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Monday, September 19th, 2016
Uttermost Lamps and Lighting Jelani, Table Lamp 26987 provides accent lighting for your living room.
You may think that light is the least essential design element when the days are at their longest yet this is the best time to buy quality lighting and select fixtures that would properly light your home. The first step that you need to undertake is to know the three kinds of lighting.
Ambient Lighting
Ambient lighting can also be referred to as general lighting since it provides an overall glow. In essence, it does the role of sunlight during the night. Full ambient lighting can be achieved by properly spacing recessed downlights. This can also be achieved by a single central ceiling fixture.
Ambient lighting is often chosen for its decorative feature. Be sure to check the wattage when you want to know how much light the ambient fixture can offer.
One problem that you might have encountered in older homes is that homeowners only used task lighting. This gets the job done, sure, but it can leave a lot of dark corners or make rooms appear smaller.
Minus ambient lights, you are likelier to trip over stuff, this is why this kind of light is now the most common light used in many modern homes. The unfortunate news is that people tend to stop at ambient lighting, not even bothering to layer with another kind of lighting.
Accent Lighting
This kind of lighting, on the other hand, provides any room with a more polished look. Of course, it is important to make the room more visually interesting which is why you should carefully choose accent lights.
Just like any beautiful painting, accent light has the power to draw the eyes to it. This visual piece can be that attractive lighting fixture or some directional lights.
One of the most natural accent lights is the chandelier which can highlight the dining table. Downlights are able to illuminate a piece of art or an interesting decorative cabinet.
Task Lighting
The last type of light is task lighting. This is that focused light that can create a spotlight on a task. This is important in the prevention of eye strain, therefore, to eye health.
What could be more fun than a glowing peacock? Featured here is the Maitland-Smith Lamps and Lighting Cast Brass Peacock Wall Sconce 1900-111
Relax, Have Fun
A lot of designers rely on lighting designers when taking on a remodeling project. The latter make sure the rooms are properly lit for the crucial tasks. They also know that mood can be easily created with light. If you want to ascertain that your home is correctly lit, then you should begin by knowing the three kinds of lighting and to know how and where to use them.
Apply accent, ambient and task lighting – these are the three kinds of light. Don’t force them, though. It would be unwise to cram them into one space. Layered lighting is only considered successful if the entire room has a flattering glow to it. There shouldn’t be any daunting shadows anywhere. The most interesting parts of the home must also pop because of proper lighting.
The three kinds of light can be layered but don’t get confused by them. A family room, for instance, can have recessed lighting which could provide a casting glow. A ceiling chandelier can double as ambient and decorative lighting. A white table lamp (still in the same room) is a great decorative piece when placed against dark walls. While it is decorative, this lamp can also offer task lighting for anyone who wants to read a good book.
Alright, here’s the simple secret –
Begin with ambient light as the first layer. The task light follows as the second layer and the accent lights finish the job. If you can commit that to memory, then all you have to do now is to find the fixture styles that would match your home’s theme.
Tags: accent light, accent lighting, ambient light, ambient lighting, general lighting, interior lighting, layering, layering in interior design, layering lights, lighting fixture, lighting interiors, lighting layers, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, task light, task lighting, tips, types of light, types of lighting
Posted in Accents, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Lighting | No Comments »
Sunday, July 3rd, 2016
FFDM Collector’s Room: Daylight is the most effective source of light but you have to learn to put proper lighting when dusk sets in.
Homeowners often talk of the creation of layers of light but did you ever wonder what that even means? The use of multiple light sources can provide maximum effect on any space. Ambient lighting, for instance, can be fused with task lighting if you want to create a shadow-free work. Accent lighting, on the other hand, can add a dramatic depth while decorative lighting can show your personality. Mixing different fittings can create different themes or stage a much richer home environment.
Multiple Lighting to Break Rooms
Homeowners who embraced the open-plan concept can understand the difficulties of establishing boundaries. Furniture pieces can do this trick but lighting can also do offer the same effect. Light can divide larger rooms into zones such as what happens when you use high-output downlighting on work areas while infill downlighting can be used as ambient lighting. Dining areas can be softened by pendant lights as well as concealed cove lighting.
Different Lights, Different Tasks
When downlights take care of ambient lighting for the dining area, there is no longer a need for decorative lights to provide a high output. Keep in mind that not all lighting fixtures should provide like levels of light.
When it comes to downlighting, make sure that you plan their placement so that they can add to the richness of the surroundings. The wrong use of downlighting can lead to a shapeless and soulless room and, of course, you don’t want that.
You can alter the focus of attention by increasing or even lowering the different lighting fixtures placed in different areas. Remember to group lights into small circuits so you could be more flexible. You can always have separate circuits set at same levels but it is not easy to split 20 or more lights wired together to act as one light.
