If you are designing or remodeling your interior, don’t forget that an effective lighting plan takes into account the function and style of each room, including everything in the room from furniture and decorative objects to walls and flooring. Unfortunately, the flooring, or “fifth wall” of a room is often overlooked in lighting plans. Natural stone, tile, and carpet, all valued for aesthetic appeal and functional durability, should be a major consideration in your lighting scheme.

Types of Lighting

According to the American Lighting Association, there are three basic types of lighting that work together in your home: ambient, task, and accent lighting. Ambient lighting illuminates the entire space and generally comes from overhead sources such as chandeliers, track or recessed lights, and ceiling or wall-mounted fixtures. Task lighting brightens a specific space and can be provided by pendants, lamps, or mounted lighting. Accent lighting, which is often used to showcase objects or architecture, is an interior design scheme that creates visual interest.

Combining Different Lighting

A good combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting can showcase the rich colors and textures in your natural stone, tile, and carpet flooring. With all that extra attention, proper care and maintenance of your floors, such as daily vacuuming, sweeping, and spot cleaning are important. Regular cleaning will not only improve the appearance of your floors, but also extend the life of your “fifth wall” by catching dirt and grime before it has a chance to do lasting damage.

If lasting damage does occur, it likely is reversible in the hands of a skilled professional. Natural stone that has become dull or dingy, etched, chipped, or otherwise damaged can be restored to its original elegance for a fraction of the cost of replacement. Tile and grout floors and carpets should be professionally cleaned at regular intervals to remove ground in dirt and stains that simply cannot be removed with regular cleaning methods. You can find a PRO in your area here.

Lighting and flooring are two design elements that can be unintentionally overlooked. If you want to wow your guests or just enhance your own day-to-day aesthetic experience, consider both the lighting-flooring connection and regular professional maintenance. You can then be confident your floors can handle the spotlight in style!

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