What You Need to Know About Interior Lighting: Tips from IKEA Designer

Lighting has many functions: it can change the space, highlight specific items, and create a particular atmosphere. In this complex topic, we were helped by IKEA designer Kristina Pospeylova.

Kristina PospeylovaexpertIKEA Designer1. What to Consider First

Take into account the shape and size of the room. The larger the room, the more light sources you need. If your apartment has low ceilings, choose smaller fixtures. For high ceilings, feel free to go for larger options.

Think about the atmosphere you want to create in the room. For example, cozy spaces can be enhanced with light spots—such as floor lamps or wall sconces placed near chairs or sofas in the living room.

Design: IKEA2. Thoughtful Ceiling Fixtures

I do not recommend using just one ceiling light fixture; instead, choose several. It's important that they harmonize and form a cohesive composition. Place them at various levels in the part of the room you want to illuminate most.

Design: IKEA3. Unusual Lighting in the Entrance Hall

There are several tricks for unusual lighting. You can hang fixtures on only one side, place them at different heights, mount small halogen bulbs near the bottom of a wall, or even embed them into floor coverings.

Keep in mind that technically complex solutions should be planned early, during renovation. If you do not plan to renovate the walls, simply hang attractive sconces or other lights at the same level.

Design: IKEA4. Hidden Lighting in the Bathroom

In the bathroom, I don't recommend using unusual lighting solutions; good illumination is needed for morning routines. However, if you want something non-standard, you can make the light source invisible to the eye. It will seem as though the light flows from gaps in the wall or ceiling.

Design: IKEA5. Unusual Lighting Concepts

Experiment! You can use lamps in unusual shapes. By the way, they are a great choice for children's rooms—sconces in the form of animals or cartoon characters.

Design: IKEA6. Energy-Saving Lighting

It's time to switch to energy-saving bulbs! They last longer (designed for 6,000–15,000 hours of burning, compared to just 2,000 hours for regular bulbs), and you can also choose the color temperature: daylight, warm, or natural. However, there are a few nuances: they take longer to warm up and sometimes flicker.

Design: IKEA 7. Smart Lighting

Not long ago, IKEA launched the BAPB series (floor lamps and table lamps with built-in phone charging), and this year the company enters the smart home market with Trådfri products. This includes remote controls, LED bulbs (including for wardrobes), motion sensors, floor and ceiling lights. You can control smart lighting solutions through an app: choose warmth and brightness of the light, as well as its color tone. This is very convenient!

IKEA Trådfri Collection

On the cover: IKEA Design Project
Text: Marina Syapatova