Bulbs 101: Part 3
Beau Wynja
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HOW MUCH LIGHTING DO I NEED?
IT'S EASY TO CALCULATE LIGHTING!
Are you wondering how to calculate lighting for your home? We can help you learn how to determine lighting for any room!
Follow along as we explore lighting recommendations for bathrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, and more.
Lumens vs. Room Size
There are several considerations to determining the right lighting for a particular room. Most important is the room size. This chart can give you a breakdown for exactly how many light bulbs you need for each space.
 Simple Math to Determine Lighting: Multiply the total square footage of a room by the wattage requirement of 1.5 for your total solution. You can take this total and split it between different types of bulbs for the same total watts. However, if the light bulbs you prefer don’t have an incandescent watt equivalent on the packaging, you’ll need to multiply your total by 14.5 for the lumen requirement. |
Lumens by Room Living Room: 10-20 Lumens Per/Sq Ft |
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Kitchen (General): 30-40 Lumens Per/Sq Ft |
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Kitchen (Task): 70-80 Lumens Per/Sq Ft |
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Dining Room: 30-40 Lumens Per/Sq Ft |
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Bedroom: 10-20 Lumens Per/Sq Ft |
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Hallway: 5-10 Lumens Per/Sq Ft |
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Bathroom: 5-10 Lumens Per/Sq Ft |
As you can see, calculating lighting is about more than just square feet. You also need to consider the type of lighting in your space. Kitchens, for example, require two different types of lighting: ambient and task. General lighting is for when you simply want to illuminate a space comfortably, while task lighting is essential when focusing on specific chores, like chopping veggies and wiping down the counters.
You should also remember that darker surfaces and higher ceilings will reduce lighting output, so you may want to add more light bulbs to accommodate the diffusion of light in these spaces.
PRIMARY vs. SECONDARY LIGHTING?
HAVING ONE OR BOTH WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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HOW SHADES AFFECT LIGHTING
When you calculate lighting for your space, you aren’t taking shades into account. Because lighting design also has an aesthetic element, you’ll need to think about the fixtures themselves.
Are you adding a cage or shade? Will you be diffusing light through a woven shade or a clear glass one? Some shades will restrict illumination, meaning you need to ensure additional fixtures that make up for less diffusion. You can also use shades to make your task lights more efficient. With metal downlights, you get a clear, strong beam directed exactly where you need it!
Check out some of these shade options to determine which will look best in your space and discover how it will affect your lighting:
A milky glass shade softens the light from your bulbs, making it easier on the eyes. You can hang these lower down than naked bulbs.
Another lighting solution that diffuses light, the woven shade makes a bold statement. However, they can be hard to keep clean.
Best for directing light into a specific area, metal shades come in different shapes, sizes, and colors that allow for more customization.
Clear shades provide the most light while adding a chic look to your fixture. Calculate lighting with clear shades as if it were a naked bulb.
BULB-INSPIRATION
THIS IS HOW OUR INSTAGRAM FRIENDS LIGHT UP THEIR ROOMS.
WATTS GOING ON HERE?
Living Room & Dining RoomThese areas are gathering spaces where you should prioritize ambient light that meets your needs. To calculate lighting here consider how you use the space. Are you entertaining? Watching television? Reading a book? Focus on general lighting and add a secondary layer that makes specific activities easier. |
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By @graceship! |
By @a.broussard |
By @designsponge! |
Bathrooms & HallwaysAs the narrowest and smallest spaces in your home, bathrooms and hallways usually need fewer lumens than anywhere else. You may only have a single overhead pendant light in these spaces. However, with larger bathrooms and longer hallways, additional fixtures may be necessary. Play with the aesthetics of wall mounted lighting at head height to create versatile, layered lighting. |
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By @elle_badger |
By @kaliochic |
KitchenThis is one of the most labor intensive areas of your home. When you calculate lighting here, you’ll need more lumens, more wattage, and more physical fixtures to accommodate layered ambient and task lighting. How you determine lighting for this room will be location and task related. You need extra lighting where you prep food, over the sink for doing dishes, and over the stove and oven when you’re cooking. |
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BedroomsMost people want their bedrooms to be relaxing spaces with dimmer lighting, especially during the evening. This is one of the spaces with the second-lowest lumen requirements. Calculate lighting to ensure you have dimming capabilities and layering that allows you to read comfortably in bed. Smart light bulbs and smart switches can also help you achieve optimal ambience, and our fixtures are compatible with them so long as you have a smart home platform ready to go (Google, Alexa, etc.) |
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Office & Retail SpaceWe haven’t talked about how to calculate lighting for retail and office spaces, but the concepts here are the same as how you determine lighting for any other room. However, most office spaces focus on overhead and recessed lighting. Consider flush mounted and pendant light options to add an interesting twist to your commercial decor. |
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By @jess.jahnle. |
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By @colorcord |
Your Guides Are Here
It can be difficult to calculate lighting and choose fixtures on your own, so we’re here to help! Reach out to our team for personalized assistance today!
