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Monday, May 29th, 2017
Orient Express Furniture OutdoorPatio Loom Outdoor Dining Arm Chair 6809KD.PLA_SGRY_GT
These days, the term home no longer just refers to the indoors but also our outdoor living spaces. From the biggest estates down to the most modest homes, it seems that every homeowner is now finding ways to go outdoors and enjoy games, meals, visits and swims there. Moonlight, the open air as well as natural light simply enhance the living experience in each home.
But what if you don’t have to totally go outdoors, instead, you still stay indoors yet the room had an awesome view of the outdoors? Would you want that kind of setup?
Say hello to the sunroom. This is that pre-fab roof and wall system that is added to a home to offer an awesome view of the outdoors as well as an extra amount of living space.
Sunrooms are often used for relaxation, entertainment, as a TV room, a reading nook, and simply an area to enjoy the outdoors. The finishing touches used will add to the beauty of this extra living space.
Wicker furniture is often used in this space to create the best place of relaxation. Actual installation can be as short as 2-3 days depending on the size of the room that you would like. Additional time is required for an added deck.
Check if you would need a building permit or a zoning approval. If you want to enjoy the sunroom during summer, then you had better start moving now.
Sunroom Furniture: Basic Care
Anyone who invested in outdoor furnishing should know that it takes a lot of time, effort, even money to maintain such an asset. Properly caring for sunroom furniture means you have to know what it is made of in the first place.
If it is made of metal, then you also have to find out what sort of metal you will care for. If it’s wood, find out if it is untreated or varnished.
Wicker is a popular choice among homeowners because it is quite easy to maintain.
Tags: decorating the sunroom, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, sunroom, sunroom design, sunroom style, sunrooms
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Outdoors Style, Summer Season | Comments Off on Sunroom Furniture Care: 15 Tips in Caring for Your Investment
Monday, May 29th, 2017
The Meritage Collection (FFDM) showcases here the reliable neutral hues beautifully layered in this dining room.
One of the biggest aspects of design that stylists stick to is the creation of a color scheme that actually makes sense. This palette may be altered slightly as the home takes on a lived–in appeal but you will see that the hues throughout the home will always have a close relationship with each other. When this is achieved, then you know that the designer has done everything to harmonize the design elements in your home.
Radiant Scandinavian
Scandinavian or Nordic interiors focus on the essentials. What they offer are functional, simple yet beautiful elements. You will see plenty of sunlight, muted hues, wooden flooring and soft furnishings throughout a Scandinavian home. This is a style that has gained popularity and is showing zero signs of ever slowing down.
If you want to use the Scandinavian style in your home, be ready to embrace white as your fundamental color. This will be your base hue and you will also use it on subtle layers. Be sure to put together these layers so that they achieve a simple and easygoing look.
Say no to clutter then just use a few decorative items to personalize your habitat.
Say No to Schism with Minimalism
Taking the minimalist approach to styling your home is a technique that has been used by many interior designers over the years. This is no surprise since it is a style that is easy to maintain and it shows an uncluttered space.
When you use this approach, bear in mind that styling a home isn’t tantamount to adding stuff. In fact, you can remove clutter and just simplify. A lot of home stylists can work with the stuff that you already have. They can also help you remove items that no longer have any use. From then on, you can just simplify.
You must also be strict with your color palette if you want to live a minimalist lifestyle. Adding a lot of objects and colors is the easiest way to overwhelm your space so stick to the tones from the same color family.
Also, be sure to use simple shapes and lines, none of those geometric and heavy patterns and intricate details. Use plants and art to make the space more interesting.
Anchor the Room with Art
You can use striking black-and-white photographs as a styling element. Think of soft, muted tones or desert landscapes. Such subjects are a wonderful way to amp up the excitement in your home without you spending a lot.
You can buy original art or ask an artistic loved one to paint one on a special canvas.
Jazz Up with Plants
Have you observed that no real estate property is listed without even a slight hint of green plants? Home stylists just love to use indoor plants in brightening up homes. These green living things naturally move something within each one of us. Studies have also proven that plants can increase productivity and creativity.
Choose from succulents, cacti, orchids and peace lilies. There is an indoor plant that will be suitable to your personality as well as your maintenance style.
Matchy-Matchy No More
If there’s anything that you would steer out of, it would be the default design technique of matching design elements. A reliable color palette is neither boring nor matchy-matchy. The use of a limited color palette throughout your home will make it more unified.
Keeping your style more interesting is as easy as adding a different tone as the area differs. The same base color can also be used in every single room with the rest of the design elements taking on a darker or lighter hue.
