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Interior Lighting Design

The Importance of Good Lighting Design to an Interior Space

Just as the colours and materials that are part of an interior have a major influence on the general mood of the person, lighting is just as, if not, more important in defining the mood of the user of the space. It also impacts on perception, performance, security and safety.

In offices, a good lighting design can transform the efficiency of the staff and the general mood. Too dark or bright can have a real negative on your staff's efficiency. Natural lighting should be incorporated wherever possible, incorporating the use of windows and skylights. Lighting control systems are now seen as a must. They can be pre-programmed to retain optimum lux output, not allowing individual workers to change as and when disregarding other workers. Additionally, they contribute to energy saving.

Restaurant and bar lighting is different and must be adaptable. Often the spaces are used both day and night, so a good lighting scheme is important to change the mood of the space. A good general mood lighting is required but accent lighting is often used. Wall washers, ceiling rafts, recessed lighting, coffers, floor sunken leds, are all techniques used to transform spaces. Lighting control systems are again very important in such spaces. The presets will be used frequently throughout the day and will change the mood of

the space immediately and without any time wastage.

LED lighting has been used for years. However, in commercial design, led's have long been too expensive and out of the reach of an average job budget. Nowadays, those costs are being reduced as well as their performance, colour, and availability. The benefits include long live, a reduction of maintenance costs, low heat creation, a good choice of colours, and a huge reduction in electric bills (often up to 90%).

What is the benefit of getting a good interior/ lighting designer involved in a project from the start?

Employing a professional from the start can dramatically reduce the construction and equipment costs of the build. The professional will quickly establish a budget from specified and preferred items. This will encourage competition and thus reduce suppliers costs. A supplier direct who offers a lighting design scheme will solely use their products, those which will maximize their profits but not necessarily be the best for the space. A good lighting designer will reduce your operational costs through a manner of ways. For example, over lighting (often a problem in commercial spaces) will be addressed, reflectivity of surfaces can be changed to increase the brightness of the space, as well as designing good pre-programmable mood sets.

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Interior Decoration

The decorations have come down after Christmas and the rooms are looking rather bare. Winter is often a drab time of year and, even though the promise of Spring is just around the corner, why not liven your January days up by investing in some home decorating. Home decorating ideas do not have to break the bank; there are plenty of ideas which can make an immediate impact on the interior of your home without spending too much money. At the other extreme, however, you could hire an interior decorator and go the whole hog! Whatever you choose, however, there are plenty of home decorating ideas around - from chic and sophisticated to ultra modern, or the contemporary cottage look with beams and home-crafted cushions. Home decorating ideas is really a matter of personal preference and depends on the kind of home you have and the lifestyle you live there.

To change the look on a shoestring, alter the positioning of the furniture. If, previously, it was against the walls, pull it all out and reposition it at angles. What about changing the dining room to the lounge and the lounge to the dining room for an immediate change? Even in the smallest houses, there is usually sufficient room to make this change. I did this one weekend a few years ago and it has become an almost annual alteration. My front room [the traditional lounge area] runs through into the traditional dining area with a large opened out area in the wall between. This 'opened-out' area was knocked through before I bought the house, and it is neither an open-plan nor an appropriate size to be closed off by double doors. It looks what it is - a big square gap in the wall, with a wood surround to finish it off! I have actually arranged with a local builder to have this altered to a brick-faced archway. It will certainly look a lot better!

If you are on a budget, even painting one wall as a focal point will look cleaner and brighter. There are plenty of inexpensive wall hangings you can buy from companies like IKEA, the Swedish company with many outlets in the UK. Plants will also liven up any home decorating ideas - they come in a multitude of styles and sizes and are readily available from garden centres which often have huge arrays on display. If, like me, you keep forgetting to water your plants, you would probably be better advised to place silk plants around your home. Their quality is extremely good and they look remarkably lifelike these days.