Guest Post - How Lighting Plays an Integral Part in Interior Design

Using the right type of lighting in your home can significantly enhance the interior design of each room. Being creative with lighting can illuminate specific areas and provide a cozy, warm atmosphere. It can even appear to alter the size of a room. Natural daylight is the most effective light source you can incorporate into your home, but electric lighting is always a necessity. There are several ways you can improve a sophisticated interior decor by choosing functional, but inspirational lighting.

Ambient Lighting

Every room needs to have an adequate amount of lighting to enable you to see clearly. This general or ambient lighting is usually provided by lamps hanging from a central point in the ceiling and supplemented by lights fitted to the walls. As an alternative, you could ask your electrician to install recessed lighting that provides a vertical pool or beam of light. Whichever style you choose, a room with bright, ambient lighting usually looks interesting and inviting.

Illusion of Space

An important element of interior design is to create a large, open space that conveys a sense of calm. You can achieve this by limiting how many pieces of furniture you include and de-cluttering the room effectively to prevent it feeling restrictive. Painting the walls in pale colours can also make the room appear larger. The effect can be further enhanced with ambient lighting reflecting on the wall surfaces to give the impression of a much larger space. By contrast, you can make a spacious room appear warm and cozy by combining soft, dimmable lighting with a dark color scheme. As the lighting creates hazy pools of illumination reflecting on the dark walls, it will make the room appear smaller and more welcoming.

Directional or Accent Lighting

Imaginative interior design often includes focal points such as an ornate piece of furniture, a large, ornamental vase or an artistic painting. By adding directional lighting, you can increase each object's level of interest by simply illuminating it. Some picture frames include small, integral lights specifically for this purpose. Alternatively, track lighting fitted to the ceiling is a versatile choice as the individual lamps can easily be positioned to illuminate one or more objects.

Practical Lighting

Successful interior design must combine an aesthetic, artistic style with practicality. Illuminating work spaces such as a writing desk or a small home office requires functional lamps that emit a strong, bright light. A well-designed kitchen will usually have large, pendant lights above an island unit. Another option is a series of spotlights that cast a clear, bright light exactly where it's needed. Some kitchen cupboards placed above countertops often have inbuilt lights to provide additional illumination.

Types of Lighting

There are three main types of lighting you can choose from.

 Incandescent lights use a tungsten wire filament to create a bright, ambient illumination. They can often be dimmed very easily to make the atmosphere of the room more cozy. 

Fluorescent lighting uses a tube containing gas, mercury and phosphorous to emit a clear, bright light. It's frequently used in kitchens and for recessed lighting. Compared to incandescent lighting, fluorescent lights are about one-third less expensive to run and have a longevity of about twenty times longer. 

The most economical illumination comes from Light Emitting Diodes or LED lighting. It can last up to fifty times longer than an incandescent bulb and uses far less energy than either of the other forms of lighting. The small, versatile bulbs can be used imaginatively to create different lighting effects. They also provide a range of colors that can help to enhance the features of your interior design.

Portable Lamps

Using a couple of portable lamps that stand on either the table or floor can provide additional, practical lighting wherever it is needed. They can be fitted with dimmable bulbs to help your room achieve a particular mood or atmosphere. Convenient desk lamps with cantilever arms are especially useful as they can be positioned with great accuracy whenever you require additional illumination.

Conclusion

Interior design relies on imaginative lighting to enhance the special features and style of a room. By using lighting that complements the colors on the walls, you can easily create an illusion of a more spacious room or a cozy corner. 

Directional lighting is perfect for making an ornamental feature seem more interesting and stylish. Practical lighting that's bright and clear is essential in work spaces such as a kitchen. 

Choosing economical LED bulbs can help to add many different colors and atmospheres. However, these are not always peoples first choice. And remember to be safe and always contact a fully qualified electrical contractor when you enhance your room's interior design with versatile lighting.

Author Bio:

John Keohane is the owner of JK Services, an electrical contractor who helps many homeowners with their lighting needs.

5 Tips on Planning Your Bathroom Renovation With Allocated Budget

Wondering about remodeling your bathroom, and how much does it cost? If you have that in mind to renovate your bathroom for a modern style and fresh environment, you need to analyze the process and even settle for the best design you want with your expected budget.

A unique style of a bathroom can increase the value of your home. So, begin your plan and spend more time looking after your preparation. Here are some helpful tips and ideas that you might need.

1. Set your budget

It’s where you can apply the saying, expect the unexpected. Well, Materials are more costly, plus you will have your labor costs. At some point, ask your contractor or look for bathroom renovation quotes so you can know how much and what materials you’ll be needing — it’s best to seek advice from others and see related articles to add guidance for your cost-effective plan.

