How Much and What Kind Of Lighting Do You Need?

   

via

 

Lighting is the jewelry of the room!

When choosing lighting for a room it is somewhat  like when you choose jewelry for an outfit. 

You look at the style of how you are dressed, and add your jewelry according to the look, and feel you want to achieve when looking at your over all outfit.

via

The same thing goes for a room. You need to first look at your basic furnishings, and decide what style, type and amount of lighting your room needs.

Every room needs a certain amount of lighting, and most rooms  are….

“Lighting poor.”

So how much lighting is enough?

Did you know that there is a formula on how to figure out how many watts of light your room needs?

I read a little formula a long time ago that said  find your square footage (example 12ft X 16ft = 192sq.ft)

Then multiply your square footage by 1.5 .

(192 sq.ft. X 1.5 =288 watts) so that means your room will need 288 watts of lighting sources.

An average room should have approx. 4-5 lamps.

Once you have this figured out you are ready to start the process of figuring out the how much and what kind of lighting you will need in your room.

via

FIRST

Look at your room and figure out where you will be placing your lighting sources. Are you going to have enough, or do you need to add some more?

There needs to be different types of lighting as well…..

Overhead/Chandelier

Wall

Table

Floor Lamps

Up-lights

via

When choosing fixtures I like to start with the star of the room, and that is usually a chandelier of some kind.

It doesn’t matter what your style is, or what you gravitate towards, it is just a good idea to choose this main piece first because it will truly dictate the style, and feel of the rest of the room.

via

Think of it as the necklace in an outfit. You will choose, your earrings, bracelets, shoes and purse according to the style of that necklace, and your base pieces in your outfit.

NEXT

If you are going to have sconces in the room I would suggest choosing those next.  These are like the earrings in your outfit.

via

Notice we are choosing the more permanent lighting first. Once you purchase those, and pay an electrician to install them you most likely will not change them. These are your base pieces and usually the more expensive lighting fixtures.

via

Once you have chosen the chandelier, and sconces you can add floor lamps, and table lamps that will work in the room. These are easily changed out, or replaced, that is why I would choose them last.

via

In choosing your floor, and table lamps don’t miss the opportunity to add texture. Do you need more shine, or do you need rougher textures to add contrast in the room.

You can also use color and pattern in these fixtures to add to the overall interest in the room.

via (designed by Caitlin Wilson)

Now you have the basics to choosing, style, type, and amount of lighting fixtures you need in your room.

HOMEWORK

1. Go into your room, figure out how much lighting you will actually need in your room by using the above formula.

2. If you are short on lighting sources, figure out where you need to add more.

3. Think of different types of lighting that you can use in the areas that need more lighting.

4. What style, texture, design or color would look best in each spot?

5. Do a little on-line window shopping to play with your new additions before making a final purchase.

6. Once you are solid with your over all design, then you get to do the really fun part.

 via

Have fun with this, and remember to always….

 

 

Decorating For Fall Without Any Orange

 

 VIA

Every year when Fall comes around I find it hard to get motivated to change out my Summer décor to Fall décor. 

I love Fall weather, crisp air, beautiful colors in nature, but inside my home I have a hard time accepting Fall.

Fall decorating can be hard for a Springtime gal like myself. Especially when I don’t decorate with the typical Autumnal colors, ( NO orange in my life!)

To help me get motivated I had to write down the elements, and colors that I DO enjoy.

I thought about what represents Fall to me and made a list.

You will notice many of the elements have some texture and warmth to them. Layering texture to a room will make your room more welcoming in the upcoming cooler months

Wooden bowls

via

There is nothing like the warmth of the patina of an old wood dough bowl.

Wooden turned candlesticks

via

Wooden cutting boards

via

 There is something about wooden cutting boards/bread boards  that fascinate me. They add not only a textural interest to a room, but a wonderful silhouette as well.

I like to place a a few on my kitchen countertop, the warmth of the wood next to the coolness of the marble makes a nice contrast in the room.

Pomegranates 

via

Such a beautiful pinky/red color.

Soft Green Eucalyptus Leaves

via

I have found that this color of green works very well in my home. It has such a soft silvery green color and the fragrance is also a very nice addition.

Cream or basil colored candles

via

Crisp red and green apples

via

Brass candlesticks that glow

via

 

Pale Green/Gray Pumpkins

via

Golden Pears

via

Mums

via

I love to use purples, white, and yellows for Fall. These are my Fall plantings.