Just create a flow from one room to the next. Be confident with the color choice that you eventually make as this whole house color scheme will surely work for you.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, minimalism, minimalist, minimalist design, minimalist interiors, minimalist style, Scandinavian design, Scandinavian interiors
Posted in Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on The Consistent Palette: The Reliable Hues That Designers Simply Love
Friday, May 26th, 2017
The High-Low Dining Table from FFDM’s Summer Collection.
“Summertime is always the best of what might be,” so said American non-fiction author, Charles Bowden. With summer just around the corner, you might be one of the handful of hopefuls who are thinking of buying a vacation home for you and your family. With this huge investment about to take place, don’t just focus on the idea of having a summer getaway.
Remember that buying a summer home is also a long-term investment so, don’t jump without any preparations. Remember that there are summer home rental properties and there are awesome summer home rental properties. You want to be assured that you would get the latter.
Visit and Stay
Do not even think of paying for a vacation home that you haven’t visited, inspected and spent a few good hours in. This is a basic guideline but a lot of home buyers are often blinded by the ski village or the beach town that they are about to join. What they fail to see are architectural mismatches and damages that could be concealed at the moment.
Keep in mind that owning a summer vacation home is not like owning hotels or timeshares. With the former, you do not get the option to alter the scenery.
Know How Much
Just like you would in buying your primary residence, you have to ask the costs. Understand the overall price of owning the property. There are fees such as insurance, property taxes and other carrying costs. Remember also that even when you’re not in there, you would still be paying for gas, water, trash removal, electric bills and landscaping. Other maintenance services also have their individual costs.
Make sure that you include these overhead costs to your planned budget. After all, what could ruin the perfect vacation home? Having to pay more than you’re capable of.
Another part of your budget for this summer home is the year-round upkeep. Summer vacation is not spent entirely in this home – you will get out and seek out recreation. In this case, your summer home is not a hotel so you will need a year-round budget for its maintenance.
Who Will Stand Guard?
Speak of more costs, another expense that you have to seriously consider is the management fee. If you would only visit during the summer, then someone would definitely take care of your summer home. Consider renters so you won’t have to worry about the home’s maintenance while you are away.
A local property manager should be able to properly maintain your summer home. He or she will definitely cost extra but this is much less than paying for a leaky roof or a frozen pipe.
Still from the Summer Home Collection, here’s the Poster King Bed.
The Rental Income Opportunity
A smart purchase for a summer home is one that will incorporate earning an income. The rental potential of a home, especially when managed correctly, could help offset the costs that were mentioned above.
Allowing renters to take care of your home means you won’t have to worry about your home while you are away. Looking at it as a long-term investment of softs will also bring about income that will help pay the property off and even build equity.
So when you’re out to shop for your dream summer home, be sure to check the nearby towns as well as speak with local agents. Find out also, online, whether what you’re thinking of buying is actually worth buying or even renting. Never forget to do your research on the occupancy rates, too. Knowing how often families and businessmen rent properties is also crucial. Repeat customers are crucial if you’re serious about your rental property business.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, shopping for vacation home, summer home, summer house, vacation rental properties, vacation rental property
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Summer Season | Comments Off on Summer 2017 Vacation Home – 4 Things to Know Prior to Buying
Friday, May 26th, 2017
The stone flooring makes this Wood Dining Side Chair from the Boulevard Collection stand out more.
As the name already suggests, natural stone tile is a tile that has been cut from stones of the natural variety. There are engineered stones so natural stones are those that are generally more expensive but more classic looking.
When Buying Stone Tiles…
So what should you consider when you are out to invest in a natural stone tile flooring?
Just like all the stuff that you are buying for your home, you need to consider a few factors that would affect the longevity and overall performance of this flooring material.
First, consider the cost. A few stone tiles are far pricier than others. Of course, this depends on what type of stone you would want for your floor. The rarer the material, the pricier. Marble and granite are generally pricey but there are also cheaper types of marble that are more abundantly quarried.
The porosity as well as the absorption rate of the stone tile must also be considered. These will determine how easily the tiles will eventually absorb the liquids. Staining is also a common issue especially among oily substances so find the natural stones that are not highly porous. If you really have to choose a stone that has high porosity, then be sure to have it sealed before use.
The durability or hardness of the natural stone must also be carefully considered. The harder the natural stone, the less likely that it will eventually wear down, crack, scratch or chip. Of course, the higher the foot traffic in the room, the riskier it is for your natural stone tiles. If you are going to use marble or granite in the kitchen, well, you gotta be extra careful.
