Shed Some Light

So many people take lighting for granted.  They simply plug in a lamp or flip a switch and figure the room is good to go.  Believe me, it’s not!  Lighting is too often neglected and taken for granted, yet it is a critical element in a redesign.  In the theatre spot lights, hanging lights, floor uplights and colored lights set the mood and  enable the audience to see the action.  Proper home lighting does the same.  Good interior lighting supports the function of a room, instantly warms the space visually and creates a mood when used properly – all of which sets the stage for your life activities!

Light Sources

Lighten up when you redesign!  You should combine a variety of  lighting sources in order to create a great atmosphere in any room.  The three key lighting sources that should be present in every room are noted below.  Make sure you include them in your redesign – don’t underestimate their impact – and don’t rely on just one, use them all!

All three types of light sources (general, task, accent) are used in this room. Photo lampsplus.com.

• General and ambient lighting- general lighting is usually planned and wired into the home when it is built.  Ceiling mounted lights provide general illumination and ambient lighting is indirect lighting that throws background light against a wall or ceiling, reflecting the light back into the room(recessed ceiling fixtures on the perimeter of the room or uplights placed on the floor and directed towards the ceiling).

A task light next to the bed is perfect for reading. Photo bhg.com.

• Task lighting- directs a pool of light specifically where it’s needed in order to perform tasks (reading, writing, sewing, cooking, grooming) and accent lights are used to brighten dark corners and highlight features and accessories.  Table lamps, floor lamps, plug-in wall sconces and under-the-counter strips provide task lighting.

Accent lighting highlights a piece of framed art. Photo lampsplus.com.

• Accent and mood lighting – accent lighting creates interest and drama, like focusing a spot of light on a single piece of art, and mood lighting creates a sense of soft, inviting coziness or sparkle and excitement - candles, a fireplace and dimmers all help set the mood.

Light These Areas

When adding lighting to your redesigned room make sure to spread it throughout the space, including these areas:

• Conversation area – use the existing general lighting in the room and support it with floor lamps or table lamps situated near the sofa or chairs in the sitting area.
• Secondary activity areas- in a reading area make certain you provide a lamp with enough wattage for easy reading (at least 60 watts).  For writing, sewing and grooming make sure the task lights do not cast shadows.
• Dark corners- Use uplights to brighten a dark corner or put one behind a large piece of furniture to create an interesting glow.
• Bookcases – include a small low-watt lamp on a shelf or attach book shelf lights to the top of each case.
• Plants- I love the drama an uplight creates at night shining through the foliage of a large houseplant or potted tree.

Creative Light

If your lighting isn’t quite perfect get creative to help improve it:

• Use a stack of large hard-bound books to elevate a table lamp if it’s a bit too short for the seating area.  This also works to help “level” the lamp heights if one of your seating area lamps is higher than the other.
• If there’s no way to add an accent light to a piece of wall art, place a potted plant or tree near near the art and use an uplight behind the foliage to help light the wall and highlight the art.

Candle light sets a romantic or relaxing mood. Photo potterybarn.com

• Cluster chunky pillar candles or votives for mood lighting or fill a non-working fireplace with candles (great for summer time too!)
• Add a mirror to help reflect light from a lamp into the room.
• Place battery operated “puck” lights under bookcase shelves or kitchen cabinets.

Use Art in Your Redesign

Art for your redesign is anything that adds to the flavor, interest and mood of the space and can be hung on the walls (non-hanging art is considered an accessory and will be addressed in the next step).  Consider showcasing traditional pictures and photos but remember other pieces will also personalize and add interest to your room.  Think about the non-traditional art you may own, including quilts and textiles, plates, baskets, musical instruments, mirrors, sconces or shelves, and architectural relics (iron work, corbels, plaster reliefs).

Select the Best

It’s unlikely all your art will look good in the same room – so edit what you have in order to select the pieces best suited for the particular room you are redesigning.  Save the rest of the art for other rooms in your home.  To select the best pieces for each room consider:

• Theme - make sure the piece supports the feeling of the room

The color of the art works with the room and the contents reinforce the casual, natural theme of the room. Photo bhg.com.

