Let There Be Light

By Nanette Catarinella

The holidays are over and the decorations have been packed away for another year. Suddenly, your home feels as gloomy as the gray January days ahead. The holiday lights may be gone, but that doesn’t mean you have to live in the dark.

Proper lighting is a vital component of a well designed room. Lack of adequate lighting is a common decorating dilemma in almost every home that I redesign or stage. It’s also the easiest problem to correct. Clients are often surprised to learn that most rooms should have a minimum of three sources of light and can often accommodate five, seven or more fixtures.

The key to a well lit room is to use a variety of light sources. A careful mixture of general lighting such as ceiling mounted fixtures, task lighting such as table and floor lamps and accent lighting such as spotlights and wall sconces can be combined to enhance the overall illumination of any space.

Here are a few lighting tips to help brighten your home and your mood:

Create a Triangle – Regardless of overhead lighting, use a minimum of three lamps, ideally placed in a triangular formation throughout the room. Install dimmer switches to lamps and fixtures to easily adjust lighting levels to a desired intensity. Use metal can up-lights in dark corners, behind large plants and on top of armoires for added drama.

Consider The Bulb – Different bulbs create different effects. Incandescent bulbs cast a golden tone while fluorescent bulbs create more bluish tones. Halogen bulbs produce a bright white tone, but can get very hot. For the most natural lighting and truest colors, choose the new “natural” or “daylight” bulbs. Always check for recommended wattage for all fixtures.

Adjust the Height – Ideally, a reading lamp should be situated beside a chair so the light can pour over the shoulder. The bottom of the lampshade should be at seated eye level for maximum light and minimum glare. If the lamp is too small, place it on a few hard bound books to raise it.

The Right Size – Keep the scale of the table in mind when selecting a chandelier. Choose a fixture that is approximately ½ the width of the table plus 5 inches and hang it 30” from the top of the table. Add decorative shades to bare candle bulbs to soften the light.

Remember, correct lighting – and abundant lighting – are important to the overall design and mood of every room. Don’t let the post-holiday blahs get you down. Bring more light into your home this winter.
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Nanette Catarinella, owner of Room Styles Interiors, is a certified staging professional, interior decorator, re-designer and career trainer. For more information, call 412-351-2525 or visit the web site at: www.RoomStylesInteriors.com