Size matters (when it comes to lighting, that is)

I'm a huge fan of designer Candice Olson. One thing she pays a lot of attention to in her room designs is light. But she makes it look so effortless, you think to yourself: well, how hard can it be? What's there to figure out? It's just lights, right? Come along and I'll share what we've discovered...


For starters, did you know there's a formula for calculating how much light you need in your room? There is! And I'm here to tell you how easy it is: multiply the length of the room times the width, then multiply that number by 1.5. That gives you the amount of wattage you need to effectively illuminate your room. An example:

• Bedroom is 12' x 15'. So, 12' x 15' =  180. 180 x 1.5 = 270 watts. If you bought a 3-light ceiling fixture, with a maximum 100W per light, you'd have more than enough wattage. But if your 3-light fixture maxed out at 75W per light, then your room would be underlit. If you've inherited this lighting condition, of course you can add lamps and sconces to a room to compensate if you aren't up for a light fixture re-do.

Once you've figured out how much light you need, you then decide how you plan to achieve it. A single ceiling fixture, or several recessed lights? Wall lights perhaps? Maybe a mixture. We're using flush-mounts in all three bedrooms, plus recessed in the master and in the bathrooms. Part of this selection process includes deciding on your finish. You can see some of our ideas here on Pinterest. We'll also have mirror lighting in the bathrooms, and you can check out our current contenders.

If you're hanging a chandelier or pendant light, like we plan to in our dining room, you have to consider how high or low you want to hang it. For dining rooms, the general guidance is no lower than 28 - 32 inches above your table, and at least two feet from your ceiling. Size of the fixture as it relates to your room size and your table size is important too.

Don't forget about the light bulbs! HGTV explains the options.

Lastly, what about the outside? Some cities have what's known as a dark sky ordinance. It directs how your outdoor lights appear so as to minimize light pollution. You can read all about it at the International Dark-Sky Association.  No city in Georgia has such an ordinance, but it's a nice idea. We sure do love looking at the stars. And talk about lighting that is effortless...