Now that the dark winter evenings are here, lighting becomes even more important. We’ve all seen rooms that look attractive in daylight, but as soon as it gets dark and the lights are switched on, the decor loses its sparkle.
I recall once visiting a client who had an hotel, casino and nightclub in a gloomy-looking building in North Derbyshire. Even on a bright day the decor of the main room looked tired, but when he drew the heavy velour curtains across the windows and turned on the lights, the transformation was amazing. The main lights lit the room with coloured filters, bringing out the rich tones of the wallpaper and drapes, while the spotlights picked up various gold and silver fittings that had not even been noticeable in the daylight.
From what had looked a bit like a 1960s transport cafe in the daylight, the room had become like something out of a fairy tale castle, and of course, this is what mattered. The customers would see it like this when the club was open, would be impressed by the ambience and hopefully spend their money.
We don’t all run that kind of business or have vast and sometimes gloomy rooms, but it’s worth looking very carefully at the lighting, both fixed ceiling and wall lights and free-standing standard lamps and table lights, because even in daylight hours the right kind of lighting can lift gloomy corners and focus the gaze on particular features, maybe special ornaments, feature wallpapers or even a favourite piece of furniture. After dark, the effect can be dramatic.
An interior designer will show you how your room can be made much more sophisticated or exciting and attractive just by changing and focussing the lighting, maybe even just replacing the bulbs. Did you know that there are several types of LED bulbs giving very different lighting effects, from a warm orangey glow right through to an almost clinical white light?
The range of lights and light fittings is enormous, and your designer will probably show you a catalogue with many options. Or visit us at Furniture and Interiors in the Vale where we have a representative range on display in the showroom and photographs of many of the installations we have supplied as part of our design service. Photography is sometimes called “painting with light”, but if you make the right choices you don’t need a photograph – your house can be its own shining example.
By Ellie Bentley @furnitureandinteriorsvale