Monday 30 January 2012
Modern Kitchen Design
Wall Sconce Lighting - A Very Important Part of Interior Design
Wall sconce lighting has become a very important part of interior design. People are slowly coming to realize that it is just as important to get the lighting right in their home as the colors they paint their walls and the furniture they choose. During the day you should aim to make the most of any natural light your home receives. The amount of light will depend on the time of year and the location of your property. If your home gets plenty of sunlight you can get away with using cooler colors in your decor. But if lack of sunlight is an issue then warmer colors are probably best.
The lighting in your home has three real functions. There is general lighting, task lighting and decorative lighting. General lighting lights up the whole room and is the most important. Forget the single pendant in the center of the room. It is much better to put up a series of smaller directional lights rather than one single one. Wall sconce lighting up-lighters throw the light towards the ceiling so it bounces back into the room. These wall mounted lights will usually have to be fitted by an electrician as you will have to put up a series of lights rather than just one or two. Think about using energy efficient long life bulbs to keep the running costs down.
Kitchen Design Ideas
Five Interior Decorating Tips
When it comes to interior decorating there are a lot of factors to consider. Your budget will influence many of your choices and to what extent you can revamp your home. Some of the things you may choose to update can include curtains, furniture, wall colour, light fittings, accessories and floor coverings such as rugs and carpet.
Research
Before you start, do some research into interior design trends and styles and have a good think about what it is you want to achieve. There are plenty of magazines and books available and the internet has an enormous amount of information on decorating, which is constantly being updated. There are short courses in interior decorating available, some offered through community colleges and you can complete such a course via distance education. If you plan on re-decorating your entire home, you may want to think about doing a course first.
Keep a scrapbook
As well as doing your research it is useful to keep a scrapbook of your ideas. Cut out anything from magazines or catalogues that appeals to you. Gradually you will fill your scrapbook and it is likely you will begin to see the similarities between the pictures as you notice that you are drawn towards a certain style. Once you have established what style you prefer you can build on from there. For example you may like more modern designs or you could prefer a country cottage look. From the pictures in your scrapbook you will start to see what designs go together best and what can be adapted to suit your home.
Colour and texture
Try not to overwhelm your rooms with too much colour. Choose a colour theme for your room and then highlight it with one or two other colours. Be careful with dark or bold colours as they can be overpowering, especially in a small room. If you are really determined to go with a strong colour then you might want to just make a feature of it and paint a single wall, or use it as an accent within your furnishings, for example by having bold coloured cushions and accessories.
Lighting
Try to make use of natural light as much as possible. A light and airy room can be welcoming and you can save on electricity if you don't have to switch on the lights during the day. How much natural light your room gets will also help determine what style of room you decide on. If the windows are small you will need to think about how to best light the space, and the type of lights you choose will depend on your theme.
Match and measure
Before you get started, make sure you measure the dimensions of your room. Your measurements will give you an idea of how much paint, wallpaper, carpet or other furnishings you will need. When you think about styling your rooms, remember what each room is used for as this will often determine how it is decorated, for example, your lounge might be decorated so that it feels relaxing, whereas your kitchen could be made for socialising and feel full of movement.
When it comes to interior decorating there are a lot of factors to consider. Your budget will influence many of your choices and to what extent you can revamp your home. Some of the things you may choose to update can include curtains, furniture, wall colour, light fittings, accessories and floor coverings such as rugs and carpet.
Research
Before you start, do some research into interior design trends and styles and have a good think about what it is you want to achieve. There are plenty of magazines and books available and the internet has an enormous amount of information on decorating, which is constantly being updated. There are short courses in interior decorating available, some offered through community colleges and you can complete such a course via distance education. If you plan on re-decorating your entire home, you may want to think about doing a course first.
Keep a scrapbook
As well as doing your research it is useful to keep a scrapbook of your ideas. Cut out anything from magazines or catalogues that appeals to you. Gradually you will fill your scrapbook and it is likely you will begin to see the similarities between the pictures as you notice that you are drawn towards a certain style. Once you have established what style you prefer you can build on from there. For example you may like more modern designs or you could prefer a country cottage look. From the pictures in your scrapbook you will start to see what designs go together best and what can be adapted to suit your home.
Colour and texture
Try not to overwhelm your rooms with too much colour. Choose a colour theme for your room and then highlight it with one or two other colours. Be careful with dark or bold colours as they can be overpowering, especially in a small room. If you are really determined to go with a strong colour then you might want to just make a feature of it and paint a single wall, or use it as an accent within your furnishings, for example by having bold coloured cushions and accessories.
