The 5 Most popular Lighting mistakes that people commit and how to prevent them

Lighting can turn the personality of a home around. The correct lighting can bring a room close, pleasant and fashionable, whereas the inappropriate light can cause it to look flat, dim and even unpleasant. At Murphy, we feel that lighting is not only practical, but it is a key element of design. However, a lot of individuals repeat the same errors when installing and locating their lights.

In this blog, we are going to go over the 5 most popular lighting mistakes we encounter and, more importantly, how you can eliminate them. At the end, you’ll feel confident to make a home that not only looks good but also feels just right.

Mistake 1: The Dependence on a single source of light

The first and probably the greatest error is to believe that one ceiling light will suffice. Although a central pendant or chandelier may appear impressive, it is rarely deep or personalised enough by itself. Using a single source of light can leave corners dark and shadows in areas you would like to emphasise.

How to fix it:

Think in layers. There are three lighting types that we suggest at Murphy:

•  Ambient lighting - your general room light, such as in a ceiling light.
• Task lighting: Task lights are concentrated on activities, including reading lights, under-cabinet lights in the kitchen or a lamp on a desk.
• Accent lighting - decorative elements, such as wall sconces or LED lighting, that are used to illuminate artwork or architectural features.

With layering of your lights, you are not only lighting up each area of the room but also adding atmosphere and flexibility.

 

Mistake 2: Not bothering with the Might of Dimmers

Most homeowners forget that there does not always have to be a yes/no in lighting. In the absence of dimmers, it is either full bright or full black. This may be cruel during nighttime, particularly in living rooms or bedrooms.

How to fix it:

Install dimmer switches in major portions of your house. Our lighting at Murphy is made to be compatible with dimming possibilities, so you can have complete control over brightness. You can have the full intensity of light to cook or study, then slowly dim it for a cosy evening. Dimmers are not only able to operate as mood creators, but also save energy and prolong your bulbs' life span.

Mistake 3: Selecting the Unsuitable Colour Temperature

Light is not light; the colour of light matters a lot. The main mistake that many individuals commit is selecting the bulbs that are either too cool (blue colour) or too hot (yellow/orange colour) for the room where they are intended to be used. A room that is not given the right tone makes it undesirable or ineffective.

How to fix it:

Consider the use of each room.

• Warm white (2700-3000K): in the living room, dining area and bedroom, where you like to feel comfortable and relaxed, this is the best colour to use.
• Neutral to cool white (3500K5000K) is appropriate in the kitchens, bathroom and home offices where clarity and concentration are important.

At Murphy, we set our lights in a way that they are both an aesthetic and practical choice, so that you can choose the appropriate colour temperature of the effect you desire.

 

Mistake 4: Scaling and Placement Forgetting

The other usual error is the installation of lights of inappropriate sizes in the space or the installation of lights at an inappropriate height. A miniature pendant on a large dining table can appear to be lost, and a huge chandelier in a small house will create havoc. Location is also important; excessive heights of lights and low heights can ruin the room design.

How to fix it:

Measure your area, then select your fittings. About dining tables, as a rule, the pendants should be hung approximately 75-90cm over the table surface. Floor and table lamps used in the living room are expected to be at your level when you are sitting down. It all depends on proportion; your lighting must not contradict the room. The range of Murphy is scaled so that it has options that are perfect for small and large houses.

 

Mistake 5: Overlooking the importance of working with Lighting as a Design

Lighting is too often perceived as being purely functional, something you include in your decorating to check a box. The error in this is not to take the opportunity to incorporate lighting in your design vision. A bright pendant, a smooth wall lamp or a series of sculptural floor lamps can totally change a room.

How to fix it:

See lighting as décor. Light should be treated like furniture or art. You can make sure that the designs in the collection by Murphy are as fashionable as practical. Be it minimalist modern fixtures or a statement piece, the right light may be the last detail that holds your whole room.

How to Prevent All These Errors at the Same Time

The simplest method of avoiding these traps is to organise your lighting in advance. Do not hold up till the very end of a room makeover. Begin by visualising: how do you want the room to feel? Relaxed? Energising? Bright? Intimate? When you understand the mood, it would be easy to layer your lighting, select the appropriate tones and select fixtures that would add value to the space.

We are here at Murphy to simplify such a process. Our team realises that lighting is not only about being able to see well, but also about living beautifully.

Final Thoughts

Lighting may create or ruin the ambience in a room. These five mistakes are the most common errors in decorating your home: avoiding a specific source, using the wrong colour temperature, scale and placement, and leaving out important design value will all make your home the place where you will feel as good as it will look.

Keep in mind: lighting is not all about functionality. It is all about establishing an atmosphere, making your home pretty and adding life to every room. You can never again afford to be satisfied with flat, dead lighting with Murphy.