January 27, 2006
Window Treatments - How to choose
Just a short tip for today about choosing your style of window treatment or window covering. It's usually a good idea to put off buying or making a final decision, until you have clearly determined your wall decor, floor coverings and your overall color scheme for that room.
This way the treatment you choose will compliment the entire room and better bring out that rooms personality. You don't really need to buy the hardeware until the end. Think of finials, curtain rods and poles as accessories that enhance and reflect the feel of the room that you have created. The other benefit is if you have chosen a more open look by using just a top treatment on the window, you have time to get a better feel for it in case you change your mind and want a bit more privacy.
Pets can also influence your choose of treatments especially if you are choosing a floor length curtain. Puddled curtains that group on the floor are ideal places for your dog to curl up on and for the cat to sharpen their claws on. Finally check with the manufacturer on how your treatments are cleaned. If you have to take them down to send off to the cleaners that can get very expensive.
January 22, 2006
Creating the mood with ambient light
Ambient light is usually created by lights that are either installed on walls or ceilings. They are surface mounted fixtures that provides diffused light that gently brightens up a room. Ambient light is not what you want to use for any particular purpose like counter top lighting where you need strong light without shadows. Most of the time you will want to use wall sconces just for their decorative value.
Another way you can create this effect is by pointing directional lighting or up-lights aimed at a wall which will produce a soft wash of light. Built in lighting hidden in valances cornices and coves also works well. These types of lighting fixtures are normally used in living rooms, dining rooms and tv rooms where you don't want a lot of glare or bright light. It is also the best type of light to help people look their best and to create warm atmospheres that are very soothing and stress free.
Creating this type of ambient light can best be achieved by using wall mounted lighting fixtures. Not only do they produce just the amounted of reflected light that you need but they will create a nice shadow on the wall.
You could also create this by a table lamp or floor lamp that is situated in a corner. Rope lights and smaller track lighting can also be used. Wall mount styles can be used as a main feature for hallways, foyers and stairs.
If you are trying to create diffused light in a dining room and you only want to have a chandelier in that room the easiest and cheapest way to do it is by installing a dimmer switch. You will also be saving energy.
One of the most important places to have proper lighting without glare and shadows is in the bathroom. Ambient light will create a nice even soft tone throughout any sized bathroom. One of the nicest wall light fixtures that I have seen is the modern style like this one that can be found at lampsplus.