Light It Up

Lighting is a key element in decorating that many people tend to overlook. How you light a room will allow you to create a certain mood, be it bright and cheery, or cozy and romantic. The correct balance of lighting can make or break a room. Keep these important tips in mind when planning your next room.
Spread the light around the room in a triangle. This will ensure that there is lighting where needed for conversation, reading, playing games, or lighting your favorite objects.
Accent lighting provides that extra touch that makes a room sparkle. Create an element of surprise by tucking a small lamp inside a bookcase or china cabinet.
Control the mood of a room with dimmers. Use up lighting to provide a glow in a dark corner. A dark colored room will require more light than a light colored room. You may need to add extra lighting or change to brighter bulbs to accommodate for the wall color.
A good rule of thumb for the size (diameter) of a dining room chandelier would be 1/2 the width of the table plus a minimum of 5 inches. The bottom of the lamp should hang about 30 inches from the table in a room with 8 foot ceilings. For every additional foot of ceiling height, raise the fixture 1 to 3 inches.
Ideally a reading lamp should be situated so that the light pours over the shoulder. If necessary, add a stack of books without the jackets under the lamp to adjust the height of the lamp to maximize light and minimize glare. Do not place a lamp in the center of the table. Adjust side to side, or front to back to address the task at hand.
Kim Boyer, SDP, ODDAA, owner of Kimberly Boyer Interiors, Bucks County Pennsylvania, provides full service interior decorating with specialties in Real Estate Staging and Interior Redesign. Please visit her website or call 267-342-9395 for a complete list of services or to schedule an in-home consultation.
http://www.kimberlyboyerinteriors.com
Open the door to a home you love!