Lighting has become as important to the decor of a room as its furniture or color scheme. This wasn’t always the case. It wasn’t very long ago that people had to rely on smoky whale oil lamps to light even a corner of a room. Now, interior lighting is more than utilitarian and its quality can enhance the beauty of a room’s other elements. Here are 10 interior lighting design tips:
1. Use White Lampshades
White lampshades made of soft, translucent fabrics filter the lamplight wonderfully. They help give the space around them a soft and pleasing glow.
2. On the Other Hand, Colored Shades are the Thing
An otherwise neutral room can benefit from a pop of bright color provided by the shade of a light fixture.
3. Put Mirrors on the Furniture
Mirrors anywhere enhance the light and spread it around the room, and this is true of mirrored furniture. Place mirrors on lamp tables, sofa tables, coffee tables and side tables for a beautiful play of light.
4. Consider the Height of the Ceiling
Before buying a ceiling light for the ceiling, the homeowner should consider the ceiling’s height. The light should at least clear the head of the tallest person in the household. Ideally, the bottom of a pendant light or chandelier should between 12 and 20 inches from an eight foot high ceiling. If the light is over the dining room table, a good distance between the bottom of the fixture and the tabletop is 28 to 34 inches, though a small light can be lowered a bit.
5. Use French Windows
These are actually doors with clear glass panes in them that allow the bright light from one room to flow fairly into another. These doors often open onto a patio or a garden room, but they can be put between other public rooms in the home.
6. Choose the Right Wattage
When it comes to enhancing a room’s decor, lightbulbs that are over 75 watts tend to cast too harsh a light. It’s better to have lightbulbs between 25 and 40 watts. These wattages are easier on the eyes while allowing people to read or do close-in work.
7. Buy Battery Operated Candles
If the homeowner loves the beauty and romance of real candles but is nervous because they have young children or pets, they can buy battery operated candles. Many have LED lights which are bright but cool to the touch.
8. Use Uplights
Uplights can highlight a work of art or soften the light in the room by avoiding ominous shadows. Uplights can be small and portable or a line of sconces at the top of the wall. Contact professionals such as those at Alair Homes Calgary for more information about uplighting.
9. Choose the Right Lightbulb
Since the wasteful incandescent lightbulbs are being phased out, the homeowner now has compact fluorescent, halogen or LED bulbs to choose from. Technology has improved to the point where even fluorescents can have warm hues.
10. Put Lights on the Stairs
Installing lights on the risers or sides of stairs is not only beautiful and glamorous, but is a safety feature for a family member who has to navigate the stairs in the middle of the night.
Upgrade the lighting in your home and contact Alair Homes Calgary to get started!