Ideas for Lighting A Log Cabin

Lighting For a Log Cabin

A log cabin is a home that exudes rustic appeal and beauty. There are home owners who find log houses to be extremely charming.  Decorating a log cabin can be done by making use of light fixtures.  Lighting a log cabin can be trickier than you might think. Log cabin lighting should be cozy, but not dim; rustic, but not dirty. These subtle nuances will mark the difference between a comforting, welcoming home and a dreary shack.

By choosing the right type of lighting for your log home, you can feature its beauty, while still illuminating the different rooms and bringing attention to the warmth and richness of the home. Here’s how. Here are some tips on how to use lighting in your log cabin:

Ambient lighting is the utilitarian lighting that generally illuminates a house. In a log home, fluorescent lighting or a single bulb won’t cut it. Consider pot lights that hold large spotlights in the ceiling placed liberally through the home. This type of recessed lighting gives a maximum amount of light without disrupting the general decor of the home with ugly fixtures or unsightly bulbs. Lights are set into the ceiling so you don’t see the fixture at all, just the bright light that is cast on the logs. Logs absorb light, so choose more small lighting in favor of one large light; if you don’t, you’ll end up with shadowed corners.

The accent lighting in a log home should be used to feature some of the decor, as well as setting the mood of the home by highlighting the warmth in the color of the logs. You can do this by choosing lighting like wall sconces to illuminate artwork, overhead lighting to use as a spotlight on a particularly interesting feature or accessory, and using soft, yellowed lighting instead of bright, blue based lighting. The yellow lighting will accent the rich, honey hue of the logs in your home and bring out the texture and warmth.

Task lighting is important in a log home because they do tend to be slightly darker inside than a conventionally built home. Task lighting is perfect for places like the kitchen; add a light bar over the cooking area so you can see more clearly while cooking and baking. Choose standalone lamps near couches and chairs so that you have easy access to lighting while reading. Install extra directional lighting in the den or office that you can turn on easily while working or turn on when you don’t want to illuminate the entire room.

Lighting a log home is important to set the mood and illuminate the rooms. Choose your lighting wisely. You will surely love the results after your hard work!