When you think about interior design, you could be forgiven for associating it completely with stylish décor, elegant furnishings and the latest Pantone Colour of the Year. In fact, it’s easy to get carried away by on-trend design concepts and forget that beautiful interiors are dependent on how they are perceived, quite literally, by you and the visitors to your home. This is where light – both natural and artificial – plays a very important role, and you should be aware that designers take this into consideration when they go to work on a property. The location of your home, which direction the building faces and your lifestyle choices all play a part in determining an expert’s final interior design scheme. With this in mind, consider these important factors if you’re planning to give your interior a makeover.
Sunshine and daylight
With the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, the various rooms in your home will likely get their share of natural light at different times of the day, depending on the season and the orientation of your dwelling. Normally, south-facing rooms benefit from plenty of light, sometimes too much, while north-facing ones struggle unless there is light coming through from another area or windows on walls facing in another direction. It’s important to make the most of natural light because it has many health benefits, and smart designers know a few tricks to do just that.
Window treatments
Heavy drapes are disappearing from designers’ schemes these days and often being replaced by window shutters. Drapes tend to block daylight, even when curtains are opened, and they have to be drawn if sunlight becomes a nuisance. Shutters with manoeuvrable louvers, on the other hand, can be adjusted very precisely to filter the light in just the way that you want it. They are also a superb showcase for your windows, emphasizing the clean lines of frames and maximizing the appearance of space in your rooms.
Mirrors
Another element that makes the most of natural daylight is the careful positioning of mirrors. Placed to reflect the light, they open up spaces and make them look bigger. This is true even if they reflect artificial light, as long as it’s not too harsh. For instance, if you have dinner guests and your dining table is lit by candles near a mirror, then the effect of the soft lights can be both charming and romantic.
Your lighting plan
Once you’re certain that your serotonin levels are being boosted by the vitamin D from the sunshine filtering in your home, it’s time to consider artificial lighting. Plan this in such a way as to provide lighting that is appropriate for working areas, eating places, and relaxing spaces. If need be, consult professional light installers for further recommendations regarding enhancing your lighting decorations.
Additionally, you might want to keep in mind the ‘energy cost’ factor that comes with such expansive decoration. For example, many from Australia are often known to prefer LED lights to incandescent lights. Since energy costs are higher than ever before, homeowners happen to opt for energy-efficient lighting installation in Sydney and other parts of Australia. Not only does it help them in modernizing their homes without breaking the bank, but also helps in creating a clean and uncluttered look.
If you want, you too can achieve that with different types of lighting designs. For example, for task lighting (that does exactly as you would expect and provides focused illumination that is activity-specific), you can use LEDs. Even for lighting kitchen cupboards and countertops for food preparation, or a reading lamp, you can choose LEDs that can save your eyes from strains.
Lighting in layers
Most rooms in your home will have multiple uses. Kids might do their homework at the kitchen table, for example, so as well as creating a relaxing ambiance for dining, you will also need to make sure that the lighting is conducive to studying. The solution is to use different light sources to meet a variety of needs. Make the most of a room’s shape and size by uplighting or using pendants to make it feel larger or adapting cluster lighting to make bigger rooms feel cozier.
Bits and pieces
There are one or two additional accessories that will help you style your lighting to suit your preferences. For example, dimmer switches have become something of a godsend to interior designers and their clients, as they allow you to have complete control of overhead or general lighting and any uplighter, downlighter, or individual lamp in your home. In today’s eco-conscious world, light bulbs have achieved a more important position in terms of lighting design, as people think a little harder about wattage in terms of how bright that they need their spaces to be. At the same time, consideration is being given to the desired atmosphere, colour, temperature, energy efficiency, and any other design aspirations that you may have.
Use spotlights to direct attention to your favourite features and make guests feel welcome by highlighting cheery, comfortable spots where they can relax. If you maximise the natural daylight in your home and make sure that your artificial lighting designs meet your needs, then you are well on your way to enhancing whichever interior design trends that you choose to follow.
