Home Decorating with Lights - Hints & Tips.

When it comes to home decorating, lighting proves just as important as paint colour. To attain a particular mood, and transform your house into a home, quality lighting is at the top of the list. Proper use of lighting techniques, allows residents to perform tasks without eyestrain and creates a warm, comfortable feel.

When lighting a room, remember that you will need more than one type of light. Namely there are 3 categories, that you will need to consider:

1. General Lighting:
   1. General lighting provides an area with overall illumination. Also known as ambient lighting.
   2. Ambient lighting radiates a comfortable level of brightness, enabling one to see and walk about safely.
   3. It can be accomplished with chandeliers, ceiling oyster lights or wall-mounted fixtures, recessed downlights, track lights, and with outdoor post lights around your home.
   4. A basic form of lighting that replaces sunlight, general lighting is fundamental to a lighting plan.


2. Task Lighting:
   1. Task lighting helps you perform specific tasks such as reading, sewing, cooking, homework, hobbies, games, or balancing your chequebook.
   2. It can be provided by track lighting, pendant lighting, table lamps and desk lamps.
   3. Task lighting should be free of distracting glare and shadows and should be bright enough to prevent eyestrain.


3. Accent Lighting:
   1. Accent lighting adds drama to a room by creating visual interest.
   2. As part of a decorating scheme, it is used to spotlight paintings, houseplants, sculptures, and other prized possessions, or to highlight the texture of a wall, drapery or outdoor landscaping.
   3. Accent lighting requires at least three times as much light on the focal point as the general lighting around it.
   4. This usually is provided by surface mounted spotlights, recessed gimble downlights, and indoor & outdoor wall-mounted lights.

Strategically utilising the 3 types of lighting (mentioned above), will help your home look more attractive.

To ascertain effective lighting, please consider the following:

• Use light to create an attractive living room.

  
  • To create a focal point.
    Tip - Utilising a recessed directional downlight above a fireplace will make stone and brick surfaces look more intricate.
    Tip - Highlight paintings with low-voltage spot lights or wall mounted picture lights, which shine a warm light directly on the painting, family portrait, etc.
  • Create zones within rooms.
    Tip - Place floorlamps behind arm chairs and chaise lounges to provide light for reading or other activities.

• Brighten up your kitchen.

  
  • Lighting the entire space.
    Tip - An oyster light will allow adequate general lighting. Nowadays, T5 electronic oyster lights are a much desired option.
    Tip - Downlights have always been a popular choice. Downlights are available in various power setups, the most common being 12v Low Voltage, and CFL (compact fluorescent) energy saver down lights.
  • Supplement lighting.
    Tip - Place track lights above the stove and pendant lights over sink areas and island benches. This will help you see when your onions have browned, and that your pots are clean.
    Tip - Highlight your bench space with under cabinet lights. This will not only give you directional light, but also a statement of sophistication.

• Create an elegant feel in the dining room.

  
  • Making a lighting statement.
    Tip - Use a chandelier or drop pendant light above the dining room table to provide functional light. There is a wide variety to choose from modern, contempary, glass, crystal chandeliers and pendants and there is also a wide variety of solid brass pendants to really suit those homes with ceiling roses.
    Tip - In order to highlight any centrepieces, you may use a batten fix (sometimes referred to as "close to ceiling - ctc").

• Use lighting to create a calming bedroom.

  • Lighting the entire space.
    Tip - The use of downlights has been a very practical choice for bedroom general lighting.
    Tip - An old favourite has been the ceiling fan. While creating light, it also releases the calming effect from the swift fan blades.
  • Various lighting purposes within a single room.
    Tip - Table lamps can be used as a reading light.
    Tip - Upon entering the bedroom, wall lights create a sense of security when placed at eye level.
    Tip - Make-up lights (also referred to as surface mounted spotlights) mounted above dressing tables provide directional and concentrated light.

• Do you have a spare room in your home?

  
  • Will this space be used for a billiard table?
    Tip - Always allow a minimum space of 1200mm between every side of the billiard table and the walls. Depending on the size of the billiard table, this will determine the size of the billiard table light. Billiard tables are also known as pool tables and snooker tables.
  • Will this space be used as a childrens play room?
    Tip - To keep the room safe from flying footballs, and the enthusiastic amateur gymnist, recessed ceiling downlights are a true winner.