Maitland-Smith Lamps and Lighting Verdigris Bronze Patina Monkey Lamp 1753-570
Accent Lighting in Bathrooms
Bathrooms can be a challenging project to take on when it comes to lighting. Ideal lighting in this room should have a controlled color temperature. This temperature is how warm or cool lighting should appear.
Bathrooms should have cool lighting, one that would make you feel alert in the morning. In the evening, it should have warmer glow so that sleep would easily come.
LED is often fixed when it comes to color temperature. It is still possible, though, to layer the light when using different circuits for different tasks.
The area where you usually apply make-up should be a well-lit one. Combine low-level accent lights with accurate lighting fixtures with the first to be used at night and the other during the day. They key here is to separate the circuits so you achieve flexibility.
Adding Intimacy
Accent lighting means you have to know which features matter to you. You can also use this type of lighting to make the eyes focus on a beautiful feature. So the next time you want to bring something to life, just focus an accent light on it.
LED has many choices for accent lighting. Find whether you would want a downlight, uplight, or linear fitting.
Consistency Is Key
The use of multiple light sources can better unify any space than having a blanket of downlights with the light source coming from just one direction. Now remember that even the subtlest variation in light can be accentuated so take the time to test the different fittings. See if you can compare them side by side.
Achieve Maximum Effect
Use several kinds of lighting and make them work together to your advantage. Downlighting can provide the light when you’re at work while the decorative lights soften the ambience. Add glamour and personality by having ambient lights set up.
Tags: how to layer lights, improving home lighting, interior lighting, layered lighting, layering, layering lights, lighting fixture, lighting layers, lighting plan, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Lighting | No Comments »
Saturday, April 30th, 2016
FFDM Vintage Classics features this wooden piece complete with mirror and other interesting accessories to welcome your guests.
Do you believe that you’ve only got one chance to make a good lasting impression? This means you have to make the entry way as welcoming as possible to all of your guests. The entry way reflects who you are as a person. This should be a place where comfort and happiness fuse as people walk through the first door of your home.
Here are ways to set the tone for the rest of your place –
Layer the Light
A beautiful lantern can make a huge difference in a relatively small place. The entry way can also be the perfect place for a table lamp or a beautiful wall sconce. There are various lighting options for different moods.
Iron sconces can add a unique sense of style in a place where an added glow is much welcome.
A fabulous pendant lighting fixture can also make a huge difference. Actually, it can make or break the look offered by beautiful doors and carvings. This is not a usual fix that homeowners do to their entry ways, however, this is a spot that you need to spend more time and money on.
Vintage lighting will give the area a distinctive appeal. If you have an old home with equally old wiring, make sure that you commission a competent electrician to update the wiring systems for you. After the rewiring project, you can already spruce up the place with a new paint job or by adding interesting accessories and furnishings.
Highlight the Art
In many apartments, entry ways are quite small but this does not automatically mean that you can no longer make a statement. Your home’s entry way can still be chic if you hang the correct kind of artworks.
Install a statement mirror or a geometric rug to warmly welcome guests. Let them feel that they are welcome in your home and that they are about to see a stylish dwelling.
Your statement piece can be one unique piece that is an heirloom. Or it can be a piece of furniture that is newly-bought yet has the features of a would-be heirloom.
Hooker Furniture Accents Fretwork Mirror spells rustic especially when paired with the wooden Asian sculpture.
Correct Scaling
That grand foyer with a small table is a rather saddening state to be in. A beautiful, spacious entry way must have a fabulously large console table, a huge mirror, and a bench. Sconces should be present not just to welcome guests but more to highlight the beautiful architectural structures and beautiful furniture pieces.
Accents such as bins of flowers, an umbrella stand, and throw pillows will add a dash of personality to a usually regular-looking entry way.
Style Extension
The entry way must show your visitors what they would see inside your home. If you used rustic textures in your entry way, then these must also be seen in other rooms.
Set the tone at the entry way.
A Rug Is a Must
Sometimes, the entry way dimensions can be a tad trickier for rug placement. The floor is a wonderful place to put color, pattern and softness. Since the entry way has high foot traffic, find a rug that can sustain this kind of traffic.
Be Bold, Dazzle ‘Em
Primary colors can offer an awesome entry way to any home. Nautical style can be started with a basket of oars right by the entry way. Geometric rug in bright colors spells playful and unique.
Architecture needs to be respected. You can still show your personality through wall covering. Wallpapering is a classical take on beautifying the walls yet it comes with a modern twist. You might also have an art collection that can be highlighted by the right wallpaper.
Tags: adding colors to a home, area rug, art, artwork on walls, bold, decorating the entry way, decorating with area rugs, designing the entry way, displaying art, displaying artwork, entry way, entry way design, entry way style, geometric, geometric concept, geometric patterns, geometric style, layering, layering lights, McCreery's Furnishings, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, textures, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
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