Lighting and Accessories, the Finishing Touch in Any Space - Part 5 of 6
By: Sue Rosenbaum, Staff Designer
Lighting is a key element in having a space “feel” right. This is truly the only way you can brighten up that dark bedroom or family room, by adding layers of light. There are 3 basic types of lighting; general lighting, accent lighting, and task lighting. These should be in every room to give the proper illumination to the space.
General lighting is that ceiling fixture in a bedroom that allows you to enter the room and safely move around. In a family room, it could be the recessed lighting in the four corners of the room. It is also the switched lamp that you flip on as you head into a room. This is the minimum allowable lighting in any space, per the American Lighting Association lighting guidelines. A light kit on a ceiling fan is general lighting also.
Accent lighting or architectural lighting is something that highlights an area that has special detail. A stone wall is an accent area in a kitchen or family room. This light shines down this wall to softly illuminate it and show off its interesting nature. Recessed lighting that is pointed at some prized art or a “pin” light that shines on a sculpture on a stand are other examples.
Task lighting is either a portable fixture that you place to allow you to perform a task or a ceiling or wall fixture that is placed to allow you to perform a task. In the kitchen above the sink there is generally a recessed light, also above the kitchen island, even the under cabinet lights are task lights. In another space, it would be a lamp placed so that reading is comfortable in that room and in that location. In a bedroom it could be wall-mounted lamps that adjust in height to allow for reading in bed. Proper lighting at a desk to allow work at a computer, a pendant light above a game table that will allow the game board to be seen well is another type of task lighting.
Accessories are the “jewelry” in any space. Art work (I have another article planned for art specifically), collectables, books, glassware, plants and floral arrangements, candlescapes and framed photographs are some examples of accessories in a space.
The best advice I can pass along regarding accessories is this— “less is more.” Gone are the days of shelves upon shelves of collectables and so on. One or two shelves of Lladro are plenty to show that you collect, you can always change them out when you add to your collection. Some other guidelines is to work in odd numbers with your items. Three similar shaped vases or 7 small matching votive candle holders or 5 carved wooden items from Africa. These numbers tend to make an impact and also allow us to arrange them in a “stack.” The other advice that I can offer is to group like items together. Those 3 antique tea cups in the living room and a tea pot, sugar and creamer in the dining room will not make as much of an impact as if you grouped them together on the server in the dining room on a wonderful silver tray. One Steuben glass sculpture on a coffee table will make more of an impact visually than two will. It also adds to the importance of the single piece, just because it is all alone.
Many of the clients who make appointments with me at Jerry’s ask me how to “pull” a space together. Accessories are the perfect way to do that. The color on the kitchen walls can also be the color on the pillows and throws in the family room. That same color can be used in the area rug in the entry foyer, the art in the living room, the trim on the drapery and a wonderful glass bowl in the dining room.
Just a quick thought regarding art or wall hung items. You do not have to fill every wall with art or framed items. The art should be like the punctuation in a sentence. It should draw your eye to a certain area in the room, complementing the colors and feeling in the space.
Sometimes you want to bring more light into a space and a mirror, or a line of mirrors, will reflect the light from a window across the room ... almost like magic. If you are just starting out, think of something that you love and then search for photographs of that item; architecture, food, sports, type fonts. Think outside the box so you can really make a statement. Sometimes a single word like “create” or “family” or “friends” with the letters framed individually and then hung in a line will make a great statement as well as fill up a good amount of space.
As always, I am available at Jerry’s by appointment on Thursdays from 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. for a 30 minute complimentary color consultation. Bring your color challenges and digital photos of the space you are working in and the adjacent spaces as well. Please try to bring fabric swatches if they are staying in the space. Next time I will talk about art and its relationship to spaces.