Lighting
Try to make use of natural light as much as possible. A light and airy room can be welcoming and you can save on electricity if you don't have to switch on the lights during the day. How much natural light your room gets will also help determine what style of room you decide on. If the windows are small you will need to think about how to best light the space, and the type of lights you choose will depend on your theme.
Match and measure
Before you get started, make sure you measure the dimensions of your room. Your measurements will give you an idea of how much paint, wallpaper, carpet or other furnishings you will need. When you think about styling your rooms, remember what each room is used for as this will often determine how it is decorated, for example, your lounge might be decorated so that it feels relaxing, whereas your kitchen could be made for socialising and feel full of movement.
Kitchen Design
Furniture Trends
Pulling off an interior design for the "modern" look is no easy task. Many people have different ideas about what modern interior design really means, but what it does include is clean, straight lines, unique furniture designs, and geometric shapes. Furniture can be either futuristic looking or just simple in design. Before you decide which modern look you prefer, there are a few "rules" to keep in mind.
First, modern design is all about simplicity. Furniture often has little to no decorations. Open space is another key element. There is never clutter for modern interior designs. Every piece of furniture and accessory should serve a purpose. Geometric shapes are a must-have and can be utilized in every room of the house. Geometric shapes will give you more of that futuristic feel. Color is very important. When you think of modern, you often think of black and white and this is exactly the color scheme to use. Grays and beiges are also used, but feel free to throw in splashes of color. You want the color to reflect this clean and simple look.
The interior design of your bedroom should give off a feeling of relaxation. Consider a platform bed that doesn't have decorations and a headboard that isn't ornate. Nightstands should be rectangular and low to the ground. Accent lighting tends to be silver metal, but you can get away with more interesting colors and designs. Stick with muted and natural colors for the walls and for the linens. Let your accent pieces and decorative pillows be your outlet for brighter colors. The flooring should also be clean and elegant. Hardwood floors will look best. Remember that the goal is to create a relaxing space, so don't fill up the room with too many items.
The living room also needs to express this sense of comfort. Couches and sofas should be sleek and smooth. Benches without a backboard will create the illusion of more space, and the same goes for armless sofas. Sectionals are a good way to divide up your space. Avoid bulky materials and fabrics. Leather and microfiber work best. Black has become the optimal color choice for many modernists. In terms of chairs, you can opt for either a sleek leather chaise lounge or go for something with a bit more character. The chairs sometimes seem more like works of art rather than comfortable seating.
Pulling off an interior design for the "modern" look is no easy task. Many people have different ideas about what modern interior design really means, but what it does include is clean, straight lines, unique furniture designs, and geometric shapes. Furniture can be either futuristic looking or just simple in design. Before you decide which modern look you prefer, there are a few "rules" to keep in mind.
First, modern design is all about simplicity. Furniture often has little to no decorations. Open space is another key element. There is never clutter for modern interior designs. Every piece of furniture and accessory should serve a purpose. Geometric shapes are a must-have and can be utilized in every room of the house. Geometric shapes will give you more of that futuristic feel. Color is very important. When you think of modern, you often think of black and white and this is exactly the color scheme to use. Grays and beiges are also used, but feel free to throw in splashes of color. You want the color to reflect this clean and simple look.
The interior design of your bedroom should give off a feeling of relaxation. Consider a platform bed that doesn't have decorations and a headboard that isn't ornate. Nightstands should be rectangular and low to the ground. Accent lighting tends to be silver metal, but you can get away with more interesting colors and designs. Stick with muted and natural colors for the walls and for the linens. Let your accent pieces and decorative pillows be your outlet for brighter colors. The flooring should also be clean and elegant. Hardwood floors will look best. Remember that the goal is to create a relaxing space, so don't fill up the room with too many items.
The living room also needs to express this sense of comfort. Couches and sofas should be sleek and smooth. Benches without a backboard will create the illusion of more space, and the same goes for armless sofas. Sectionals are a good way to divide up your space. Avoid bulky materials and fabrics. Leather and microfiber work best. Black has become the optimal color choice for many modernists. In terms of chairs, you can opt for either a sleek leather chaise lounge or go for something with a bit more character. The chairs sometimes seem more like works of art rather than comfortable seating.
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