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

Lighting, the Affordable Decorating Alternative

Lighting, the Affordable Decorating Alternative
By Vicki Duong

If you're thinking about redecorating your place but are on a somewhat tight budget, consider flirting with the idea of playing with lighting. Affordable and versatile, lighting is a key element in living; without it we wouldn't be able to see where we're going! On a serious note, as much of a necessity as lighting is to everyday living, lighting can also be used as a decorating accent.

Take for instance, outdoor lighting. Usually porch lights and lamp posts are what people first think of when it comes to this sort of lighting and overlook the decorative possibilities. Landscape lighting such as ground level cannister lights and mini ground torch lanterns are a subtle way to enhance the appearance of your front or back yard. Classier looking than your average glow-in-the-dark lawn gnome, these outdoor lights create a lit pathway and don't disrupt the look of your home during daylight hours.

Planning to recreate a fresh look inside your home? Wall lamps, picture lights and other assortment of wall mounted lighting are perfect for accenting rooms and highlighting family portraits and artwork. A personal favorite of mine are the adjustable cannister-styled spot lights; small in size and easy to install, these lights are bright enough to show off my photography collection and most even come with a dimmer switch - perfect for mood lighting.

Speaking of mood lighting, table and floor lamps make for excellent background lighting. Traditional styled table lamps that feature silk shades and gold leafing accents evoke a romantic ambience, while contemporary styled floor lamps that feature a floor length glass diffuser transform any cocktail party a socialite setting. Now that you're ready to use lighting to your decorative advantage, remember that you should always consider energy cost, wattage, whether it's easy to install, and of course, the mood you wish to evoke.

Start redecorating your home with pendant lighting, lamps and wall sconce, available from Eco-Lights.com.

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