Variance and consistency also have a lot to do with the way the natural stone tile would perform. Those with a more consistent color and veining look better and more chic. Speaking of colors, remember that not all marbles and granites look the same. Depending on where they come from, the smooth texture and equal distribution of color on these stones do vary.
The texture and finish of the natural stone also matter. The highly polished and slippery ones are a terrible material to use inside the kitchen or the bathroom. The texture is often determined by the finish and cut of the stone. The most common finishes include flamed, polished, honed and natural cleft.
Types of Natural Stone Floor Tiles
Tags: granite flooring, limestone flooring, marble flooring, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, natural stone, natural stone flooring, natural stone tile, natural stone tiling, sandstone flooring
Posted in Flooring Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on Stone Tile Flooring – As Natural As It Gets
Thursday, May 25th, 2017
Featured furnishings are from the Hyde Park Collection of FFDM.
If you’re thinking that sheer curtains are just for older, more traditional homes, think again. Sheers can be used in just about any home, in fact, it would never be unfashionable.
The timelessness of sheer curtains is what makes them work with traditional and even modern interior designs. Any style in between would work well with it, too. Sheers allow a good amount of light to come into homes. They work pretty well as wall-to-wall treatments as they create an awesome backdrop that will anchor the room. Even an architecturally interesting room would remain so as sheer curtains will not hide the beauty of your home’s features.
Sheer curtains also work well with patterns. In fact, they offer a visual relief from the busy prints from other parts of the room. It would be great if you could layer sheers under a block-colored drape. The sheers would provide light filtering as well as a chic look for a more hotel-y appeal.
Sheer curtains will also be able to stand alone. A romantic, airy bedroom will look more so if the windows are draped with sheers and paired with white painted brick walls. If light and privacy are never issues inside the bedroom, then you could hang sheers to show the greeneries outside. Nothing can be dreamier than this.
Sheers look wonderful when they are long and elegant. They look like a flowing element right by the window. They look especially wonderful in a rustic room. If you are not sure about the length, then choose the longer cuts instead of the short ones so that the fabric will slightly pool to the ground rather than left hanging.
Sheer curtains are often displayed in white or an off-white color. But if you are in a better mood, then you can always add a sophisticated flair to your sheer curtain ensemble. A pale wall would do better with pastel or gray sheers.
Be sure to pick a material that has a hint of sheen on it. Either this, or you pair the sheers with metallic items, a sparkling mirror or a glamorous wall décor.
Sheer curtains are also a wonderful choice for harmonizing mismatched windows. Two large windows with asymmetrical shapes would look nicer with gray sheer curtains. These will not feel off as the floor-to-ceiling look would make the windows appear seamless.
If using in front of a wide window, the basic white sheers would offer the needed broken sections. You can also combine these with panels for a fuller, more appropriate length that would reach the ground.
It would also be nice to match the colors of the sheer curtains with that of the textured walls. You can blend the two elements with some soft lines dissipating the structural look of the windows. The light and airy vibe is achieved in this manner.
For a more Bohemian flair, it would be nice to pair pastel plain sheers with patterned ones. Be amazed with the colorful sunlight coming in.
Sheer Materials and Designs to Choose From
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, sheer curtain, sheer curtains, sheer drape, sheer drapes
Posted in 2017 Trends, Accents, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Summer Season | Comments Off on Summer 2017 Sheer Curtains – It’s Time for a Cool Change
Thursday, May 25th, 2017
Maitland-Smith Bathroom Dolphin Soap Dish 2153-949
You might have heard of the futuristic bathrooms developed lately – toilets with seat warmers, integrated bidets, sensor flush, etc. These offer almost everything that you want but – most of the time – what we really need is just the standard toilet plus some truly relaxing features.
So, if you’re one of those old school folks who want the simple stuff in their bathroom, then here are some tips on how you can create the spa-like bathroom –
Fluffy Oasis
If you are going to splurge on your bathroom renovation, then you must begin with the fluffy stuff. Update your bath rugs and towels. A fluffy, soft towel would go a long, long way in turning your simple bathroom to a spa-like setting.
‘Unsure about what towels to buy?
First, check the fabric. Look at the GSM or grams per square meter number of the towel. Those with lower GSM are thinner and lighter while the thicker once have a higher GSM.
A lot of towels are made of cotton but not all cottons are created equal. Standard cotton is priced and designed for everyday use. Egyptian cotton, on the other hand, is a totally different towel all together.