• Color- do the colors in the art work with the colors in the room?  They don’t have to match – in fact, a brightly colored quilt or painting might add a little zing to a totally neutral room – but the colors need to look good together so both the room and the art are show well. 
• Shape – reinforce some of the shapes in the room for continuity but realize that you can add interest by including a few pieces that counter the predominant shapes (an oval mirror or round plates might add softness to a room filled with square furniture)
• Size – Select items in scale with the surroundings.  For example, don’t hang a small round port-hole mirror over a long straight sofa.

Iron architectural piece adds texture and interest to a wall and takes advantage of the wall height. Photo bhg.com.

• Texture – textured art like baskets, rugs, and architectural pieces add an interesting depth to a room with 4 flat walls.
• Frames – consider their color and material and whether they support or distract from the room.

How to Hang Art

I’ve written previously about how to hang art in Tips for Hanging Art in Your Home and How to Hang Art at the Right Height.  Terrie’s written about Wall Gallery Displays.  These posts provide great detail about hanging art and I strongly suggest rereading them before hanging your art in this redesign.  Generally tips to remember:

A collection of plates is the right scale for a tall, narrow wall and takes advantage of the room's height. Photo bhg.com.

• Use the room’s architectural features (window moldings, doorways, trim, wainscoting, etc.) to evaluate lines for the art placement
• Consider the pitch of the walls and the height of your furniture
• Keep pairs and themes together when grouping art
• Relate art to furniture placement

Next Step

Next week I’ll introduce the final step in the redesign process.  Step #5 addresses placement of accessories and plants.  This final step makes your redesign come alive!  Meanwhile, if you’ve got questions or comments about today’s post or any of the other steps we’ve covered so far, simply click on the Comments link at the end of this post (just after the ads) or email me at solutions@yourdecoratinghotline.com.

Dimmer switches help create ambience in any room.

Photo via flickr.com

My husband and I installed dimmers in almost every room of our home – the laundry room and the closets are the exceptions.    It’s an easy task that takes only a few minutes of your time but rewards you with big results.  Note:  dimmer switches are for incandescent lights – they do not work on fluorescent lights and if you have a low voltage lighting fixture with its own transformer you will need a dimmer specific to low voltage. 

Tools for the Task

• a flathead screwdriver
• wire cutter and wire stripper
• a circuit tester
• a dimmer switch kit (sold at most hardware stores) – styles include sliders (my personal favorite), pads, switch toggle with a slide on the side, and a rotary style (older and some stores no longer carry them)

This slider style dimmer is my personal favorite.

 Photo via flickr.com

Step-by-Step

1. Turn Off the Power – flip the switch on the circuit breaker to the “off” position.

2.  Remove the Switch Plate- use the flathead screwdriver to remove the 2 screws holding the switch plate.

3. Safety First- even though you’ve turned off the circuit breaker, use the circuit tester to make sure the switch is not receiving power.

4.  Remove the Old Light Switch – remove the screws holding the switch to the wall box and then  disconnect the wires on the switch- either unscrew the wires or press down on the release button if the switch has push-in connectors.

5.  Connect the Wires to the Dimmer Switch - make sure you have about 3/8″ exposed wire for each connection.  Match the black wires on the back of the new dimmer switch to the ends of each of the black wires in the wall box and twist a wire connector over the ends of each pair of wires, making certain no bare wire remains exposed.  Now match the ends ground wire (usually a bare copper wire or a green covered wire) to the green wire on the back of the dimmer switch mechanism and twist on a wire connector cap to hold all the wires together.

6. Install the Dimmer Switch in the Wall Box -make sure the “on” side of the switch is up and place the switch in the wall box and secure with screws.

7.  Attach the Switch Plate.

8.  Turn the Power on – flip the switch at the breaker box to the “on” position and enoy your new dimmer.

See for Yourself How Easy it is:

 Basically all dimmers connect in the same manner – but be sure to read the information included with the dimmer you purchase.  The video below provides good and applicable instructions but it shows the older rotary style dimmer - some stores no longer carry this style as they tend to increase heat and do not save you any money.
 

If you’d like to compare the video above to one demonstrating a slider version dimmer switch visit http://video.about.com/interiordec/Install-a-Dimmer-Switch.htm.

Give Dimmers a Try

An inexpensive and easy to install dimmer switch allows you to control your lighting, making a big visual impact on most any room in your house, while saving energy and money.  Do you already use dimmers?  If not, give it a try – and let me know how it goes for you.  Post a message by clicking the Comment link below the ads or send an email to solutions@yourdecoratinghotline.com.

