From Wikimedia
As you probably know, lighting can have a huge effect on the overall appearance of an interior, and this is something you should be thinking about in every space of your home. Whether it’s ambient and background lighting, task lighting for isolated areas, or accent lighting to highlight certain features, you can always tweak the atmosphere of a room with the right application of lighting. If you’re planning an interior makeover any time soon, here are some tips for getting the most out of lighting…
Start with the Dining Room
Lighting is among the most important aspects of the dining room. You should aim to keep it subtle, yet eye-catching. Overhead, bright lights, excluding chandeliers, can be very inappropriate, and really suck the relaxed vibe out of your next dinner party. However, even with aesthetically appealing chandeliers, you should fit a dimmer switch so you can play with the ambiance as you like. The best alternative to glaring, overhead lights is probably wall lights. Setting wall sconces into a mirror creates a wonderful, reflective effect, and spreads a low, warming glow over the walls. Just bear in mind that these should always be installed by a pro.
Be Careful With your Application of Downlighting
Downlighting is something that most people will either love or hate. It can be very helpful and conducive to good interior décor, but only if it’s applied in the right way. When you’re chewing over how to select LED round panels / downlighters, it’s very important that you consider the wattage and output if you want to get the best effect possible. The soft, understated glow that irradiates from downlighters can be great for adding ambience to dining areas and entryways.
Don’t Neglect Spotlights!
Spotlights be an easy way to turn key décor pieces and bits of architectural detail into features and focal points. They can also add an interesting frill to a room when used in the corners, where you usually wouldn’t see any light. Having installed a light here, you can install two different switches, ensuring that the ceiling lights you have can be controlled through a different circuit. Just make sure you’re not going overboard after seeing a few gorgeous pictures of good spotlight application. A tight cluster of spotlights on one area of the ceiling isn’t all that glamorous, and can feel excessive unless you’re mitigating this saturation with a dimmer or something similar.
Have a Mix
Just as you should be mixing up scale and proportion when you’re laying out a room, you should also be aiming for a balanced mix of lighting in a given space. This is where small table lamps, and wall and picture lights can come in extremely handy. Indirect lighting can also be a great way to accent little nooks of a given room. You can use LEDs to light the underside of a footed bathtub, or strips in the corners of bookshelves to highlight whatever you’ve got stored there. Whatever your overarching vision is, don’t become too focussed on just one or two bits of lighting.
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