No matter how many decorations you have or how stunning your room looks, nothing makes or breaks a room more than lighting. While this sounds cliché, good lighting is certainly everything. It affects the mood, improves the design, defines the spaces, and sets the overall ambiance of a room. In fact, it’s never easy to get the lighting right, but if you do, you’ll be surprised at what it can do to your interiors.
Interior designers have access to different tools to create the best design schemes. Among them is lighting, one of the most important design factors which are often overlooked since people don’t recognize its potential to transform any area. In reality, lighting can turn a boring house into a warm and inviting living space while allowing the owner’s personality to reflect through.
Homeowners who want to minimize their lighting sources go the extra mile by installing external blinds and awnings. These cutting-edge innovations come with anti-glare features that absorb solar heat energy while reducing interior room temperatures. This is very helpful for those who live in sunny and warm areas and want to limit the glare to their indoor space.
Effective lighting means putting light where it’s needed and wanted. So if you want to transform your space through proper lighting, below are some ways to do it.
Go for light colours
Introduce lighter and cooler colours to your ceilings and walls by choosing softer shades of white over dark block colours and statement wallpapers. White shades can easily transform a dark room into a brighter space since they’re better at reflecting natural light than other colours.
You can also fill the house with light greys to form an illusion of light. This is perfect for homeowners who aren’t big fans of an all-white look but prefer cooler and relaxing tones. When picking light greys, make sure to stick to one colour because going too dark will produce the opposite effect.
Those who lean towards wooden floors, furniture, and trimmings use light or warm browns than something dark such as espresso. Remember that the darker the furniture, the darker the area as well.
Most people mistake that using light colours around the house means using bright white paint on walls, making a room feel cold. Instead, go for an off-white shade for a warmer effect. You can also paint the ceiling with a lighter shade than the walls to form an illusion of space and height. Another trick is to use satin-finish paint to reflect the natural light into the room.
Use glossy surfaces
Did you know that the higher the gloss level, the higher the light reflectance? This means more light will bounce off on a shiny surface or wall painted with glossier paint. Basically, a high-gloss paint creates a mirror-like effect to enable light to reflect around the room, making the space look bigger and brighter.
This doesn’t mean you should use high-gloss paint throughout the walls, but you’re still free to do this if you have a relatively darker room. Use glossy paint on the walls to create a stronger glare for the artificial lighting. If you’re a big fan of matte, go for semi-gloss eggshell sheen. There’s no need to go for cream or white paints; any pale colour such as greys and blues will do the work.
For the kitchen, most homeowners make the mistake of painting the walls and fixtures in warmer colours. The secret to making it more spacious is to pick a light colour scheme and stay consistent through shelves, cabinet doors, ceilings, and walls.
Another technique is to add decors and furniture with reflective surfaces to allow natural light to diffuse from surfaces. Look for accessories with glass, metallic, and mirrored features to maximize the light and incorporate stylish touches for your home.
Choose artificial light wisely
Not all houses are lucky enough to have constant access to natural light. If all else fails, use artificial light to boost brightness and enhance the natural light around the house. When adding artificial light, focus on places where light cannot reach, such as alcoves, corridors, and awkward corners.
Dimmer switches are perfect for rooms and home offices to have better control over the light intensity. For the LED bulbs, go for warm white to create a relaxing and cosy space. You can also add brighter bulbs for the bathroom to keep you awake when preparing for work or school.
While windows and walls make a huge part of the house, the lighting plays an essential role in bringing every room to life. Your lighting choice will not only transform your space but also affect your well-being as well as the power bills!
Don’t be in a hurry to apply these changes to your home. You can start on a small portion of the house and experiment on the best lighting that works for your space and personal taste.