Dim the Lights
Bathrooms are often installed with über-bright lights. Make your bathroom a lot more relaxing by having dimmers installed. A dimming switch can turn any harsh light into a more romantic light. If you are renting and are not allowed to install dimmers, then add some alternate lights – from small lamps to candles and wall sconces.
There are more benefits to using dimmers. Apart from creating an adjustable ambience, you are also guaranteed of energy savings. These light controllers are no less than a valuable asset to your new spa-like bathroom.
Let It Rain
It’s time to swap the showerhead to something more luxurious. There are now water-saving showerheads which can help you save as much as 35%. This is an investment since you and your guests can still enjoy the same warm showers but you get to save on your water usage.
There is also the rainfall showerhead. It is less grating plus it offers softer showers. Don’t worry about paying much because its average cost is only $40.
Uttermost Accessories Silvia Silver Wall Shelf 04033
Indulge Your Senses
There are different kinds of indulgent bathroom accessories. You would never go wrong with scented candles. These are the most common accessories that can soothe the senses.
Candles can also offer soft lighting. It also relaxes the muscles and your eyes; pick candles with chamomile, lavender, cinnamon, coconut, tangerine or chocolate. There is also the famous ylang ylang, jasmine, and vanilla. Some find these scents so relaxing that they even find themselves dozing off in their relaxing bubble bath.
Speaking of bubble baths or carbonated baths, these can be set up by adding foaming surfactants to the bath water. There are many known benefits to a relaxing bath – a hot bath, to begin with, promotes the flow of happy hormones – endorphins.
A relaxing bath can also improve one’s mental state. A refreshed mind is as simple as adding some essential oils to your bubble bath or lighting a few scented candles while bathing. People with insomnia have also reported that hot baths improved their ability to fall and stay asleep.
A person’s metabolism is also known to improve because of relaxing hot baths.
Enhance with Art
The bathroom isn’t just a room where you take your baths or relax a bit. This is also a place where you can add your personality. It is a tragedy to have a spacious and luxurious bathroom in your home and not have a piece of art or photograph in there.
So, go ahead, hang a piece of art in your spa-like bathroom but be sure to hang it away from the place where the showers and baths actually take place. Place the artworks right above the his and hers sinks or between two large wall mirrors.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, spa-like bathroom
Posted in Bathroom Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on The Bathroom That’s Traditionally Spa-Like
Wednesday, May 24th, 2017
Canadel Kitchen Island ISL4836-T7
If you happen to have a home that has seen its glory days, then you actually have a structure that’s rich in history and value. Most of these older homes come with kitchens that were constructed for a totally different generation so it is almost always that such rooms need a little renovation. Imagine standing in a 70-something year old kitchen and you’d know that the place needs renovation badly.
Of course, very few people would trade their older homes for newer ones. But don’t fret, you don’t have to use an outdated kitchen just so you can continue living in your Tudor home. In fact, you can choose to maintain your home’s Old World charm then just cook up some ways that you can have a fresher, more modern approach to things inside the kitchen.
Tear Down the Open Shelves
For starters, older kitchens often have open shelves. This is so the homeowners of yesteryears have an easy access to dinner plates, glasses, cups and such. These shelves often reach from floor way up to the ceiling. There is often a step stool that can be used to access the dinnerware.
So, you might want to say goodbye to the appeal of open shelving and say yes to the aesthetic beauty that kitchen cabinets with doors will add. A China hutch (china cabinet) can be used to display everyday dishware and other kitchen items. It can also display your fanciest collections of ceramics and glassware.
This same hutch can also be used to house vases that are filled with greenery and flowers. A beautifully-arranged chinaware collection can also be placed so that this cabinet instantly becomes the focal point of your kitchen.
Designate a Cupboard Area
The whole of Europe refers to kitchen cabinets as cupboards but you’re in the U.S. so it’s a designated space for your everyday plates, spoons, forks, glasses, and other kitchenware. This is also a space where you can store canned goods and other extra food.
Your cupboard is your pantry. Begin by removing the old stuff from the cupboard. Decide which one you can actually do without. Throw those away (e.g. plastic cups and paper plates that have remained unused for so many years, salt and pepper packets) and pare down to items that you would really use.
Be sure to clean the cupboards from top down to the bottom. Dust or if you want to use a chemical cleaner, then use a white vinegar and water solution. If the cupboard’s got paint on them, then be sure to use cleaning agents that will not damage the still-usable-paint.
