Archive for January, 2010
In many of today’s homes, dining areas, like living rooms, have evolved into multi-functional spaces wherein dining is only one of many activities carried out within. As with any other multi-use room, lighting in dining areas should be flexible enough to accommodate all of the different ways the space is likely to be used. This is once again achieved through a layered combination of ambient, accent, decorative and task lighting.
One thing that hasn’t changed about dining rooms (and dining room lighting) over the years is the tendency for the dining table, and the decorative light above it, to be the room’s central focus. However, often the necessity to move the table over to make room for a home office or storage unit means that this central focus isn’t necessarily in the center of the room. This can create a problem for centrally-hung chandeliers and pendant lights.
One solution is to hang the light on a swag chain or a pulley system. A swag chain can allow the light to easily be moved over the table. A pulley system allows the light to be raised closer to the ceiling so that it is visually tied to the ceiling rather than the table, so that it doesn’t look odd if the table isn’t centered directly underneath. With this in mind, another option is to forgo a pendant light altogether in favor of a flush or semi-flush lighting fixture. Flexible recessed lights aimed either at the four corners of the table or at the centerpiece are another option.
In the past, we’ve taken a look at lighting for living rooms, kitchens, home offices and children’s rooms. Over the next few weeks, we’ll help you cast the rest of your house in its best light, beginning with entryways. Whether you have a roomy front porch leading into a spacious grand foyer, or a simple stoop leading into a corner of the front room where you’ve stashed a coat rack, your front entry creates your home’s first impression. The right lighting can help to ensure that that impression is a good one.
Outside: After dark, no matter how large or small your front entrance and the path leading up to it, safety is the first concern. Light any potential obstacles and provide enough light to make visitors feel secure as they approach your home (and to ward off those whose interest in your home is less than savory). Use eye-catching light fixtures to help guide visitors to your front door, and make sure your house number is well-lit. These steps will go a long way toward making guests feel welcome before they even set foot inside your home.
Illusion: Inside, use the lighting tricks we’ve discussed in previous posts to your full advantage to set the tone you would like visitors to carry with them throughout your home. If you feel your grand foyer is too spacious and daunting to new visitors, dimming the lights and directing lighting toward the floor will make the space feel smaller and more intimate. Read the rest of this entry »
As mentioned in our last post, track lighting has come a long way in its evolution from the rigid, clunky-looking design that achieved popularity in the 1980s, giving it a resurgence in popularity and making it one of the up and coming trends for 2010. Here is a more in-depth look at what to expect from today’s track lighting.
The track lighting family has expanded to include three categories: fixed rail lighting, free-form rail lighting, and cable lighting.
A new year often brings new direction–not only personal resolutions, but also changes in social and economic thought that are reflected in home decor and lighting trends. That’s as true as ever in this new year, with continual advances in technology and energy efficiency making it easier than ever to go green with your lighting. Here are some growing lighting trends to watch for in 2010.
