Accessories and lighting are two of the most
important factors in good design. A
space can be completed with the best furniture, however without the correct
lighting and some well-chosen accessories, it is flat and without personality.
Think of the accessories as the jewellery we add to a nice outfit. When pairing our ‘jewellery’ to our outfit we
keep the proportion and theme consistent.
The same goes with accessorizing your home. It is more than just adding tshotchkes and some
wall décor at the end of a project. It’s
about well thought out design details that are put into the plan before
completion. After all, finishing details
are what make a well dressed home.
Too often with decorating projects, available funds
are allocated to large-scale furnishings.
Necessary to be sure, however, in my experience the ultimate
satisfaction doesn’t arrive until the finishing touches are firmly in
place. I suggest that you save 20% of
the total budget for styling and accessorizing.
If you do not allocate money to cover the cost of accessories, you will
end up with a space that’s completed but devoid of character: lackluster and
disappointing.
A room is boring and bland without the
embellishments. It’s the extras that
bring a room to life and make it warm and welcoming. Accessories transform a space and inject it
with character. They should also be
representative of your own individual personality and perhaps reflect your
interests and travels.
Lighting is the other important factor in creating
the perfect atmosphere in your home. It
offers functionality as well as mood.
For the most effective lighting scheme, you need a combination of all
three types of lighting, comprised of task, ambient and accent. The ambient light will provide a general even
balance of light throughout a space such as a chandelier. Task lighting will focus on a specific area
such as a lamp positioned for reading.
Accent lighting will draw attention to a particular area and add depth
and drama, such as a picture light or a recessed pot light directed toward a
piece of art.
When planning your overall lighting you need to
consider the mood you want to create and the tasks to be performed in each
specific room. When selecting your
fixtures, obviously you would want to compliment the style of your room’s
décor. The type of lampshade can also
affect your lighting. The shape,
material and opacity of the shade will affect the direction and diffusion of
the light by sending it up or down and reducing glare. Using dimmers gives you more control over the
brightness and mood.
When planning your lighting, it is important to
speak with expert lighting suppliers in order to be certain that your final
plan will serve your needs.
Accessories complemented with lighting!