Conquer Small Room Challenges

1.  Reduce Clutter.  Small rooms will appear smaller and more confining if they are full of clutter.  Use fewer accessories but of a larger scale; keep papers and junk off of table tops; keep the floor area clear (no newspapers, slippers, etc).  Every piece of clutter lying about causes the eye to stop in its motion around the room thereby giving you that closed in feeling.  More ideas about de-cluttering can be read in this earlier article (click here).

2.  Use Light Colors.  Nothing too new in this tip…..we all know lighter colors always make a space feel bigger, lighter and more airy.  However.  “Light colors” doesn’t have to mean white.  You can infuse your small room with tons of color personality by using all of the softer shades of any color palette.  Choosing a monochromatic scheme also expands the space because blending shades of one color lets your eyes sweep across the room, increasing the sense of space.

Photo via HGTV.com, designed by Layla Palmer

A monochromatic palette of beige and cream is enlived with a subtle wall stripe treatment and multiple mirrors to reflect maximum light from the single window.  This daybed becomes a cozy guest room when needed.   

Try Something Bold

2a.  Sometimes it’s even an excellent idea to break the rules – use a rich mid or even dark toned color on one or even all the walls of a small room.  It creates warmth, security, intimacy and a cocooning, sheltering feeling. Sometimes being unpredictable is exciting!  HGTV Designer Candice Olson agrees that using darker colors in small rooms can be successful.  “If you want to go dark or more dramatic, keep the contrast low by taking the wall color onto the ceiling or use a shade that’s two or three lighter than the wall color so it keeps the contrast level down.  High contrast levels is what makes a room  feel smaller.”

Small but dynamic. Photo via BHG.com

3.  Use Collections With Restraint.  We all want to have our favorite things around us – particularly collections that we’ve gathered over the years.  Because we’re so emotionally attached, it’s hard to edit them.  In small rooms the impact of a collection is much stronger when it’s contained, restrained and displayed with care.  Bring out your accessory props (click here to read about them) and create a vignette that really showcases your collection.  If it’s extensive, consider rotating it seasonally like Cindy does with her teapot collection.

Photo via BHG.com

This charming bookcase shows restraint in the quantity of accessories and also incorporates attractive storage (the banded boxes) which is usually in high demand in smaller rooms.  I love the patterned background of the shelves and in a small room it would make a noticeable impact.

Photo via CoastalLiving.com, designer Jean Allsopp

Small rooms allow you to be playful and brave.  Experiment with a daring color scheme but go lightly with pattern.  Pattern (especially high contrast pattern) is busy and creates visual clutter so use it sparingly and balanced with plenty of solids.

4.  Float Furniture.  In a small room it’s often the tendency to push everything up against a wall to leave more exposed floor space.  Pulling a few pieces away from the wall and bringing them into the room actually can open things up.  A little more open wall space helps a room feel larger.  And if there’s room to move furniture to the center of the room, it must be big, right?

Studio apartment living; photo via ApartmentTherapy.com

This studio apartment illustrates several great room expanding tricks:  a restrained palette, light colors used on the walls and larger furnishings, furniture floated away from the walls (the sofa and side tables are pulled away from the window making room for a console table behind; ottomans), minimal accessories, see through coffee table, plenty of light throughout the room.  Below is another one room apartment where floating furniture serves multiple purposes.  And notice the playing with scale – those oversize lamps provide lots of light but also act almost as a room divider.

Floating furniture and playing with scale in a small apartment. Photo via ApartmentTherapy.com

5.  Light the Corners.  Adequate lighting is very important in small rooms.  If there are dim areas that suck the light and life out of the room, it feels smaller, more closed in.  When you’re working with a room with limited or no windows (maybe a basement room), make sure to use all ranges of lighting:  table lamps for task lighting, uplights to light the ceiling and give good ambient light and even use floor uplight cans tucked behind a plant or piece of furniture to light an especially dark corner.  You’ll be amazed at how much light will visually push out the walls.

