House Proud: How to get your Lighting Right

Posted by admin on Aug 17, 2011 in Accesories, Articles, Featured | 1 comment

Let there be lighting! And there were ambient dimmer switches. And the ambient dimmer switches cast a pleasant glow over television-watching and seductions in the evening and were turned up to illuminate the crossword of a dreary afternoon.

Not quite as dramatic an opening as the source material, perhaps – but how you light your home has the decisive impact on its appearance. You’ve spent a lot of time and money making sure your dining room is an exact shade of green or yellow so make sure it doesn’t end up looking sickly or outdated due to the wrong lamp.

There are loads of light fittings out there, from the brilliant to the muted, from the colourful to the classic. You’re sure to find the right light for your space, whether you’re updating tired décor or want to build a room from scratch.

Pendant lights

If you want to make a statement with your lighting consider getting pendant lights: they’re long and graceful but pack a serious style punch. Use them as a quirky solution to dark corners in a large room or as a striking focal point.

They’re perfect for lending a modern edge to older buildings with high ceilings, especially in hallways or kitchens. Some versions can be raised or lowered according to preference – very handy for a dining area that doubles as a study or place for doing homework. Bring the lights down for a focused spotlight and bring them up out of the way when it’s time to eat.

Wall lights

Lights with wall fixtures are a great alternative to bedside lamps. If you’re a night owl and your partner likes to nod off early why not get wall lights with independent switches on either side of your bed?

They’re also a fantastic way to create ambient lighting without a dimmer switch – use them in addition to a main light for extra brightness or use them alone for softer, more romantic lighting.

Flush lights

A basic flush light is a frosted glass dome that sits against your ceiling – they’re very effective for lighting larger and smaller rooms. Find a cool, understated design and illuminate every corner without letting the fixture dominate the space. If your décor is minimalist with lots of pale pastels, flush lighting is the perfect way to enhance the size of a room without making the colours look washed out.

Ambient

Ambient lighting is controlled by a dial rather than a switch – instead of turning your lights off and on, you raise and dim the level of illumination by degrees. It’s fantastic for living rooms or dining areas: any rooms that are multipurpose or where you entertain. For dinner parties, dim the lights for an intimate feel; for practical activities, avoid eye-strain by turning up the lights.

Spotlights and downlights

Spotlights and downlights are small but effective; they’re particularly striking when used in kitchens and bathrooms. You can place them in a pattern on your ceiling or use them to emphasize interesting design features by hiding the fitting under cabinets or around mirrors.

An original twist – paint your ceiling a pale blue or green and install recessed downlights in silver or white. It gives a cool, modern feel without being overwhelming. You can also make dingy narrow corridors into tunnels of light by putting recessed lighting into the walls.