An
often neglected decorating element that is highly important, good
lighting is a vital ingredient in good decor. It's not just because it
is needed for good functional everyday living, but because it can
intensify the beauty of your home as well.
For
some reason, it remains one of the best kept secrets in dome decor. By
merely upgrading your lighting, you can easily upgrade your entire
home. Upgraded lighting can make a huge impact like bringing out the
lushness in your fabrics, a great work of art, even your plant life.
Good
lighting can also be effective in creating a mood for a room, or at
different times during the day and it can make a space more versatile.
- Lighting can be used to create a variety of ambiences and to shape the feel
and energy in a room.
- Lighting can create an intimate setting, a work area or to spotlight art.
- Good lighting can make your interiors "pop".
- Lighting can change the perception of space in a room. It can
soften. It can add interesting shadows of unusual shapes.
- Lighting can solve design challenges. If you live in an older
home where the ceilings are low, lighting can make the space feel
larger. Light can also make overly large rooms feel more intimate.
- For effective lighting, you need to think
"layering". You don't want the light to appear
flat. Lights should define each space in a room, creating
partitions and overlays.
- An easy trick is to place lights in a room so they form a
triangle.
- Use a variety of light sources and dimmers. Dimmers allow
you to vary the mood in a room, alter the intensity of light
to suit each activity and conserve energy all at the same
time.
- Use both direct and indirect light sources.
- Today's modern kitchen might have six different light
sources, all operated on the same switch. One setting
could be for cooking, another for the kitchen table,
another for the island (as a centerpiece).
- Choose your lighting needs based on your
lifestyle. Make sure you have extra good light in
work areas, but light that is soothing, not glaring.
- Don't rely on recessed lighting for more than
mood setting. Most homes need a good deal more
light. Recessed lighting makes the room feel flat
and really only illuminates the dust and/or
cobwebs on the ceiling. They are good for
wall grazing or spotlighting, but not for tasks.
- Halogen or xenon lights radiate a clear, pure light. Hanging
lights are decorative to look at and many give surprisingly good
light. So don't be shy about bringing in many sources of light. Your
eyes will thank you.
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