Latitudes : Interior and Landscape Design Tips & Techniques, Maui Hawaii
Lighting Tips
Lighting is probably one of the most important aspects of your homes overall look. Below, Latitudes' Hawaii interior designers are pleased to offer you some tips on general, decorative and landscape lighting techniques.
General Lighting
General Lighting refers to your recessed, undercabinet, and other basic fixtures. These are used in the areas where you need task lighting such as kitchens, closets, and great rooms. This type of lighting supplies you basic light for entry and work. A lighting consultant can work with your plans and assist in the proper placement of these types of fixtures so you get the best advantage this lighting can give. Recessed fixtures are great for creating ambiance in the house and lighting artwork.
Decorative Lighting
Decorative Lighting includes your vanity fixtures, wall sconces, exterior fixtures and pendants or chandeliers. This area of lighting is where a good lighting consultant can help you make appropriate selections for your lifestyle and the style of the home. Decorative lighting is the final touch to truly making your house light up. We usually start the selection process by asking questions about the direction of your furnishings, style of house and your general lighting budget. With this information we can help lead you to products that are best suited for your particular situation. One of the best ways to help lead your lighting consultant in the right directions is to look through decorator magazines. If you see fixtures such as chandeliers, pendants or sconces that appeal to your sense of style keep the pictures in a notebook and show them to your consultant. This helps in having a better understanding of your tastes and styles. This method helps us to streamline the selection process.
Landscape Lighting includes pathlighting, uplights for trees and decorative features. The landscape architect and lighting showroom usually handles this area of lighting. The landscape architect will usually spec out the lighting locations in the yard and your lighting consultant can then help in selecting the type of product that will be best for your area and budget.
Because of the importance of lighting your home properly, you can never be too early to begin the process.
Tips & Techniques
Accessory Tips
After you have made your decisions for the basic furnishings of you home your next area is to accessorize, this is the area that separates us for all other forms of life.
Accessorizing includes such things as wall art, decorative table items, table and floor lamps and floral arrangements. With proper selections and placement these items put that finishing touch and pull together all aspects of you interior design. In selecting your accessory items you should look at how you want to use them. Colors help to draw the eye to a particular area or piece of furniture. Interesting boxes can serve as storage on a coffee table as well as conversation pieces. Artificial floral arrangements and plants add a natural touch to your room as well as bringing in more color. Table and floor lamps provide light for reading and general lighting. Table lamps can also be works of art. You don’t have to necessarily match lamps, selecting lamps that are similar in colors, size, style or shade size can create a very interesting look in your room.
Accessorizing can be the most fun part of you interior work. You have the chance to take time in making your selections; there is no rush to finish.
