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| Thank you for visiting Quality Silk Plants Home interior decorating tips and ideas page. We will have new a tip or idea for you each month so keep checking back and don't forget to add Quality Silk Plants to your favorites. We will show you some inexpensive and innovative ideas on how to give your home that lift you've been looking for without breaking your piggy bank. |
Interior Decorating Tips for June
Lighting as an Accessory
Most of us don’t think of lighting as an accessory, instead putting it in the category of
necessary evils, like the vacuum cleaner. Done correctly, lighting is actually much more
exciting than cleaning utensils. Used correctly, lighting can add pop and sizzle to a room. Its
role may be subtle, but it’s the final piece to your decorating scheme. It can be used to
highlight those items of particular interest and downplay those not-so-special aspects of a
room. It can turn a cold, sterile environment into a welcoming retreat. Let’s begin by
identifying the different types of lighting and discuss each one’s role in interior decorating.
General lighting, sometimes known as “overall” lighting is the type of lighting we’re all most
familiar with. Unless you never plan to clean, this one’s a necessity. If you don’t have an
overhead light that illuminates the entire room, you’ll need enough lamps or daylight from
windows to accomplish this role. Torchiere (pronounced tor `shair) or uplights reflect off a
light-colored ceiling creating another source of overall lighting. My personal favorite is an
overhead with a dimmer switch. This allows you to dim the light fixture and use the light as
an overall “wash” of light when it’s not needed at full strength. Recommended wattage is 60
-100 watt with 60 watt bulbs used in multi socketed light fixtures.
Second, but just as important is the task lighting: light directed to areas used for reading,
sewing, writing, grooming, and TV watching, etc. It can be in the form of floor lamps, desk
lamps, wall lights or even recessed ceiling and track lights. Fixtures taking 75 watt – 100-
watt bulbs are recommended for task lighting. A light that reflects in your TV screen is an
annoying distraction. For TV viewing, you need a light off to the side and towards the rear of
the room to avoid eyestrain while watching television.
Third, and the most fun from a decorating standpoint, is the accent or mood lighting. This is
used to accent items of particular interest and creates a cozy ambience in the room. It can
come in the form of ceiling spotlights (track or can), low wattage accent lamps, candlelight,
wall sconces, lights hidden behind valances, uplights or torchiere lamps, and picture lamps.
25 watt- 40-watt bulbs are the most commonly used.
The following tips are meant to help you with function, style, and scale when redecorating or
adding new lamps.
Functional tips:
• Light colored walls reflect more light; dark walls absorb more light so more lighting is
needed in a darkly painted room.
Lighting as an Accessory
Most of us don’t think of lighting as an accessory, instead putting it in the category of
necessary evils, like the vacuum cleaner. Done correctly, lighting is actually much more
exciting than cleaning utensils. Used correctly, lighting can add pop and sizzle to a room. Its
role may be subtle, but it’s the final piece to your decorating scheme. It can be used to
highlight those items of particular interest and downplay those not-so-special aspects of a
room. It can turn a cold, sterile environment into a welcoming retreat. Let’s begin by
identifying the different types of lighting and discuss each one’s role in interior decorating.
General lighting, sometimes known as “overall” lighting is the type of lighting we’re all most
familiar with. Unless you never plan to clean, this one’s a necessity. If you don’t have an
overhead light that illuminates the entire room, you’ll need enough lamps or daylight from
windows to accomplish this role. Torchiere (pronounced tor `shair) or uplights reflect off a
light-colored ceiling creating another source of overall lighting. My personal favorite is an
overhead with a dimmer switch. This allows you to dim the light fixture and use the light as
an overall “wash” of light when it’s not needed at full strength. Recommended wattage is 60
-100 watt with 60 watt bulbs used in multi socketed light fixtures.
Second, but just as important is the task lighting: light directed to areas used for reading,
sewing, writing, grooming, and TV watching, etc. It can be in the form of floor lamps, desk
lamps, wall lights or even recessed ceiling and track lights. Fixtures taking 75 watt – 100-
watt bulbs are recommended for task lighting. A light that reflects in your TV screen is an
annoying distraction. For TV viewing, you need a light off to the side and towards the rear of
the room to avoid eyestrain while watching television.
Third, and the most fun from a decorating standpoint, is the accent or mood lighting. This is
used to accent items of particular interest and creates a cozy ambience in the room. It can
come in the form of ceiling spotlights (track or can), low wattage accent lamps, candlelight,
wall sconces, lights hidden behind valances, uplights or torchiere lamps, and picture lamps.
25 watt- 40-watt bulbs are the most commonly used.
The following tips are meant to help you with function, style, and scale when redecorating or
adding new lamps.
Functional tips:
• Light colored walls reflect more light; dark walls absorb more light so more lighting is
needed in a darkly painted room.
| Barbara Craig is an interior decorating consultant specializing in the finishing touches that bring personality and style to your home. If you have questions regarding interior decorating, please feel free to contact Barbara at UnderTheArbor.com Your question will be answered personally and your inquiry may appear in the upcoming Q & A column of her online newsletter. |
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