Photo via NiagaraNovice.com

6.  Use A Mirror.  Another expected tip, but just because it’s not new doesn’t mean it’s not valid.  Mirrors reflect light and furnishings around a room which expands its visual boundaries.  Place the mirror carefully – you want to make sure it’s reflecting something pretty.  Reflecting light from a window or a pretty lamp is a great way to use a mirror.  A mirror doesn’t have to only go above a fireplace…….use a really large one placed on the floor, leaning against the wall; hang an oversized mirror in place of a door to create a visual “doorway”; hang a mirror or grouping of mirrors opposite a sliding glass door to reflect the view or light back into the room.  This is a time when a grouping of mirrors could be an interesting twist – the broken and refracted reflections might be more interesting than just a single large reflection.

Photo via flickr.com, champagne.chic photos

Photo via PotteryBarn.com

7. Think Outside the Box.  Try an unusual furniture arrangement or pairing.  Really think about the function of the room and how you can accomplish that creatively.  Rearrange your furniture, edit the pieces down to the bare minimum and see how that feels.  Add pieces back in one at a time until you have just the right mix.

Photo via MyHomeIdeas.com

This small room has maximized the space by eliminating a sofa altogether but still has plenty of seating.  Small stacking tables in the middle of the room, a large mirror that mimics the shape of the bare windows and light colored walls are all excellent space expanding tricks.  A lovely, light-filled and attractive small room. 

6 More Tips Tomorrow

Today’s tips will get you started in conquering your small room blues but tomorrow’s additional tips will finish the job!  Be sure to check in tomorrow to read the next 6 things you really have to know in order to expand those rooms.

We’ve added a new affiliate – Lillian Vernon.  I’m sure many of you are familiar with the Lillian Vernon name and catalogs (known for personalizing just about anything!) - now you can order online and if you click through from our site….yep, we earn a small commission.  If you haven’t seen Lillian Vernon recently, maybe it’s time to check out the merchandise again.

Although I really hadn’t been looking for a chandelier and was in no rush to find one, one found me in an unlikely manner.  While shopping at World Market for other items a table lamp demanded my attention.  The lamp’s shade was a waterfall of beautiful bronze colored capiz shells.  While I oohed and ahhhed over it , knowing full well I had no place to put a new table lamp, inspiration hit.

Circles of capiz shells are strung together to create a lamp shade.

The lamp is sold in two pieces – a selection of table lamp bases and the hanging shells.  This allows buyers to select a lamp base height and a finish that best suits their decorating needs.  The shells hung from set of metal concentric circles and I realized a very basic, standard porcelain fixture for a single bulb would fit in the center circle.  Sold!

My husband purchased a white porcelain electrical fixture from Lowes  (most hardware stores stock them), painted it the color of the ceiling and installed it.  And the rest, as they say, is history.  We now have a chandelier.

Sold for a table lamp base the capiz shell "lampshade" works as a chandelier.

The shells creating  the chandelier coordinate with the capiz shells on a piece of wall art that hangs in the bathroom.  So, if you didn’t know the real story, you might think that I planned it!  Imagine, a chandelier I really like for under $75, it works well with accessories already in the room and I didn’t have to search for it!  Don’t you love it when projects come together easily and under budget?  I do!

A 3-panel wall hanging in the bathroom features capiz shell leaves.

The shell chandelier is not the type of fixture I thought I wanted or planned to shop for.  It also isn’t in the price range I planned or expected.  I wasn’t ready for a chandelier, or at least hadn’t planned to get one anytime soon.  But the fact is, decorating is a process and sometimes when you just step back and let the process work, you’ll end up with results that you love.

The chandelier and wall hanging both sport capiz shells.

Next time you want something for decorating a room but there’s no set deadline, try just letting thoughts of it simmer in your subconscious rather than heading out to beat the streets shopping.  You might surprise yourself with an inspired discovery at an unlikely time and end up loving it.  Or has that already happened to you?  If so, what did you find when you least expected it and it wasn’t what you thought you wanted but was, in fact, better?  Leave a comment below or email me at solutions@yourdecoratinghotline.com.  I’d love to hear about your inspired decorating discovery.

You can see more affordable decorating ideas at the link party over at The Shabby Nest.

Our move to a new home a few months ago prompted us to  figure out new placements for our indoor holiday decorations and, of course, we faced the same dilemma with our outdoor seasonal decor.   

