Interior Decorating: Good Lighting Makes All the Difference
Good lighting is one of the most important elements in the design of a room, and certainly most necessary at night or on a gloomy day. Apart from its primary function of producing light to see by when natural light has faded, it can enhance strong points in a space and diminish weaker ones; provide warmth and glow and mood; highlight art and collections of objects, plants and flower arrangements; and create a definite sparkle.
Yet lighting is often overlooked when decorating a home. People forget to plan for lighting placement and adequate lighting levels in a room until well after their project is under way or even completed. Taking the additional time to plan and design a useful lighting scheme is well worth it and can save you time, money and aggravation down the road.
When planning your lighting layout, keep in mind that most rooms need three basic types of lighting:
- Ambient or overall light
- Work or task light (for reading, writing, working on the computer, cooking, playing cards, sewing, etc.)
- Accent light (for lighting art, objects, shelves, table tops and adding sparkle)
Recessed lighting should be your first layer of lighting, providing overall light for the room. If recessed lighting is not an option, a ceiling mounted fixture can also serve this purpose but keep in mind it will not emit as much light and you may need to compensate with additional lighting in the other layers.
Work or task lighting should be your second layer. Consider what tasks will be performed in the room and plan your lighting accordingly making sure lamps are properly placed and sized. The scale and proportion of a lamp should be in relationship to the furnishings it serves. In addition, the bottom of the shade should be at about eye level when seated in an adjacent chair, sofa or bed. Lamps can add a great decorative touch to any room and even serve as a sculptural art piece.
The last layer is accent lighting. Uplights can be used to accent corners and plants and give interesting patches of light and shade. Spots or wallwashers are ideal for highlighting artwork.
For added benefit, make sure that all lights are attached to dimmer switches and that all lamps have three-way bulbs. This allows you to adjust the lighting levels and conserve energy. For a cleaner more vibrant light, consider replacing your standard incandescent bulbs with one of the newer natural light bulbs that filter out the dull yellow rays.
The bottom line is, don’t underestimate the impact of lighting. Lighting truly can make a difference not only in your ability to function in your home but also in how you feel in your home.
Decor&You is a national interior decorating franchise that offers comprehensive personalized service with a complete line of fine custom furniture, window and wall coverings, art and accessories for all budgets. Contact Sandra Hambley for more information about your next decorating project.
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