent lighting everywhere.
In hallways, the most popular accent lighting fixtures include:
Can lighting
Wall sconces
Directed track lighting
Wall wash lighting
Torchiere lamp
Picture light
Adding accent lighting to your hallway is a fantastic way to transform your hallway from mediocre to something that looks spectacular. If you already have the basic lighting design in your hallway, adding a bit of accent will surely jazz it up to a whole new level.
Another important thing to note is the location of your hallway.
If your hallway is north facing, the natural light will be much cooler and the hallway will be naturally dark. To lighten it up, introduce a vibrant colour such as warm yellows and blues. For south-facing hallways, softer pale colours help to break the flood of natural light. You don't always spend your time hanging out in the hallway. But that shouldn't be a reason why you left it blank and boring. Look for more ideas for hallway lighting and try to mix and match designs to your liking. Be playful and inject colour and texture by adding wallpapers with fun patterns.
What other great way to welcome your guest than having a show-stopping hallway design. A hallway is more than just a passage that connects the spaces in your house. It is the first thing that your guests see when they enter your home and it is your opportunity to make a good first impression. So folks, don't take your hallways for granted. Treat it as a special room in itself and go brave with spicing it up with décor and lighting.
If you’re reading this and you would like our help, we are only an email away: info@copperdustlondon.com book your consultation today https://calendly.com/copperdustldn/1hour we will give you detailed advice for your home as well as suggestions for the finishing touches.
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