-Kriste Micheline Interiors
Updating your light fixtures will have an immediate design impact on your space because they are so noticeable. It is a design touch that is well worth the investment, and with such a wide range of price points, there is something for everyone.
And with chandeliers being so popular, the right one will be the jewel in the room (like above) and absolutely make it. It’s what will get noticed and remembered by guests and enjoyed by you everyday.
-Jonathan Adler
LAYER YOUR LIGHTING
There are three WAYS to light a room and when you can use all three it will not only add interest but lots of lighting choices for mood and activities. The room above has done it beautifully with an overhead ceiling light, lamps and a plant up-light.
Ceiling fixtures
Lamps
Up-lights
RIGHT LIGHT IN THE RIGHT PLACE
There are three TYPES of lighting depending on what your needs are in a space. Using them well will make your rooms easy to navigate, easy to do activities in, and best of all… beautiful!
General/ambient lighting is the main lighting and provides about 75% of the room’s light. It’s job is to make it easy to walk into a space and navigate around it. For larger rooms, it may it provided by several ceiling fixtures.
Task lighting helps you easily have the light you need for everyday activities – like reading, meal prep, or grooming. So plan your rooms to give you the lighting where you need it for the things you do daily.
Accent lighting brings beautiful things to life in your room from architectural details – like arches, wallpapered ceilings to decor such as artwork and collections.
Here are 4 ideas for adding lighting to your home to decorate, create a mood and light the way for daily tasks!
DIMMER SWITCHES, (Ambient Lighting)
The first thing that people respond to in a room is the mood created by the lighting. So dimmer switches will give you spaces with many moods and uses so take advantage of them everywhere you can. For instance, have a brighter light level in the bathrooms for “mirror time” and low, spa-like lighting for tub soaking time. Brighter lights in bedroom for dressing or reading and lower lights for a romantic feel. Overall, lower light levels make a space feel intimate and cozy and brighter ones more spacious and alive. (And to get practical for a moment, they are energy saving as well!)
UNDER CABINET LIGHTING, (Task Lighting)
For such little light source it does so much! Puts light right where you need it on work surfaces in kitchens and workrooms and leaves a handy glow in the room for quick errands in and out. AND makes it gorgeous at night instead of flat with just overhead lighting.
These are great for accenting large floor plant and creating interesting wall and ceiling shadows. They can even be used on top of tall furniture to cast a glow on the ceiling. (Just be sure to hide the light source.) Or use to highlight architectural features. Especially like the archway lit-up. Beautiful.
Your major artwork will come alive at night when it is lit instead of receding into a shadows around the perimeter of the room . The most effective accent lighting is a small can fixture attached to the ceiling that points right on the art. You will be unaware of the light source and only see your art beautifully highlighted.
