Lighting

Lighting needs to be selected to fit the overall look of the cottage.

It can range from rustic to modern. Cottages in the Lake of the Woods area tend to trend toward a more rustic look as shown here, although there are plenty of examples of more modern treatments depending on individual taste.

Careful attention to function is important when making lighting decisions as each light may have one or more goals. The three functions to keep in mind with lighting are:

• Ambient light ( lights up a room )
• Task lighting ( focused working / reading light )
• Accent lighting ( accentuates features )

The chandelier above provides both ambient and task lighting through use of a dimmer. Dimmer switches can be very helpful as they allow a light more opportunity to work in a variety of situations ranging from subtle to bright.