Outdoor Holiday Lights

Even though our landscaping is far from complete, my husband rose to the challenge of outdoor decorating again this year,  although not nearly as extensively as some prior years  due to the unfinished landscape and a run of bitter cold weather.  The exterior holiday lights, however, are a constant carryover of his traditional annual decorating. 

Outdoor lights always fall fully into my husband’s domain – he’s particular about the color combinations of the bulbs, the straightness of the run and he loves to mix large colored bulbs with small white lights.  I’m happy to let him handle it – I’d rather fiddle with the decorations inside.

Colored and white strands go up in October for Halloween but bulb changes keep the strands current for holidays through March.

If you or someone in your family enjoys lights as much as my husband, perhaps this decorating trick of his will tickle your fancy.  The lights you see in the photo above are our Christmas lights – but he actually put the light strings up in mid-October and instead of the multi-color bulbs shown in the photo, he alternated large white and orange bulbs above the white string lights for Halloween.  When we packed away the Halloween decorations he changed the large white bulbs to large red bulbs - and the red and orange lights combo ushered in the Thanksgiving holiday.  After Thanksgiving  he replaced the red and orange lights with the multi-colored bulbs shown in the photo.  The multi-color lights brighten the darkness through the New Year.  The lights remain hanging but unlit through much of January until he changes the multi-colored bulbs to red and white in early February as a welcome for Valentine’s Day.  And in March, as you probably guessed, he swaps the red lights for green so we enjoy green and white lights for St. Patrick’s Day.

I’m glad to say my husband isn’t one of those folks who leaves Christmas lights hanging all year long, just waiting for the next Christmas to roll around.  After St. Patrick’s Day he replaces the green bulbs with orange before storing the strings, so they’re ready to hang again 7 months later.  There’s no doubt, however, he certainly makes good use of his original efforts of hanging the strands in October and then simply changing out bulb colors until March.   Meanwhile, I enjoy creating holiday door decorations to match the colorful lights as a cheerful welcome for guests through the darkest months.

Tomorrow I’ll share a bit more about our outdoor holiday decor this year and I’d love to hear about yours and see a photo of your outdoor decorating traditions or new ideas. 

Don’t Forget Our Drawing!

Remember – we’ve got a holiday drawing scheduled!  Send us a photo of your favorite tree ornament attached to a brief note telling us why it’s special to you and you’ll be entered in our random holiday drawing.  You might win the 16″ X 16″ French burlap pillow cover provided by Petit Coterie, ETSY.     

Win this French burlap pillow by sharing a photo of a favorite tree ornament.

Send  your email and photo attachment to solutions@yourdecoratinghotline.comby December 22.  We’ll announce the winner on December 24th.

By the way, we’re participating in Inspired Room’s holiday link party so if you click through you’ll find links to lots of other people’s homes and decorating ideas.  It’s truly a treat.

Happy Holidays!

This post isn’t going to be  in depth coverage of light waves and bulb types and technical stuff.  That’s for another day.  Today I want to focus on lighting your accessories and the quiet little corners of your room.  If you go to all the trouble to create the perfect vignette, it’s definitely worth lighting it so people can enjoy it. 

LIGHTING FOR A DISPLAY

Whether on a tabletop, a bookcase, a mantel, a dining buffet or an entry table, you should make every effort to add a lamp.  Using a lamp on a tabletop or buffet is probably easiest because the furniture is most likely against a wall and near an outlet.  Try using a buffet lamp (or accent lamp) which is a tall, usually skinny lamp that will give off a little light but not take up much room.  An accent lamp is usually a low light fixture using only a 40 or 60 watt bulb, which is enough to cover your display in a warm glow but not enough to read by.

A classic buffet lamp from Lamps Plus.

These lamps from Lamps Plus (an affiliate) give just a couple examples of shapes a buffet lamp could take.  This classic style buffet lamp is 30″ tall from the Candice Olsen lighting collection at Lamps Plus (#F9872, $279).  Next is a modern interpretation, 34″ tall (#H1123, $139).

From Lamps Plus.

 Tall accent lighting like this illuminates downward to your display but also usually bathes the wall or furniture around it with a soft light as well.  Another factor to consider when purchasing accent lighting is the scale.  Do you have a really high ceiling?  You can handle extra tall buffet lamps.  Are the lamps sitting on a large piece of furniture or flanking a large piece of art?  Choose chunkier accent lighting.  And there’s no law that says you need a pair – use just one lamp if that’s all the room you have or if that’s what it takes to balance your arrangement.

