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How to change the mood and atmosphere in your home with lighting
The interior lighting of any home space contributes hugely to
the atmosphere within that space and therefore to your mood
whilst you inhabit that space. Every area of your living space
needs a mixture of lighting styles, different ones for task
lighting, background lighting and ambient lighting. Every room
that has a theme applied to it or a particular task performed in
it will need as much thought put into the lighting of the room
as goes into the décor, furniture and appliances within that
room.
The traditional lighting of a room, a pendant and bulb from the
ceiling and a wall switch is fast becoming a thing of the past.
Whilst wall switches still remain in the majority of rooms many
have been replaced by a dimmer switch, automatic movement
sensing switch, or daylight detection systems that turn lights
on automatically as dusk approaches.
Thought for the environment has also influenced many people to
replace their old tungsten light bulb for a modern mini
fluorescent that consumes approximately 15% of the energy for
the same light output.
Halogen lighting is on the increase. Popular in kitchens and
offices where more directional light is required it can also be
used to highlight a painting or sculpture. It gives a brighter,
crisper light than the traditional tungsten light bulb and
highlights features far more clearly.
When completing the design for a room it may be beneficial to
include some form of lighting display. Not complex pyrotechnics
but a simple fibre optic lamp or a tried and trusted favourite
such as a lava lamp, now found far more commonly as they make a
come back into fashion after their hey-day in the 1960's. Not to
everyone's taste but the lighting of an aquarium can make an
interesting talking point within a room where social gatherings
are held. It provides for the practical needs of the inhabitants
of the aquarium whilst also providing a focal point for the
room. It is also a starting point for conversation and provides
ambient light within the room. There is the proven relational
benefit of unwinding in front of a suitably lit aquarium.
Never forget that natural light is the most precious form of
light that comes into your house. It can be enhanced using glass
ornaments and reflected around using mirrors. The coverings that
you use at your windows can affect the amount of natural light
that is available. Blinds can help protect from direct sunlight
but still reflect light into a room whilst curtains should be
tied back away from windows to allow as much light as possible
to enter the room. A more traditional form of lighting is the
candle. It can be used on special occasions over a romantic meal
to complete the atmosphere in a room or a scented candle can be
used to disguise unwelcome odours from pets, smokers and other
sources. Some older antique lighting fixtures can be given a new
lease of life by having them converted to use candle effect
bulbs that appear to flicker in the same way that the original
candles would have but do not bring with them the problem of
lighting many candles and replacing them on a regular basis.
However you decide to light your home ensure that you plan it
out properly before you do it and always use a competent person
when carrying out alterations to lighting and electricity supply.
About the author:
Karen Hughes is an interior decor consultant, get further
lighting ideas at Lighting Capital this
is your first stop for information about lighting.
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