Putting the right light fixtures together in an open layout design can be challenging; hence, these open-concept lighting ideas are needed. With the popularity of the open concept layout on modern apartments, it is common to see how lighting destroys an otherwise breathtaking architecture and decor application.
To get the lighting of an open layout interior right, you need to understand the important considerations determining the effective lighting and decor enhancement of such a living space. As you strive for good lighting, you need to consider the shape and material of the light fixtures.
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In this article, you’ll understand how light fixture materials and shape affect the interior of an open layout apartment. You’ll also know what to consider when you choose to light for your open layout living space. Ultimately, we’ll give you some simple open-concept lighting ideas that you can work with.
Considerations for Open Concept Lighting
The different parts of the home – living room, kitchen, and dining area – that are part of the exposed parts of the open layout plan of your home are the most tricky parts to install lighting. However, as difficult as it seems to install lighting that makes each part of the space come alive in its own elements, you can easily achieve that.
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The living room needs a different type of lighting compared to the kitchen. Also, the dining area needs a different kind of lighting compared to the other two parts. Therefore, one of the ways you can announce the peculiarity of each section of an open layout living space is to use lighting as you should, following these considerations.
Lighting Shape
Light fixtures come in different shapes, and these shapes can be complementary or contrasting to your living space. For example, you can make a space appear bigger, smaller, or resemble a certain shape with the right light fixture shape.
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It is advisable that you mix the shapes of light fixtures you use in an open concept layout. However, you should know what each part of your living space needs. For example, your kitchen island probably needs cone-shaped lighting, and your living room will most likely look better with recessed lighting. You can have a simple chandelier in your dining area and wall sconces in areas where you have art on the wall.
Lighting Material
Plastic and metal are the most common light fixture materials, but that’s not what we mean by lighting material. Light fixtures that are solid or see-through impact the overall appearance of your open concept living space. Both plastic and metal lighting fixtures can be solid or see-through; however, combining them is more important than aiming for uniformity.
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If the task lights over your kitchen island are solid, you can have see-through light fixtures in the dining area. This is more noticeable with pendant lights and chandeliers. You can also choose to follow this consideration with wall sconces and lamps.
Light Fixture Sizes
The size of your light should be proportional to the size of your living space. Having more light than is necessary for a small space, even if it’s an open layout, defeats aesthetics.
Small light fixtures may provide a more aesthetic appearance in a position, especially along the walls. You can find light fixtures that provide adequate lighting in their small size. Also, the biggest light fixtures in an open concept layout should be in the kitchen, dining area, and the living room, depending on your preference.
Type of Lighting
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The different types of lighting serve different purposes. Task lights are important in parts of the home, such as the kitchen – over the kitchen island and some parts of the countertop. Task lights are commonly available as recessed light fixtures or pendant lights. Pendant lights are common for task lighting over the kitchen island, while recessed lights can be over the countertop.
The dining area needs some mood-setting, depending on the occasion. You’ll need some mood lighting provided by wall sconces and overhead lighting as in chandeliers. They should have dimmable switches that help you to adjust the brightness as it suits the mood. The living room can do with some lamps at the corners, recessed lights across its space to provide ambient lighting, and some colored lighting to change the mood.
Good to Read: Lighting Watts per Square Foot
Open Concept Lighting Ideas
Using all of the considerations we’ve discussed, here are some simple open concept lighting ideas you can use for your living space to improve its interior aesthetics.
Open Concept Living Space With Natural Lighting
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As it’s normal with open layout living spaces, you can easily see the kitchen and the dining area from the living room. Every part of the living space shares the ambiance of the others while retaining its peculiarity.
The living room is expansive and allows a lot of natural light through the expansive glass door. However, there are recessed light fixtures in the ceiling for ambient lighting to take care of the nighttime. You can also see recessed light fixtures in the kitchen ceiling, some distance away from the wall cabinets. Finally, over the kitchen island, you’ll find the most prominent lighting of the entire space, two pendant lights with golden plates to serve as task lights.
However, the dining area imitates the living room by allowing more natural light through the windows. Still, the three subtle pendant lights over the dining table complete the simplicity of this open concept lighting idea.
Kitchen-Dining Combo Lighting
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The combination of white and brown in every part of this open concept living space tells of the simplicity of its design and decor. The lighting should either complement or contrast that.
The kitchen and the dining area are combined, eliminating the need for any dramatic lighting for either part of the house. However, you can notice the recessed lighting layout present throughout the house’s interior. There’s only ambient lighting for the kitchen and dining area; however, task lights are beneath the wall cabinets over the countertop.
The living room also uses recessed light to achieve ambient lighting. However, you can achieve mood lighting with the wall sconces on the accent wall. It helps to call attention to the focal point of the room.
Identical Kitchen and Dining Lighting
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Most times, you want to announce what is special about certain parts of your home with lighting; but have you considered if lighting some parts with the same light fixtures will have a good effect?
Despite the abundant natural light that streams in from the windows and large doors of this open concept living space, the presence of pendant lights in the kitchen and dining adds to its aesthetics. The kitchen and dining area appear to be the same but are differentiated by the absence of recessed lighting in the kitchen area. Instead, two pairs of pendant lights – one with flat, spherical plates and the other with black drop-down ropes and bulbous glasses – hang at different parts of the area.
The harmony and repetition created by these light fixtures add character to the living space. The living room also appears to be mellow with recessed lights, but the floor lamp at the corner can change the general light setting when the need arises.
Also Read: Commercial Outdoor Sign Lighting
Color-Similar Pendant Lights for Kitchen and Dining Areas
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The living room in an open concept apartment is usually mellow, although some can use lighting to spruce things up. However, the kitchen and dining areas take more aesthetic importance over the living room, hence, the need for perfect lighting.
This open concept lighting idea uses pendant light fixtures with the same colors for the kitchen and dining areas; however, that’s where the similarities stop. The kitchen has three pendant lights with lantern-like glass coverings for the bulbs. However, the dining area has a four-in-one hanging light over the dining table.
The dining area lighting seems minimal compared to the kitchen area’s lighting. Also, the kitchen’s lighting is see-through, while the dining area’s lighting is solid. However, you can improve the atmosphere of the dining area by including wall sconces on either side of the framed wall arts in that area.
Shape-Similar Lighting for Kitchen and Dining Areas
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An open concept interior kitchen and dining areas can sport similar light fixtures in shape. However, remember that the same shapes can appear differently by incorporating other forms through creativity.
Over the kitchen island, there are two pendant lights with reflective, solid, almost-conical light fixtures in the kitchen area. They show that other parts of the kitchen have recessed light in the ceiling for ambient lighting.
However, the simple hanging chandelier in the dining area is a see-through light fixture that adds aesthetics to that area with the circle around the bulbs of the chandelier.
Despite the similar circular shape of these light fixtures, they are different and cast different effects on the area they light. For example, the living room has a table lamp and close-packed recessed lights.
Final Thought
Open concept lighting ideas are important to help you creatively add light fixtures to different parts of your open layout homes. First, however, you need to understand that the shapes, materials, and type of light fixtures and lighting influence how your interior looks.
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