When it comes to creating an ambience, a feeling of comfort, warmth and intimacy in your home, the power of lighting cannot be underestimated. The right lighting can transform an ordinary-looking space by illuminating dark areas, uplifting the entire mood and energy of a room.
Whether you’re looking to increase the value of your home for prospective buyers or simply wanting to create a more appealing-looking space in which to dwell, there are many ways to use light to bring out the best in your home. Read more here for real estate agents in Timbers Edge Northbrook Il.
To help you create the perfect look and feel for your home we’ve put together some helpful tips to get you started.
Function
Before you begin installing your light fixtures give thought to the function of the area you are lighting. For example, a kitchen will mainly require bright overhead lighting for cooking, whereas a living room may require a combination of task, ambient and accent lighting options depending on the activity.
Ambient and mood lighting would work well for a relaxed evening setting, perhaps when dining or entertaining guests while task lighting, such as a table lamp or standing floor lamp is perfect for reading or sewing.
Natural Lighting
During the daytime, no amount of artificial lighting can compare with the light readily provided by nature. Having as much access to natural light in your home will help to create a bright and airy feel throughout the day and can also positively influence your mental well-being.
Another way to bring more natural light into your home is by installing skylights. This can be a great way to bring brightness, warmth as well as a sense of expansiveness to any room.
If your options are limited, mirrors are a great way to overcome the absence of natural light. By strategically positioning mirrors to reflect natural light into a room during the day you can give it a brighter and more expansive feel helping to create a sense of dimension, spaciousness as well as light.
Light and Color
Amplify the brightness of a room through your choice of colors. As the sun’s angle changes throughout the day, the intensity of the light in your room will also change affecting its color and appearance.
Depending on the color, your choice of paint will either absorb or enhance light, so it is important to choose colors that will bring out the best in a room, especially if it is poorly lit or small.
Your choice of paint can help to maximize the amount of natural light in a space adding brightness as well as spaciousness to an otherwise dark or dreary-looking room. Here are some coloring tips to help you make the most out of each room:
· North-facing rooms: This direction receives the least natural light during the day, so it is best to avoid dark colors. Warmer shades in yellow and gold tones can make up for the lack of sunshine.
· South-facing rooms: This room is infused with the most light throughout the day so you are spoilt for choice in terms of color. Lighter colors will appear brightest and can even dazzle in the sunshine, while darker hues in a cooler tone can help to balance the warmth of the sun as it pours into the room.
· East-facing rooms: This is the direction in which the sun rises and this light is at its brightest before noon. Warm colors in yellows, reds and oranges would suit these rooms.
· West-facing rooms: This room is at its best in the evening when the late afternoon sun can produce a warm, golden effect. Whites and neutral tones work well in such rooms, while paint colors with a pink hue can create a beautiful glow later in the day.
With these tips, you can begin creating the best lighting effects for your home.