Go for Classic Finishes
Pick finishes that look and feel classic. The latest trends may appeal to you but it would be nice to have a look that will transcend time.
Wood countertops, classic white tiles, and whitewashed cabinets would look perfect with the not-so-traditional steel appliances. Opposites truly attract inside a kitchen that has these features. Imagine having leather bar stools paired with an aluminum countertop.
Imagine also a gas fireplace decorated with wood framed painting (preferably impressionism) above it. The island could also fuse wood and steel to house the modern dishwasher, a faucet or two, and a double wall oven. What an amazing kitchen it would be.
A la Mode Bar Stool from the Protege Collection
Nothing Beats a Great View
The ceiling and walls in the kitchen can be painted the same as the dining area’s. You could have a dark wood table in the dining room and have the exact same shade for your kitchen island or your working table there. Be sure to install pendant lighting that honor the looks of the most popular lighting fixtures during the era when your home was constructed.
Smart Storage Is the Way to Go
Lastly, contemporary living also means smart storage so be able to keep seasonings and spices inside your new kitchen cabinets.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, modernizing a kitchen
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Kitchen Design | Comments Off on Modernizing the Outdated Kitchen in 4 Steps
Wednesday, May 24th, 2017
Look how perfectly the clerestory windows framed the Charleston Platform Panel King Bed and the rest of the ensemble.
Homeowners who have a view of natural light in their homes have million reasons to celebrate. Proper day lighting does not just reduce energy costs by 15-40% but it can also prevent eyestrain and other such things that can hamper your wellbeing. A calmer, more productive and beautiful home is often accounted as such if it has ample lighting. This natural light can be delivered by properly placed windows in homes such as skylights, French windows or clerestory windows.
What was the last one called?
Clerestory – A Sizable Window for a Spacious Home
The clerestory (pronounced CLEAR-story) window is a series of small windows or one large window at the very top of the structure (a home or any building). This window or series of windows is often by the roof line or near it.
This kind of fenestration (glass window placement) can be seen in both commercial and residential structures. The clerestory walls rise above the adjoining roofs. Often in a large building such as a train station, the windows are positioned to an angle where ample light illuminates the large interiors.
A smaller structure or home would do well with a band of smaller and narrower windows along the top of the wall.
The history of the clerestory can be traced to the construction of cathedrals and churches. This is referred to as the upper level of the cathedral, with the Middle English word being clerestorie, meaning, clear story. This describes how the height has been cleared to bring in a great amount of natural light into the huge structure.
Designing with Clerestory
Interior designers who wish to keep the privacy in a home while keeping the areas well-lit should make use of the clerestory. This is a window arrangement that is used by a lot of designers for both their commercial and residential projects.
Clerestory windows are often used to illuminate transport terminals, gyms and sports arenas. And with more and more sports arenas being enclosed, the clerestory lens has become more common.
Clerestory in the early Christian Byzantine era featured this in their architectural masterpieces. These have served as overhead light sources to massive spaces which builders began to construct back then. The technique for the said window design has improved during the Romanesque era. Architects of the Gothic era also designed the cathedrals with clerestories as beautiful art forms.
A few would attest that Frank Lloyd Wright, an American architect, was the one who adapted the Gothic art form to all sorts of residences. He promoted natural lighting and ventilation in response to the industrialization that was going on during that time.
By 1893, Wright presented he prototype of the Prairie Style featuring a line of windows in the Winslow House. He said that the best way to light any home is to use God’s way or – natural light. This is the very reason for this series of windows – so that God’s lovely and life-giving light could give ample and beautiful lighting inside homes.
Clerestory in Modern Homes
The windowed wall can also be incorporated into your home. Though it is often more difficult to clean compared to ordinary windows, the benefits are too essential to forego.
Remember that proper daylight increases concentration and can even lead to a more productive environment. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District even came with a study where mental function as well as memory recall have been shown to improve in rooms with a view and daylight. Health and wellness have also been observed to improve in homes that are well-lit.
The clerestory windows can also provide a visual light spectrum that is difficult to match. No constructed light source will ever be able to give these same benefits so think about how to optimize the use of your clerestory windows soon.
Tags: clerestory, clerestory window, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Architectural Elements, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on The Clerestory Window: Natural Lighting at Its Best
Tuesday, May 23rd, 2017
If we are to be downright honest, we all know that furniture is a huge investment. Renovations and revamping cost money so you have to know some ways that you can save some bucks while not necessarily going for dirt-cheap stuff.