You could also go exactly the opposite direction and choose a shorter than usual accent lamp like this one, only 16″ high.  It’s purpose is only to light the table space immediately around it and not throw much light into the room.  Perfect for a tucked away place or small collection to have a subtle amount of light.  (#J8786, $220)

A shorter version of an accent lamp.

A display in a bookcase or mantel is a little more difficult because there’s often not easy access to an outlet.  Try to be as creative as possible about hiding the cords (partly because they’re ugly and partly for safety).  In a bookcase you might try affordable under counter stick-on strips.  I’ve used that successfully in my bookshelves and the lights have lasted for years.   

On a mantel you might use sconces or if you’ve got a nice deep mantel, use a buffet lamp.  The first choice would always be to have sconce wiring be in the wall, but lots of times that’s just not possible.  They do make wire covers that can be painted and help hide the cord.  If there’s just no way to have a sconce or lamp on the mantel, place a lamp right next to the fireplace and/or hearth – try a torchiere (up light) lamp in this case to light up the area.

Lamps are actually a very affordable accessory considering how much value they add to your room and your displays.  Shop for a bargain, but remember you want style too.  Add a touch of elegance or a touch of whimsy … but definitely a touch of light.

10 PERFECT VIGNETTE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS

1.  Start simply – a single lamp lighting the table display and surrounding art as well as brightening a corner. 

Photo from Art of Accessorizing book.

 2.  Look at the glow of light given by this one lamp on the bookshelf.  It lights the art and the accessories and balances the floral arrangement.

Brighten a bookshelf.

3.  Tall buffet lamps frame the mirror and fern perfectly (remember the post from earlier this week about using plants in the home?  This is a great example).

Dining buffet lamps (photo from my archives)

 4.  Another example of the use of buffet lamps.  The extreme height of these lamps frame the large picture and taller accessories well and serve to connect the table top to the art.  The narrow shape leaves lots of room for a fall vignette.

Use tall lamps to balance a large picture. (photo from Decorating Secrets book)

5.  Use under counter lighting to brighten a bookcase display like I did on these shelves in my home.

My bookshelves (photo by Terrie P)

 6.  Do you have a special art piece or collectible worthy of it’s own special light?  We have an art vase that looks lit from within by this halogen spotlight, but it also lights the surrounding display.

Light for a special vase. (photo by Terrie P)

 7.  Use a picture light to highlight a special piece of art or wall hanging and combine it with tabletop accent lighting for maximum impact.  Again, notice how the lamp reaches the picture frame to create a connection (the art could actually be hung just a touch lower – or maybe I’m just being too picky).

Use a picture light to highlight art. (photo from my archives)

8.  This dining room maximizes all sorts of extra lighting.  Buffet lamps (and I love that they’re not paired on the same piece of furniture), torchieres for uplighting and dramatic candlelight on the table top.  Wow.

Use lighting at all levels for maximum impact.

9.  Speaking of candlelight……look at this charming vignette lit only by candlelight.  Talk about setting a mood!

Beautiful candlelit vignette. (photo from Decorating Secrets book)

10.  Last, but not least, candlelight is always a lovely way to light an area.  The drama of this dining table is the volume of candles and that they’re in mismatched holders – but all glass / crystal for a sense of continuity.  This setting accomplishes 2 things:  showing off a collection and beautiful illumination.  By the way, did you notice the bookcase is lit as well to show off their horse figurine collection?  Simple and elegant all the way.

Masses of candles create drama (photo from my archives)

Hopefully this has helped you realize the value of using accent lighting all over your home.  Tall and skinny or short and stubby, lighting will make all the difference in enjoying your vignettes.  If you have any specific questions about sizes or styles or anything else about lighting, just write and ask me.

This is part 4 of a series.  You can see the other posts here:  Wall Decor  -  Collections and Personal Favorites  -  Flowers  -  Flowers & Plants

Yes, you’ll notice some affiliate lighting ads below – if you’re in the market for a lamp of any kind, there are some great options on all of those sites.  Stay tuned for the final installment of accessorizing – a wrap up and discussion of accessories & color.