If you may want to save money, you can set up your DIY bathroom renovation project so you can spend how much money you allocated — precisely not that painful to pay from your pocket.

2. Establish your bathroom remodeling design

When thinking about bathroom remodeling, it is important to know what features, proper lighting, and space you would like. It should be appealing and clean to go, especially the master bathroom, therefore plan a design with great ambiance and the right layout.

Before you begin planning a bathroom remodel, here are some features you need to pin down: 

• Plumbing fixtures - Focus on purchasing affordable yet good quality — think about replacing the shower, bidet, bathtub, and internet components. However, it will consume more time and money if you buy these.

• Color Scheme - To ensure that your new bathroom fixtures do not conflict with your choice of color, decide in advance. Are you more on dark colors? Well, pick your top picks of color and what’s best for your style.

• Space and utility location - Do you find space to install your cabinets in your bathroom? Where would you like to hide your electrical wires and pipes? That’s surely your question when you begin to layout your bathrooms. Make sure to measure the size of your toilet to maximize your closet space.

3. Look for affordable tiles

It’s not necessary to buy pricey tiles for your bathroom, and you can purchase affordable tiles and find ways to use and place them together to make it nice. Decide whether you'd like to spend your money on a huge shower floor or a bath that is entirely tiled.

Consider using wall paint rather than buying a lot of tiles for your bathroom wall. Instead, you can also recycle your old tiles and drop your designs for them.

4. Labor

You will ask yourself: who will work for the renovation? Will you be asking help from your skillful friend, find subcontractors to perform multiple levels, or get the whole design run by a general contractor?

Looking for laborers who’ll handle the project is an additional cost, so what are you going to do? Definitely, you’ll be jumping off to making a DIY bathroom project instead of paying more money on laborers.

5. DIY bathroom remodel

Instead of thinking about finding contractors, why not do it yourself? Here are things you need to consider, and take a look at our step-by-step guide to find the right way to renovate your bathroom.

Make sure to Gather your tools and supplies

Of course, you will need to have a few items outside the basic toolset, but depending on your renovation plans. Check these few tools and supplies you need for your bathroom remodels:

• Caulking gun

• Hammer

• Tape measure

• Adjustable wrench

• Flathead screwdriver

• Safety mask

• Gloves

• Hacksaw

• Utility knife

• Chalk line

• Extension cord

Steps to renovate on your own

1. Remove bathroom fixtures - Get to strip the drywall and any designs. It's difficult to remodel your bathrooms yourself, so think of a few precautions that you can take to prevent any expensive errors during the demolition process. 

2. Put all new fixtures - This is the next process for you. After removing all the old ones, you can now install your new shower, tub, sink, and cabinets.

3. Install the floor tiles - Now, get your tiles and install them. So, make sure you’re doing it straight to avoid damaging it.

4. Start painting - Hang your drywall; after that, start painting.

5. Put the cabinets.

At this point, your bathroom has now resembled. You can add some designs for a final touch — like vanity mirrors, indoor plants, or stones and check the proper ventilation.

Consider These Tips and Tricks

After reading this, you’ll surely love the idea of renovating your bathroom to an elegant look. If you have an affordable cost that suits you, find the one that can deliver you the highest quality. 

There’s no other reason because you deserve to have a beautiful bathroom. Indeed, start to plan and share it with us.

Home Kitchen Design That Will Make You Feel Like a Professional Chef

If your kitchen needs some renovations, consider the design elements a professional chef would choose. A professional kitchen not only makes culinary mastery easy, but it also makes cleaning a snap. From choosing the right contractor to picking the right floor, there are several things to consider when designing a professional level, home kitchen.

The Right Designer and Contractor

If you want a professional-level kitchen, choose a designer and a contractor with that type of experience. They will know the tricks of the trade. Ask your designer and your contractor for an opinion on the layout, as well as the type of appliances, lighting, counters, and flooring. There are things about a professional kitchen that are not obvious to the casual observer. For example, everything needs to be within easy reach of the work area.

Stone Countertops

Marble or granite countertops are beautiful, but they're also impervious to hot pans and sharp knives. A stone countertop will last a lifetime with just a little routine care. But even if a chip or a stain happens, most stone countertops can be restored. Some natural stone countertops also come with factory-applied sealants and anti-stain warranties to protect your investment.

Brick Flooring

Brick flooring is often used in restaurant kitchens. It's sturdier than many other types of flooring, and it can withstand a lot of hard use. Additionally, certain types of brick, like dairy brick, are non-porous, which helps protect against water damage and bacterial growth. Moreover, brick gives your kitchen a classic appeal that blends well with stainless steel appliances and fixtures. You can talk to a company like Archway Brick and Tile about installing brick floors in your kitchen.

