VT Home: Let There Be Light

The old saying “lighting is everything” is without question an absolute in the world of interior design. Over lighting a room can be unflattering, offensive, and borderline clinical. Conversely, not enough light, while sexy and moody, can often leave you in the dark. If you are stumped on which way to go with your home’s lighting scheme, read on for some helpful tips and inspiring examples to make sure you’re on the right track.

1.Put everything on a dimmer.

I always opt for dimmer switches in every room on nearly every fixture. This way, you can use the maximum wattage in each fixture when you need to while also having the flexibility to dim it to a more pleasing level.

2.Indirect lighting is a great solution if you’re about to embark on a construction project in your home.

There are so many options with LED technology that are warm or cool, provide the ideal amount of light, and are the perfect compliment to decorative fixtures and lamps in a room.

3.Be cautious during the placement of overhead spots.

Down lighting above a sofa or dining table that cannot be adjusted tends to be extremely unflattering.

4.Pattern light fixtures and shades add interesting shadow effects to a room and create an intimate mood.

When necessary, try to provide additional lighting options in the room for more functionality.

5.Be mindful of colorful glass globes as they will illuminate the room in a lighter version of the color they appear.

A wall of walnut wood and indirect lighting add a warm and cozy feeling to an otherwise cold and contemporary bedroom.

A very fresh and stylish entrance to a once dark foyer and staircase. The lighting concept remains consistent up the staircase of the 155 E79th Street Development — Pembrooke & Ives

Sculptural lighting in sconces and chandeliers are a huge trend right now. Vintage or new, they are literally – big!

This handsome kitchen in the UK boasts an interesting combination of industrial lighting with indirect, ambient lighting above. This combo works very well with the soft grey exposed brick walls.

Black walls and surfaces with black light fixtures create a sexy, masculine, and moody vibe. It’s Important to have high watt lighting and a dimmer in this case as the black will tend to absorb light and effect functionality.

Using a grouping of lighting of the same or complimentary style is a fresh new way to approach lighting a small dining area, powder room, hallway or foyer.