Coordinating Lighting In An Open Floor Plan: 2023

As time goes by, open floor plans have become increasingly popular in modern households. But a common confusion most people need help with is coordinating lighting in an open floor plan. 

Since all of the lighting fixtures are visible at the same time, more often than not, it may feel cluttered and disarranged. To solve these problems, you need a coordinated plan for lighting on an open floor.

Fortunately, you can light up an ample open space in many ways, such as ambient lighting, task lighting, mix-and-match lighting, and many more. 

Types of Lighting Fixtures

First, we will shortlist some lighting fixtures and the best places to set them up in an open floor plan.

They don’t necessarily mean to go together; instead, they are here, so you have more options to add to your shopping cart.

Table Lamp

These are one of the most common light fixtures in every household. Usually, a cosy corner for reading with a small table and a cushioned chair asks for a lovely table lamp. 

They usually illuminate a soft glow containing a small area, so there’s more scope to contrast with the other bright light fixtures in the space. 

Floor Lamp

Table lamps and floor lamps have quite a few things in common. But the other upper hand is they don’t need any table or furniture to set them up. Especially when there’s not much space for a table, like a narrow corner behind a chair, floor lamps are the way to go. 

Chandelier

Most people think of chandeliers as an overwhelming choice, but they sometimes work well in an open space area. They are great statement pieces and, when added carefully, can divert the focus from the spaces you don’t want people to notice. 

The living room area is the most common choice for adding chandeliers. Plus you can also add them on top of the dining area. Dining areas naturally need more lighting for functional purposes, so a lovely chandelier might be better than pendant lights with the right design. 

Size is also important, so consider where to set them up. You can even add a simple chandelier in your bedroom for a more daring option. 

Pendant Lighting

A kitchen island or dinner table is perfect for pendant light fixtures. They are grander than chandeliers but still add some textures and character to the space. And they are cheaper. 

Most people like to hang a single downlight or a trio of simple and neat designs. You can also go for something unique or decorative for a grander feel. 

Apart from the kitchen or dining area, you can also use them in your living space. If the room has a high ceiling, larger pendant lights are an excellent option. 

In addition to these, you can use pendant lights anywhere in the fireplace area, entrance, or even above the coffee table. However, we would advise not going with too many of them since that will make the place look messy and contradictory. 

Wall Sconce

Sconces are mounted on the wall so they don’t interfere with the furniture in the space. They are fantastic for accent and task lighting. The common place for adding wall sconces are the doorway, bedside, reading corner, etc. 

Flush Mount

Flush mount lights are mounted directly onto the ceiling. They are the perfect lighting fixtures for spaces with short tops and narrow spaces. It’s also traditionally used for ambient lighting.

4 Simple Tips for Coordinate Lighting in an Open Floor Plan

Consider the following tips depending on the purpose of lighting.

Use the Artificial Lighting Technique

Usually, there are three types of artificial lighting: task, ambient, and accent. They all have their element, and layering them on top of each other can add a certain depth and texture to the space.

Ambient Lighting

Ambient light sets the overall ambiance of the space. This is one of the first choices to make while contemplating what atmosphere you’re going for with the room. The trick is to start with a foundation or base and go around the whole floor. 

Recessed lighting is most commonly used for ambiance lighting. The other choices are wall sconce, flush mount, etc. 

All the spaces in the area can have similar ambient lighting for a more harmonized feel. At the same time, different rooms with different ambient lighting add a little more personality.

While setting up ambient light, a critical note is to spread them evenly in the whole space, not to overlap.

Task Lighting

The technique of using task lighting is to focus on a specific area for a particular activity. That can be reading, cooking, gaming, or any movement inside the home. Not only do they make it easier to perform these specific tasks, but they also create a sense of separate space for each of them. 

For example, the task light in the kitchen area would be a well-lit overhead pendant light. 

Similarly, an entertainment corner to watch movies and hang out in won’t need as much light. So a soft-lit floor lamp or wall sconce would be enough to make a cozy corner in this case. 

Accent Lighting

And finally, some accent lighting that accentuates your favorite areas of the space. Accent lighting is not strictly necessary; they are there for its aesthetic value. Common accent lighting examples are under cabinet light, puck light, track light, led strip around dressing mirror, etc. 

Mix and Match Lighting

Mix and matching light fixtures are a tried and successful technique to add subtle depth and dimensions in an open space. Most people tend to go for generic and boring light fixtures for a minimalistic lighting scheme. 

However, you can still design a minimalistic design without making it look dull and bland. A thumb rule would be adding three simple and similar type fixtures with one that’s different and slightly more dramatic.

Choose a Metal finish

Always go for a metal finish that’s in tune with the metal fixtures at your home, like curtain rods, doors, cabinet handles, etc. The most common metal finishes in modern homes are black and chrome. Black and brass also go great together. 

Maintain Consistency

Since an open floor plan is a continuous space with large rooms, consistency should be throughout the whole area. 

Choose a joint base or foundation among all your lighting elements so they can co-exist without contradicting each other—for example, subtle resemblance or similarity in their shapes, designs, geometry, etc. 

Learn more: Tools Used in Traditional Drafting: Interesting Drafting Facts.

FAQs on Coordinating Lighting In An Open Floor Plan

Take a look at the frequently asked questions by people interested in coordinating lighting in an open floor plan. 

How do I determine the size of the chandelier for the dining area?

The size of the chandelier for hanging in the dining area or on top of the kitchen island should always be smaller than the width of the table or the island. Measure the width of the table. Then divide it by two; the result should always be more significant than the chandelier size.  

How can I control all the recessed lights with one switch?

There are intelligent relay switches that can control all the lighting systems at your home with just one tap. They usually have related apps to use on the phone. You can install one of those and control all the lights at your home from your phone, even when you are not home. 

Can the recessed lights be replaced with something else?

Yes, you can replace recessed lights at your home with pendant lights, track lights, tube lights, etc. There are different light conversion kits, such as the Can converter pendant light conversion kit, recessed fixture-converter kit, etc., that you can use in this case.

Final Words

Planning the lighting scenario in an open floor plan is essential, so it feels cozier and not just a continuous dull space. Coordinating lighting in an open floor plan can effectively change the whole vibe of the entire room. 

You can always do things your way, especially by adding your elements. Hopefully, these ideas will get you started while creating the perfect lighting plan for your space.