Home Improvement Tips » Task Lighting http://trigon-sheehan.com Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:01:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Lighting a Large Room http://trigon-sheehan.com/lighting-a-large-room.html http://trigon-sheehan.com/lighting-a-large-room.html#comments Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:23:16 +0000 administrator http://trigon-sheehan.com/?p=975 lighting-large-room
Of course windows go a long way towards bringing light into a room, but when your natural light is limited you can brighten up a room in so many other ways as well. Wall color and accent colors can add to the illusion of a lighter, brighter space, and well-placed lighting fixtures can really increase the brightness factor in any room.

Helping Mother Nature

Start with your natural lighting. Make sure that your windows are clean and dress them with fabrics that do not obstruct the light. Light colored fabrics and sheers work well. Hanging mirrors on the wall opposite a window helps amplify the natural light that is already coming into the room.

To light the entire room, track lighting and recessed lighting are sensible options. Track lighting can light an entire space or be directed at a specific area of the room, whereas recessed lighting is installed flush on the ceiling, providing an even layer of light throughout the room. For the most natural light effect choose soft, white incandescent light bulbs in your fixtures.

An effective way to brighten a room either subtly or dramatically is to bounce light off of the ceiling. To do this you can use wall sconces, light fixtures hidden in crown molding or even tall lamps. Lamps also are great for providing task lighting for reading or working.

Brighten with Color

By painting your walls in pale colors like neutrals or pastels, you allow the light to bounce off of the walls making the room appear brighter. By keeping wallpaper patterns simple and floor coverings on the lighter side, you increase the amount of light moving around the room.

This neutral backdrop also gives you an ideal opportunity to decorate your room. Darker woods and fabrics will really stand out as they contrast the pale colors of the walls and floor, and in turn they make the room seem even brighter.

Accessories Can Brighten any Room

Adding shiny materials into the room through your accents and accessories will go a long way towards keeping the room feeling light and airy. By incorporating furniture with highly polished surfaces like glass or metal tables the room will feel light and full of movement as light bounces from the walls to the furniture to the mirrors to the ceiling to the floor and back to the walls. Adding silver and crystal accessories will further enhance the light energy in the room.

Reflective tiles around a fireplace help brighten the focal point of a room. Mirrored surfaces can also be strategically placed beside light sources to reflect brightness back into the room.

Then choose some of your favorite artwork or a brightly patterned area rug, and pull an accent color or two from them to use in your pillows, vases, lamps and centerpieces. Adding plants and flowers to a space can also help add brightness to any room.

]]> http://trigon-sheehan.com/lighting-a-large-room.html/feed 0 Living Room Decorating Ideas – 5 Steps To A Beautiful Living Room http://trigon-sheehan.com/living-room-decorating-ideas-5-steps-to-a-beautiful-living-room.html http://trigon-sheehan.com/living-room-decorating-ideas-5-steps-to-a-beautiful-living-room.html#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:58:07 +0000 Admin http://bankratescompared.com/?p=783 living-room-decorThere are many ways to decorate your living room. As this is usually the room where a family entertains guests and spends time together, much thought usually goes into the design. Sometimes, however, inspiration is hard to come by. Here are a few living room decorating ideas to help get your creative juices flowing.

1. Determine your design style. Look through home decorating magazines and see what you like. You may have thought that you were a country gal, but find yourself drawn to the clean lines of a modern design. Even if you like both styles, you can mix them to create a style that is your own. You can choose country items that have a more modern edge, and modern design pieces with country flair. This way you can achieve a look that you love without settling on one style.

2. One living room decorating idea that is sure to spice up your space is to choose a bold wall color. Many people shy away from saturated colors, but these are the very hues that can make a dramatic statement about your personality. If you do not want to paint all of the walls in your living room a bold color, you can paint an accent wall. These walls are great to make an impression without overwhelming the room. You can then use accessories to tie the color into the rest of the room.

3. Updating your window treatments will also go a long way towards improving the atmosphere. Choose drapes or curtains that compliment the design style you have chosen for the rest of your room. Using rich looking fabrics on the windows will add a feeling of luxury to your room, and help to bring all of your living room decorating ideas together.

4. Another key element in living room decorating ideas is lighting. Make sure your lighting is adequate, but not overpowering. Don’t use florescent lights as they are very harsh, and a living room is all about mood. Use an updated overhead fixture to provide general light, and a few lamps around the room for task lighting. Another lighting aspect that is often overlooked is the use of candles. Not only are they decorative, but they provide mood lighting as well. You can get candles and holders in all different colors and sizes to help achieve your living room decorating ideas.

5. On thing not to neglect is putting art on your walls. This helps to bring the room together and adds a personal touch. You can choose painted canvases that can look great all on their own, or a framed print in shades that compliment your color scheme. Another great wall art idea is photographs. These can be family pictures or perhaps a black and white landscape or city sky line. The key here is not to overdo it. Keep it simple and uncrowded. If your walls are too busy, it will detract from the overall atmosphere you are working to create.

Once you get started, your living room decorating ideas will flow. Begin by determining your style, and then go on a hunt for the perfect things with which to fill your home. It will be fun and the end result will be something you can regard with pride.

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