Sconces – Use of lighting in interior design
When we are considering the decoration of our homes, it can be easy to get inspiration for color schemes, furniture and room design. There are plenty of places to see aspirational bedrooms in interior design magazines, on home improvement TV shows, and by visiting showrooms in a variety of stores. While these can give us an idea for a light fixture or lampshade, it can be more difficult to recreate the effect of carefully placed light sources in our own homes.
With the right lighting, an interior can be greatly enhanced, but equally with too little or too much, colors can be distorted and the effect of other interior design features can be reduced. While most people can’t afford the services of a designer to help them with their decisions, spending a little time planning the lighting for your space can help you get it just right. The good news is that it is positioning, rather than price, that gets the best results.
First of all, it is important to consider the full range of activities that will take place in that particular room. Your lighting choice should be tailored to match these activities. For example; While an overhead light may be adequate for most bathroom activities, you may choose to add wall lights next to or above the bathroom mirror to make it brighter and therefore easier to shave, or apply makeup in that area. In this example, the wall lights would also eradicate the shadows that an overhead light would cast.
In most rooms, it’s a good idea to use multiple light sources to create the right feel. Interior designers often refer to these multiple sources as layers of light. These start with general ambient lighting, with task lighting and/or accent lighting adding additional layers. Let’s explain this in more detail. Ambient lighting is the general lighting of the space. Natural sunlight provides good ambient lighting during the day, but ceiling or wall lights are generally used for ambient lighting when the sunlight has faded.
Task lighting are brighter lights placed in areas where specific tasks that require clear vision will be performed. This could be in the form of a reading lamp or lighting over kitchen countertops. Accent lighting also provides additional light to a specific area. These are lights that highlight a particular feature in the room, such as a painting on the wall, and make it a focal point. Accent lighting can also help distract from less desirable areas of the space!
As the eye is naturally drawn to light, it is good to ensure that no area of the room is left dark and uninviting, in order to make the most of the space. If ambient light leaves an area dim, then adding wall lights to that area can help improve it. Wall lights can provide upward or downward lighting, or with the many options that are currently available, they can even be a design statement in their own right.
If you have multiple light sources, you also have the option to change the feel of the room by changing the combination of lights that come on. As most rooms are used for many different purposes, there are likely to be times when more light is needed for practical reasons, such as the kids doing their homework, but then more ambient lighting is desired for relaxing at night.
Once you have planned where to place your lighting, you need to consider the type of light fixture that would fit into your home. A wide range of lighting fixtures are now available, making it easy to find the right color and style to complement your home’s period, existing furnishings and other design features. You will need to consider some practicalities, such as the size of the light fixture selected for a particular space, and recessed or wall lights may be better in homes with low ceilings. Many High Street stores only carry a limited selection of lighting fixtures that fit in with today’s interior trends. If you’re looking for something specific, or a color that isn’t this season’s trend, then you may have more success with an online lighting specialist like Lights On Lights Off, who can offer a much wider selection.
Lighting is often overlooked, but it is an important consideration for any room as it can have a huge impact on how the interior space works. Remember to plan the activities that will take place in the room and use multiple light sources for best results.