Just keep in mind that cleaning brick flooring takes a little special treatment. Mopping with a mixture of vinegar and water or a mixture of baking soda and water should do the trick. Also, a microfiber mop will hold up better than a sponge mop. Mop vigorously, and if necessary, use a stiff brush on stubborn stains.

Workspace Lighting

In addition to the general, overhead lighting, a real working kitchen needs workspace lighting. Whether it's pendant lights over a kitchen island or directional lights under wall cabinets, you need to put light where you work. It will not only help you craft gourmet delights, but it's also vital for kitchen safety.

Professional Grade Appliances

From sub-zero freezers to high-end ranges, a real, professional kitchen needs professional-grade appliances. The right appliances can make a huge difference to how you cook. Of course, you can cook on any old stove, but having professional kitchen appliances will give you a premier kitchen experience.

Upgrading your kitchen to a professional level can make your cooking experience much easier and more gratifying. Consider these and other kitchen design elements if you’re planning to update your kitchen to reflect your passion for the culinary arts.

Air Conditioning Tips, Tricks, and Hacks You Should Know

We partnered with a cooling company for this post. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.

With ever-rising global temperatures, air conditioners have become indispensable for many people.

However, for all the comfort it brings, air conditioner use does account for 46 percent of the energy consumption of an average American home.

We also tend to work our AC systems to the point of shortening their lifespans, especially if we’re in the habit of keeping them on while we’re away.

Considering the cost of buying and installing an air conditioning system, we’d all want the one we have to last for as long as it should. At the same time, we would like our AC unit to be as efficient as possible.

Apart from regular AC maintenance, there are other tips, tricks, and hacks that will help us do just that. Here are some of them.

Smart Curtain Use

When your air conditioning is running full blast in the summer, you can help it do its job by using curtains, blinds, and drapes smartly.

The above window attachments can help keep direct sunlight out during the day. With your curtains, drapes, or blinds down, you can help keep the temperature inside cool and ease your AC’s workload at the same time.

Do Some Tree-planting

Curtains, drapes, and blinds are good at blocking the sunlight coming through the windows, but they can’t do much about the sunlight hitting the roof and walls directly and making your home feel like an oven.

If your home gets plenty of sunlight, you might want to consider planting trees in strategic spots around the house. 

Trees, specifically those with broad leaves, can provide your home with plenty of shade to keep temperatures down, which should help your air conditioning unit out in terms of performance and efficiency.

Keep The Air Filter Clean

Your air conditioning unit’s air filter doesn’t just prevent dust particles, pet dander, and allergens from circulating in your home.

Aside from maintaining good indoor air quality, air filters also protect the internal components of the AC unit itself.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for air filters to accumulate dust and debris to the point of clogging.

Once the air filter is blocked, it will lead to poor airflow, which will force your AC unit to work harder and longer just to keep you comfortable.

If you use your AC unit sparingly, cleaning or replacing the air filter every two months would be ideal. For more frequent AC use, a once-a-month replacement should do.

Neglecting regular air filter maintenance can significantly decrease the AC life expectancy. A well-maintained system not only ensures a comfortable environment but also prolongs the lifespan of your air conditioning unit.

Wear The Right Clothing Indoors

Some people turn the thermostat way down to keep themselves as cool as possible.

The problem with doing this is that setting lower temperatures means the AC compressor will have to work longer, which leads to higher energy consumption.

You won’t have to do that if you wear appropriate clothing indoors.

Shorts, tank tops, and clothes made of breathable materials like cotton, linen, or jersey help you keep cool.

Wear any of the above indoors, and you can stay comfortable even when the thermostat is at 26 or 27 degrees instead of 18. That much difference translates to considerable energy savings.

Use Fans

When your AC unit is running, you can help it out by turning on fans, which can help cool air circulate throughout your house.

While any type of fan is acceptable, Energy.gov favors ceiling fans when the AC is on, as it allows you to set the thermostat higher without compromising your comfort.

During the summer, set your ceiling fans to turn counterclockwise at a higher speed. Doing so will create a wind-chill breeze effect that will keep everyone at home feel cooler.

Cook Outside

The lower the temperature in your home, the better it would be for your AC unit.

Since cooking on your oven or stove will make your home hotter and your AC work so much harder to keep everyone comfortable, consider breaking out the grill and preparing your meals outside.

All of the above tips can help ease the burden on your air conditioning system. Do them on top of having your air conditioning system serviced professionally on a regular basis, and you will have an efficiently-working cooling system that will last a long time.