Ornamental Kale

Loi from Tone on Tone’s Fall Kitchen

BASKETS

Adding texture with baskets adds warmth to any space.

Bakelite or Horn handled silverware

via

Bring in the warmth of Bakelite silverware. 

via

I placed mine in a vintage spooner.

Lanterns

 

via

Nuts and acorns

 

Fall Branches in a vase

via

By having this list on hand it makes it easier for me to change my décor to a more Fall-like look.

You will notice that in my list there are no russets, or oranges! 

So you see it is possible to decorate for Fall without using any of the colors in the orange family!! 

Do you like to use traditional autumnal colors, or are you like me?

For more ideas that I like for Fall go to my Pinterest board.......

 

 

 

Lighting In The New Model Homes

   

The announcement of NEW MODELS always brings out the curiosity in me. 

In our new community they just opened up the new models, it has been 10years since they updated their homes. 

Things have changed quite a bit in the last 10 years in home interiors so I was excited to see what the new offerings would be.

As in all models I knew I would like some elements and would not like others. They offered some very nice floor plans and I did see certain elements that I thought were worth taking pictures of.

Since we have already purchased our new home I was more interested in culling ideas than wanting to buy. I will admit I did compare my new little cottage to these new models and I must say I am completely satisfied with our choice of home and elements.

The lighting, molding, and wall treatments, and landscaping were what I was particularly interested in seeing.

I loved some of the lighting that was used in the models. There was a pair of sconces that I fell in love with and was curious enough to find them online after a bit of searching……

This area was a hallway leading off of the entry to the guest bedroom and office area. I also loved the wainscoting in this model You will have to excuse my photography skills or lack of.

These sconces really grabbed my attention. So much that I actually went looking on line for them and I found them…

via

You can see all the detail and how interesting this fixture actually is. I could see this a bathroom flanking a simple mirror. They are actually 15in high so they are a nice substantial piece. They just fascinated me and trust me, they are pinned on my lighting pinboard, HERE!

The other light that caught my eye was actually in the office/den hanging over the desk….

I realize that this is not a light fixture for everyone, but this girl loves it. Just for fun I sourced it, and found it!!!

via

I don’t think the picture online does it justice,  it really does show much nicer in person, and for the price it should!!

This next fixture resembles Circa lightings Darlana. However it is not, because this only has 4 lights and the Darlana has more. 

I still think the style and shape is such a classic  that I believe it will have longevity. All the homes had 10-12 ft ceilings and in person this particular fixture looked over scale in this setting from my observations, but the style worked perfectly.

I found this next fixture to be a bit kitschy, but very interesting and fun. If keys have a special meaning to you, this is the fixture for you…

This was their ode to industrial styling. the home itself was what I would call an Urban Farmhouse exterior so these fixtures paired well with that look.

In the actual  kitchen they looked crowded to me, one step to far, I think two would have been sufficient for the size and diameter of these fixtures. I know the rule of threes, but aren’t rules meant to be broken so you can maintain your own originality?

When I was in Cost Plus the other day they had a black metal pendant with a gold lining very similar to these, or at least the same feel for a really inexpensive cost. They don’t have it online so they might be selling the last of them in the store, but definitely worth the look if you like the looks of these pendants.

Now here is where three fixtures looked great, I did not take the picture from the best vantage point so you will have to trust me on this one. 

I fell in love with these fixtures, I know they are everywhere right now, but their sparkle is captivating to me.

This room was set up as a dining/office and the lighting really caught my eye. I like the use of three pendants hanging at different levels.

Interesting. Love a linear chandelier over a bar or a long dining table.

This was in a bedroom and you will have to trust me on this, but again, it is too large for the room, it felt like it was coming down on you, even with the 10ft high ceilings. Scale, people SCALE matters!!

Another office den with very fun sputnik type pendant and some very handsome wall sconces. Not my colors but I think this room was done very nicely.

This fixture is going to get a bad review, mostly because of it’s surroundings, but I have to say it was pretty cool in person. 

Not for everyone, and not in my home, but in the right setting it is pretty cool, and I liked it.

This was very pretty in person, lots of sparkle.

So there you have it. There were others I probably should have taken a picture of, and if I go back I might add to the collection. 

Always fun to see what they are showing to the new buyers!! None of what we are seeing is a standard choice.

No Surprise there!!

Hope you enjoyed seeing the lighting!!