Lighting has an enormous impact on your interior space. Used properly it can be used to create a ‘feature’ in a room, set a ‘mood’ or help you perform a certain task or set of tasks, as in a kitchen or study.
“Careful planning is essential for functional and stylish lighting” says Fofi Gourlas, founder of Fofi-by-Design and senior stylist at Style Plantation. “Factors to consider include the purpose of the room that will determine the wattage and the desired mood. Like colour, the use of light and shadow can give a space that extra dimension. Think not just about what you are illuminating, but what you are casting into shadow. We all know that light is an extremely important factor for us, our health and spirit – so it is good to know how to use it properly”.
General lighting in the form of down/halogen lights or a ceiling pendant. Washing the walls or floor with light, such as a row of down lights in a hallway or over a feature wall can be intuitive – think about motion sensors to illuminate a hallway as you approach. General lighting does not need to just “light up” the space, it should also create definition to the space, and create an interesting visual effect – such as a pattern on the wall.
Task lighting in the form of a desk lamp with strong wattage for reading and writing. As well as helping you to read, a desk lamp eliminates shadows on your desk. Task lighting in a kitchen is very important – think also about outdoor cooking areas such as a spotlight over the BBQ.
Feature lighting: to add maximum impact to a room or provide a focal point to a space. Typical areas include an entry or foyer, over a kitchen island/bench-top, in a high stairwell, foyer: a large hanging chandelier works well in either a modern or traditional style. Uplighting can enhance the architecture of a space, by illuminating columns or plants giving a more dramatic lighting effect.
Mood or ambient lighting has an important place in the living or dining room. Here the general background lighting would be pendant or ceiling down lights on dimmers, together with a table lamp on a sideboard; or a stylish floor lamp positioned in the corner of a room.
Try these lighting stores or view their websites for more ideas.
Yellow Goat Design, innovative and creative YG design regularly works with designers.
In addition to their own fantastic range of lights they do bespoke designs.
http://www.yellowgoat.com.au/
Beacon Lighting, offer a great choice for a full range of conventional and contemporary lighting.
www.beaconlighting.com.au/
Artemide, are at the high end of the market, Artemide is an Italian manufacturer of very modern designs http://www.artemide.com/
