Light is key to the way we function day to day. It affects our mood, it tells us when to wake and when to go to bed, it is an external clock that automatically triggers our minds. It defines an ambience, it highlights, makes plants grow, and can create an atmosphere of warmth. Lighting says a lot — it can make guests feel welcome and heighten a romantic interlude. It sets the stage for entertainment and has the ability to direct your attention. It provides security and a sense of piece and calm. People may fear the dark, but no one fears the light.
Halls and staircases
The hallway conveys the first impression of a home's interior. Centre a traditional chandelier, contemporary pendant, or transitional close-to-ceiling fixture in your hallway to provide basic illumination and create a welcoming atmosphere.
Make sure to size the decorative fixture to the space. Not all foyers can accommodate a large chandelier, so make sure the size proportions are correct.
Choosing the right size chandelier for your room
When choosing a new chandelier, numbers play an important role. Use the numbers here to help you decide what is right for your room.
If the room is smaller than 10' by 10', a 17" to 20" diameter chandelier would be the right size. If the room is about 12' x 12', a 26" or 27" chandelier would look right. If the room is about 14' x 14', choose a 24" to 36" chandelier.
A chandelier should hang about 30" from the surface of the table to ensure good lighting and no bumped heads.
A chandelier should be about 12" narrower than the width of the table over which it hangs.
Living area
Enhance your room's ambience, dramatise wall textures, accent artwork, or just provide general illumination for your living room. A variety of different types of lighting fixtures will work for both your general lighting and accent lighting needs. Use recessed lighting to light a general area. This is preferred because the light source is concealed and you can also have those lights on dimmers to create a different ambience and add table lamps as they are a must for your living room or throughout a house. They are not only decorative pieces, but are ideal sources of task lighting for reading or playing games.
Kitchen
The kitchen is often the busiest part of the house. Not only are your meals prepared here, but your family and guests gather here as well. Sufficient and adequate lighting is a must for performing all your culinary needs, helping your kids with their homework, and reading the paper.
Mounted downlights are an excellent way to create additional general lighting. You can also use undercabinet lighting to help prevent shadows on the counters, while adding critical light to the workspace. Fluorescent undercabinet fixtures are also a cost efficient lighting source. The size of a light feature above an island or breakfast counter should be roughly 12" less than the diameter of the table.
Bathrooms
Bathroom lighting is probably the last place people want to invest time and money. Use several recessed downlights or decorative surface-mounted fixtures for areas over 100 square feet. You can try to mount one fixture over the mirror to light a bathroom, but be aware it can cause shadows on the face. If using recessed lighting, avoid creating shadows by not mounting them directly over the mirror. Adding wall brackets to the side of the mirror is one of the best way to eliminate shadows on the face.
Laurent Billiet
La Maison Chic residential and commercial interior design
Phone (086 ) 2242328 www.lamaisonchic.ie