Say Yes to Online Shopping
What a lot of people do not comprehend is that going to brick and mortar shops means spending money on gas and allotting time to go around to shop around for the best furniture pieces. When you choose to shop online, all you have to worry about is the shipping fee.
You have savings to look forward to as you look through a furniture site instead. The more you buy, too, the more that you get to save.
Brand Names Spell Durability
You have probably heard of the best furniture brands – Cynthia Rowley, Hooker Furniture, Fine Furniture Design, etc., these are names that spell one thing – durability. If you are particularly looking for possible heirloom pieces, then here are a few questions to ask yourself –
These soon to be dated furniture can be a part of the inheritance that you would leave for your descendants. For as long as you are able to invest in the right pieces that would truly transcend in time, then you would surely have some happy inheritors.
Learn Proper Wood Furniture Care
Fine wooden furniture is no less than a treasured possession. It is, therefore, essential that you learn some tips on how to care for this piece so that it can last through generations.
Invest Only in the Best
Lastly, it is best to invest in a few but durable furniture pieces. Resist the urge to buy cheaper just so you could get more pieces.
Pace yourself. Spend time and money only on the pieces that matter. Instead of putting your budget on items that will eventually fall apart, it is best to find a few items that you can use for many, many years. Investment pieces include the sofa, dining table, chairs, chest of drawers, original art, bed and something that you can use as an accent or focal piece.
Save on Memorial Day by accessing this link.
Tags: furniture shopping tips, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, Memorial Day furniture shopping, Memorial Day savings
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on Saving on Furniture Shopping: The Memorial Day Specials
Tuesday, May 23rd, 2017
Uttermost Lamps and Lighting Namura Antiqued Brass Accent Lamp 29358-1
The correct kind of illumination can easily change the look and feel of any home. Accent light is any light that is directed at stuff that you would want to be seen or lighted. Since this is so, learn how you can effectively use this type of light so that you get to illuminate the things that you would want to be noticed –
Make Things Noticeable
Through accent lighting, you have the power to direct the attention of the things that you would want people to see. The correct kind of light can also add up to the visual drama like no other.
You can use accent lighting indoors or outdoors. An eye-catching chandelier is the perfect indoor accent lighting piece. Lamps would do well to become your outdoor accent lights.
The use of well-directed lighting can also help draw attention to the focal points in a room. As you decide on a focal point, do not forget to dress it up. A huge part of dressing up this focal point is to direct the correct kind of light towards it.
Choose neutral and sheer curtains so you let in an ample amount of natural light during the day. To emphasize the same focal point during the night, use an accent light such as a picture light (if you have a photograph or art as the focal point) or the fireplace itself as the focal point and the accent light featured in one architectural marvel.
Backlight or Uplight
You can also create accent lighting by putting light behind or below the accent wall. Make sure that this wall holds a striking artwork or any other object that can easily catch the attention of your visitors.
This kind of lighting can also add a glamorous, halo-like effect in your room.
Use Dimmers
There are so many reasons to use dimmers in your home. First, if you would want to save on energy, then this is a good way to begin. A dimmer can lower the power usage of a bulb. The more that you use the dimmer, the less power used which results in lower energy consumption.
Dimmers can also make the bulbs last a lot longer. Less power delivery reduces the stress on any light bulb.
Dimmers are also great for the environment. Of course, the less amount of electricity that you use, you also reduce the carbon footprint left by your lighting piece. With fewer bulbs thrown away, there’s less landfill materials to expect.
Lastly, dimmers can make any room look better. A more romantic and inviting room is just one dimmer away.
Uttermost Lamps and Lighting Nipa Palm Accent Lamp 29375-1
Lamps Can Wow
There are moments when you want to use lamps to blend with the rest of your decorative pieces. There are moments also when you want it to become the star of the show.
If you have no idea about how to use a lamp, then you’re not alone. Many people also do not have an idea on how to choose the right lamp for their home. Lamps that are used in the living room are for display, meaning, they are meant to be seen by everyone.
Living rooms are also areas where people hold activities and where they converse so you would want to study how you can use lamps there. Most lamps are ambient lights though – when used as a spotlight – they can also be used as an accent light.
The lamp has to be placed in an area where you and your guests won’t have to duck when you move around.
In the bedroom, it is always useful to have an overhead lamp. This can be done by using a floor lamp and having it placed beside your nightstand. If not, the good ol’ bedside lamp would do. This should be able to highlight the framed photo on your nightstand or the stack of novels that you have lovingly collected.
Tags: accent light, accent lighting, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Accents, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Lighting | Comments Off on Accent Lighting Explained
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