Lighting & Mirrors
Lighting plays a very important role in decorating a home and must not be, though often is, overlooked. It can enhance interiors, highlight favourite objects, add warmth and moods to rooms, and open up dark spaces. You can be as inventive as you like. Well-planned lighting can add to the quality of space, though poorly planned systems can spoil even the best-dressed rooms.
Before you start take into account the size, shape and decoration of the room, what effects you would like to achieve and the size of your budget. Think about the amount of natural daylight the room receives and that dark colours absorb more light than pale ones. Work out exactly what you use a room for - a family kitchen will be used all day and into the evening so will need lots of different lighting for work surfaces, over the dining area, inside cupboards; it may even benefit from a dimmer switch where light can be controlled for different activities such as homework or intimate dinners. Alternatively a spare bedroom will probably only need a main light source and bedside reading lamp.
Lighting schemes need not cost the earth. It's best to start with a central lighting system - this could be an inherited pendant light, or a more sophisticated system of recessed spot lights - then add lights where you need - wall lights, floor and table lamps and spot lights. If your budget is tight, have a look in high street stores, before opting for the more expensive designer brands.
Remember water and electricity don't mix, so in a bathroom make sure you go for specialist sealed lights and either a pull cord or switch outside the door.
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