When thinking about the flow and atmosphere of a space, lighting is one of the most basic and fundamental elements. Bright lights make you alert, while lower lights calm you down and prepare you for relaxation or even sleep.

Read below 8 tips that will create the perfect atmosphere in your home.

Make a lighting plan

If you are now starting to decorate a room, do not forget to think about its lighting. Consider the activities you will be doing in the space and the points you want to highlight. Before you make any decisions, consider style, scale or even color temperature.

Use levels

Approach lighting in layers. This means that you will use different lighting sources for each level of the room so that they all create an atmosphere. Lighting that is high up in a space makes the room seem bigger, while strips of light make it feel friendlier.

Choose functional lighting

Think about what activities you will do in the space and how the light will affect them. For example, cooking needs concentrated light, while reading needs flexible lighting, oriented to where you will be reading and not on you. Dimmers can become your best friends, as they allow you to change the lighting and atmosphere.

Choose lamps carefully

Think about how bright you want them to be, the ambiance of the space (yellow or white light) and the energy they use – especially for the lights you'll use the most.

Use spotlights to highlight your favorite things

Take advantage of the lighting to focus on a wall, an architectural feature or a decorative object. You can, for example, put recessed lights around a mirror to highlight it.

Make your guests feel welcome

Focused lights on your dining table are ideal for making the people sitting there feel welcome and making the environment extra friendly.

Light up your evening walks

Breaks from a night's sleep are made worse if you have to turn on the toilet light, as doing so causes temporary 'blindness' and effectively interrupts your sleep. Invest in floor lighting (and more) in the halls, stairs and bathroom to guide you without "waking" you up.

Pursue simplicity

Create consistency between colors and materials in your home. Many different styles create confusion and confuse the eye. Neutral and brighter tones will open up the space, make it bigger, more interesting and friendlier. So, aim for simplicity to create a great atmosphere!

Source: spirossoulis.com