Above all, shadows are not the enemy. The goal of light design is not to dispel all shadows, but to shape the light, to create highlights, lowlights, and areas of focus. If a room is beamed with bright light, the space becomes uncomfortable and unfocused. Good lighting design can make a small room feel larger and larger rooms feel quaint. By illuminating specific areas the eye is led and fed the images that the designer prefers. The flat uninteresting wall can be shaped with shadows to create depth and texture. The light can be focused onto the best features of the room whether it is the fishtank in the corner or the statue of Johnny Depp in the corner. Every space has its positive areas and weaknesses that can be used to the best advantage. Many times it is the very design obstacle that a room presents that creates the most innovative solutions and helps create a more interesting space.

In our daily lives we are similar to a room that needs to be lit. Every one on earth has strengths and weaknesses. Our biggest mistake is that we think our flaws need to be hidden. If we create our world like we might light a room we will quickly realize the first thing we need to do is to figure out what the center of focus is going to be and what other elements of our lives need to be lit up. If we throw all of our energy on all aspects of our lives it will be like trying to blast light on every corner. There will be no sense of depth or areas of detail. The whole room or life will seem washed out and cold.

A perfect lighting plan isn’t about removing all imperfections of a room or trying to cover them up. A good plan is about incorporating them into the room, using a dark spot for contrast, or turning a giant flat space into something captivating. In our day to day lives there are many possible points of focus. Throwing our energy, our light, onto the most important areas helps define our values, our goals and how we spend our time. In our example of lighting design, light demands energy. Energy is required for us to live. The places we focus require energy. If we try to spread that over every aspect of our daily world, the emotional cost could be dramatic.

Plan a lighting design of your life. Figure out what is important, where you want to spend your energy and what can take less of your focus. Enter into a well lit room and take clues about focusing attention.

When designing the room or home, first pick out the colors that will accentuate and blend with the original color plan chosen. Then decide on what the overall look should be to give the desired effect. Will it be elegant with traditional designs? Or will it be sleek and industrial looking?

The more modern the home is, the sleeker the lights need to be. Halogen is a great illumination for stainless steel or silver colored interiors because it has the look of modernity.

For the more traditional look, the hanging light in beautiful crystal glass is wonderful for a feminine style room. This gives the style of the place a graceful look but still fits in with any elegant furnishings. Indeed, it has a kind of fairy tale look about it while still retaining the modern feel that is in vogue right now.

Dining rooms have a need for subdued illumination to bring that intimate ambience that may be required for the evening. Buying lamps that can be raised or lowered at will are a great way to change the look and style of the room. Being careful not to blind people is perhaps the best way for those interesting chats that always make a great dinner party. Then, when there is larger gathering, the lamp can be raised so that the whole table is lit up to include all the guests at the table.

Bedrooms, too, need a special kind of illumination so that the mood can be changed at will. When each side of the bed has a lamp that lights the reading area, it means that the other person can sleep without being disturbed when sleeping patterns are different.

Bathrooms are where great lighting is needed so that everyone can make sure they look good. Even the way that some mirrors are lit can make a difference to how they will dress and put on make up. If she cannot see properly then she is likely to overdo the makeup for the night. Harshly lit rooms, on the other hand, makes anyone look too white and ill looking. This is really not the last impression anyone wants of them before going to a special meeting.

Lowly lit stairways are great for keeping little used areas dimly lit for overnight. This is good for those who have to get up during the night and leads the way without the necessity to shatter the peace by putting on bright lights.

Whichever illumination method is chosen, matching them to the style and feel of the house will make ornaments look chic and expensive. Softly lit rooms also look warmer so choose a pinkish or reddish light for the room.

First and foremost, shadows are not the problem. The goal of lighting a room is not to dispel all shadows, but to shape the light, to create highlights, lowlights, and areas of focus. If a room is blasted with light removing all shadows, the space becomes uncomfortable and unfocused. Good lighting design can make a small room feel larger and larger rooms feel quaint. By illuminating specific areas the eye is led and washed in the images that the designer prefers. The flat uninteresting wall can be painted with shadows to create depth and texture. The light can be focused onto the best features of the room whether it is the fishtank in the corner or the statue of Johnny Depp in the corner. Every space has its positive areas and difficult spots that can be used to the best advantage. Many times it is the very design obstacle that a room presents that leads to the most innovative solutions and helps create a more interesting space.

In our daily lives we are much the same. Every one on earth has strengths and weaknesses. Our biggest mistake is that we think our flaws need to be hidden. If we design our life like we might light a room we will quickly understand that the first order of business is to figure out what the center of focus is going to be and what other elements of our lives need to be lit up. If we if we try to but 100% energy into every detail of our lives it will be like lighting a room to leave no shadows. There will be no sense of depth or areas of detail. The whole room or life will seem flat and uninteresting.

A perfect lighting plan isn’t about removing all imperfections of a room or trying to cover them up. It is about incorporating them into the room, making the odd shape interesting, or turning a giant flat space into something captivating. In our everyday existence there are many possible points of focus. Throwing our energy, our light, onto the most important areas helps define our values, our goals and how we spend our time. In our example of lighting design, light demands energy. Energy is required for our everyday lives. The places we focus require energy. If we try to spread that over every aspect of our daily world, the emotional cost could be dramatic.

Plan a lighting design of your life. Figure out what is important, where you want to invest your effort and what can take less of your focus. Walk into a well lit room and draw ideas about focusing attention.