The Basics of Mood Lighting

Mood lighting, essentially, just begins when you start paying attention to lighting and its effect on the mood of a room. Obviously, a room with a ceiling full of florescent lights feels clinical, and perhaps a little harsh. It’s good for a room where work needs to be done, whether it’s reading small print or performing open-heart surgery, but it doesn’t create a warm and cozy home atmosphere.
However, if you’re designing a home, you want to think differently about lighting. In a living room, you want the light to be dimmer than in, say, the bath or the kitchen, but ideally you would have several levels of lighting available, so that the room could be brightly lit when you’re vacuuming but more dimly lit for romantic after-dinner relaxation.
 
    
 When thinking about how to light a space, remember to consider all the options available, from floor lamps or table lamps to canister lamps or recessed ceiling lamps. The best way to get ideas is to go to a large lighting store and give yourself time to really look around and become familiar with all types of lighting.

Bear in mind as well the differences among types of bulbs: incandescent, florescent, and quartz-halogen. They all have give off a different color as well as differing amounts of light. And don’t be afraid to play around with the different kinds of lighting. Try moving lamps around, try turning one off and another one on, and try using bulbs of varying wattage until you achieve the mood you want. Excerpt with permission from Sheffield School of Interior Design