Article by SA HOMES
Lighting is a key element in the design and decor of any room. It sets the mood and can be used to great effect to create distinct areas within a room, accent certain features, or as a feature in itself. The following tips can help to inspire your home lighting design ideas:
1. Use lighting to alter the sense of size and shape of your rooms. Lighting up one wall of a narrow room can make it appear wider, or you can make a high ceilinged room feel more intimate by using lamps that direct the light downward. 2. Use lighting to create distinct areas. Create a cozy atmosphere around the dining table and separate it from the surrounding room using a low-hung, down light or chandelier. This can be particularly effective in open-plan living to create a distinct dining space. Indeed, lighting is a great way to create separation between areas of different use, or in areas where the use changes. Bright ambient lighting can be used in an area where children play during the day and then be replaced by softer lighting for adult relaxation in the evening using a dimmer switch and wall lights or lamps. 3. Use accent lighting to highlight decorative features. Plants, alcoves, statues, architectural features, and even fish tanks can be lit creatively to make a dramatic focal point in a room. Framed artwork can be accented using halogen track lighting or a picture light. Highlight china or collectibles using halogen strip lighting in the china cabinet. 4. Make sure your light switches are in the right place. You don’t want to have to cross a darkened room to turn the lights on! Think about where you are likely to be sitting or where you are in the room when you want to turn on the lights or use the dimmer switch. Remote controls are always an option. 5. Always have safety in mind when designing your home lighting scheme. Use the services of trained electricians if you want to do any rewiring or installation of new light fixtures or switches. These are not DIY jobs. Electricians can also give advice at the planning stage about aspects such as what electrical wiring is required to achieve your desired home lighting results. The stairs and the kitchen are two areas where function really must take priority, but that doesn’t mean lighting in these areas can’t be attractive too.
When you combine the right design ideas with the necessary practical considerations, creative home lighting can be the finishing touch that really makes an interior design statement.
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