1. Understanding Different Types of Interior Lighting

Before diving into the installation process, it's essential to understand the various types of interior lighting. Each serves a unique purpose and can dramatically affect the overall appeal of your home.



Ambient Lighting

• This is the primary source of light in a room, providing general illumination. Common fixtures include ceiling-mounted lights, chandeliers, and recessed lighting.
  
• The best way to get even ambient lighting is flush mounted recessed lighting (also known as wafer lights). They come in a few different sizes (4in, 6in, 8in) as well as shapes (square or circle).
  

 Task Lighting

• Task lighting is more focused and is designed to assist with specific activities like reading, cooking, or working.
• Examples include desk lamps, under-cabinet kitchen lights, and pendant lights over an island.
  

Accent Lighting

• Accent lighting adds character and highlights particular features in a room, such as artwork, architectural elements, or plants. This can be achieved with wall sconces, spotlighting, or track lighting.

Decorative Lighting

• Primarily aesthetic, decorative lighting includes (but isn't limited to) uniquely designed fixtures that enhance the décor of a space, like artistic pendants or ornamental table lamps.
  

2. Planning Your Lighting Design in Charleston, SC

An effective lighting design considers both aesthetics and functionality. Follow these steps to plan wisely:
Assess Your Space

• Evaluate each room’s function and determine how much light you need.
• Take note of existing outlets and the layout of your furniture to identify where light fixtures can be placed.

Sketch Your Plan

• Draw a rough layout of your room and mark where you plan to install each light fixture.
• Ensure you include ambient, task, and accent lighting to create a balanced look.
  

 Choose the Right Fixtures

• Consider style, wattage, and energy efficiency when selecting fixtures.
• Remember to choose bulbs (LEDs, CFLs, or incandescent) based on your lighting goals and preferences.

Installing Interior Lighting Fixtures / Painting Contractor

• Once you have your lighting plan, its now important to prepare for installation. Some of you may want to install the lights yourself which is fine but will take a deeper dive into wiring and switching.
  
• Make sure that you have created a plan for a paint contractor to come behind the electrician to restore the space to its existing finished look. Updating interior lighting almost guarantees that drywall cutting, repair and painting will needed to restore the space to a finished look.
  
• Having this discussion a head of time will allow the job to run smoothly and have the fastest turnaround.
  

3. Interior Lighting Installation Phase

This is the most important phase as the space needs to be prepared for the work to be completed. This can be by room or the particular space where the lights will be installed. A couple key points below that helps before your electrical professional arrives and begins the work:

• Place all objects, that are fragile, in a safe spot away from the work area,
• move any furniture either to the center of the room or preferably in another room,
• Cover anything delicate with plastic or old bedsheets prior to the electrician arriving,
• If layout needs to be finalized, be available to confirm last minute design decisions
• Make sure you will be available to confirm light locations after layout and measurements have been completed (see the lights position in person and in real time before cutting is important)
  

Lastly, prepare for your ceilings to have multiple holes for lights, access to fish the wire and to possibly install new switches. It is normal for your home to not look finished for a portion of the project. You will need to understand that this is a part of the process and that your home will soon be restored to its existing condition.