Log Home Lighting Tips - Create That Mood!

 Did you know that darker-colored logs in log homes will absorb a good 50% of the light that emanates from lamps, overhead lighting and chandeliers?

But don’t let that discourage you! Lighting systems that are strategically placed will effectively and exquisitely illuminate the interior of your log home without increasing your electric bill.

Log homes offer a kind of warmth and inviting ambiance that no other type of home can provide. The richness of the woods, the rustic structuring and the cozy feel all combine with your lighting system to create positive moods and feelings. Yes, your lighting is kind of like the sprinkles on top of the sundae—lighting adds that final touch. Here are some log home lighting tips for various rooms:

Your Bedrooms

Subdued lighting is what will make any bedroom a welcoming oasis. Overhead lighting should use 40-watt bulbs to keep the brightness-factor low-key; but more importantly, any bedside lamps with 25-watt bulbs will calm and soothe the soul. The richness of the log’s interior will virtually glow with softer lighting. Just the right amount of lighting, located in just the right places will create serenity when you walk into your master-bedroom—lighting has the power to let your mind to unwind!

Your Bathrooms

Bathrooms are typically lit with very stark, bright lighting—not too welcoming first thing in the morning. Again, mood enhancement is the name of the game. Though enough lighting is necessary for shaving or applying make-up, too much lighting is emotionally jolting. Bathroom lights controlled by a dimmer switch can address the needs of anyone, for any need.

Also, strip-lights on either side of the vanity mirror instead of being situated above the mirror create a much more direct light pattern where shadows on faces are minimized or eliminated. Studies have shown that how one feels about one’s appearance on any given morning has a direct impact on how one feels throughout the entire day. Have a whirlpool-tub in your bathroom? Then a dimmer switch is a necessity! Your bathroom--where you will be surrounded by rich woods, dim lighting and soothing surges of water--will become just a little bit of Heaven; and it will be the lighting that will make all the difference in the world!

Your Dining Room

If you want to showcase your ceiling’s log woodwork, use specialized accent lighting that is designed to direct the light beams upward. Your log work above will be emphasized and appear especially dramatic and rich. Creating a dining room that feels soft and relaxing can be continued with the use of a dimmer switch, once again, that controls any chandelier you might have.

Got a china hutch or strategically-placed table along the wall? Place miniature halogen bulbs inside the hutch and turn them on at night to create an inviting ambiance. And as far as any strategically-placed table is concerned, add an eye-catching lamp with a 25-watt bulb to create a true feeling of quietude. Your woodwork will glow and the tranquility will become addictive. Your home, after all, is an oasis; and the lighting you create will make it feel that way, anytime of day or night!

Your Kitchen

If you want lighting that is multi-talented, install under-the-cabinet lighting! On low-setting during evening hours, it can act as a soothing night-light display while offering functional light during the day for meal preparations. If a kitchen island is part of your kitchen layout, try adding recessed ceiling lighting or track lighting above. Both types will offer very direct lighting for every-day activities and can be regulated with dimmer switches, as well.

Your Living Room

If your log home has cathedral ceilings, the wood detailing can be highlighted with ‘up-lights’ 9 feet above the flooring. Up-lights are designed with drama in mind. Your log trusses with strut their stuff as they become showcased—they will garner the compliments they deserve by receiving just the right amount of light at just the right angles.

Side-lighting from wall scones is a beautiful way to supply soft, indirect lighting that will eliminate glare and shadowing and will provide a true sense of warmth and hospitality. And don’t forget floor and table-lamps with low wattage bulbs. 3-way switches can be added to your lamps so you have access to low-lighting for mood enhancement or brighter lighting when reading or studying is a necessity.

Lighting is truly an emotional component of your home! Your lighting will not only enhance your family’s mood with positivity and calmness, but your log home’s wood interior will take on a glow that will be noticed and ‘felt’!