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.

FUNKY FURNITURE

Let's see, where would I use this? Hmmmmm (via dornob)

Sometimes design leaves the realm of practical and reality and we end up with…..surprising.  Let’s see, the small element I might take from this design is the basic shape of the chaise with the the angled back.  Tiger head, not so much.  (via dornob)

An interesting and adaptable table.

Here’s a touch of ingenuity I can support – a versatile piece of furniture serving as end table/magazine rack or as a laptop work table.   A good first-apartment sized piece of furniture that serves double duty – excellent! 

A chest lit from the inside to illuminate the cutouts by Jo Meesters.

I wonder if a similar, simpler design could be accomplished with upholstery tacks creating a pattern on a piece of furniture.  Or, break out the drill and go to work on a flea market find.  The idea of a lighted piece of furniture could help a dark corner in a dining room or entry hall.  (House & Home magazine)

Bouquet chair by Designer of the Year '08 Tokujin Yoshioka.

The snug fabric “petals” in this chair (the bouquet chair) bounce back when the sitter stands up.  You’re supposed to feel enveloped and appreciated much like when you receive flowers.  All I see is a dust collector.  Can’t quite put my finger on an inspiration I take away from this one.

Walnut and plexiglass table by Hudson Furniture.

I like this combination of a natural element and the stark modernity of chunky plexiglass to create a stunning, unusual table (dubbed SexyPlexy).  There’s nothing to show the scale but I’d be equally thrilled to have it as a dining table or use it in an office as a conference table.  The inspiration I take from the Hudson Furniture design is to embrace combining Mother Nature with man-made textures for the best of both worlds.

Furry sofa anyone? From Edra Furniture

Dream of returning to disco days?  Found this gem on Furniture Fashion where you can see lots more color combos if neither of these appeal to you.  Searching for inspiration….searching….  How about using colored furry fabric to make some big floor pillows in a kids’ playroom – comfy, fun, colorful & energetic for children.

OTHER FUNKY FINDS

A chandelier of......goblets?

 This is touted as a functional and attractive alternative for lighting – a place to store your glasses.  Really?  Another design idea I can’t really find inspiration in… (via met home)

Imaginative shelving by Mark Kinsley

Now here’s a new take on art – or is it shelving?  The ‘art’ is fully changeable with any of the sections able to fold down to become a shelf so you can change it up whenever you’d like.  Riveli shelving is a patent pending design by Mark Kinsley.  A couple more options:

Mark Kinsley art shelving.

More Kinsley shelving

Finally, leather wall tiles from Studioart.  Look at the variety of textures and play of light that can be created by a mosaic of these tiles.  If this is too busy of a pattern, just choose one or two and create your own stylish, elegant, textural wall treatment.

Leather wall tiles.

I certainly hope I was able to bring a smile or an “aha” moment for you with this random collection of design ideas.  If you’re wandering the web and come across something innovative and inspiring - or something silly and “what-were-they-thinking” – let us all know.  Add your comment below.

A Canadian and Australian trying to make the world beautiful one room at a time is the premise of Desire to Inspire. The most recent post is all about green walls - lots of shades of green – check it out.

As summer winds down, we’re still enjoying the outdoors and here’s 4 Creative Outdoor Lighting ideas from Real Simple.

Be Jane is a DIY site geared to women – everything from how to faux finish a wall to how to change out a light fixture.

If you’re looking for a site with lots of pretty room pictures, this one is much like a magazine in that regard….not much commentary, but lots of inspirational rooms.  It seems she’s an active designer so she shares peeks of her clients’ homes too - Lauren at Pure Style Home.

Other sites of interest are this great ’store’ at Etsy.  For those of you unfamiliar with Etsy, it’s a site of individual stores all featuring handmade items – everything from greeting cards to furniture.  Because I love photography, this artist’s work caught my eye and she said I could share her store here.  I particularly love her architectural collages though she has lots more to see. 

Helveticaneue Photographic Collage

As always, I hope you find something of interest in these offerings – and remember to share your favorite sites with us.

I’ve found a couple of great lighting options – just because lighting has a serious function doesn’t mean it has to look serious.  Look at this whimsical hanging lamp – and clustering more than one in a corner would be SO dramatic. 

A trio of whimsical bird lamps

These assemble-yourself beauties could sure add a touch of fun – and they’re made of an eco friendly wood, designed by Hector Mendoza, Mexico.

Cool organic shapes make a lighting statement.

The beautiful organic shaped mosaic bench by A. Gaudi.