Decorating With Light in Mind

Decorating with Light in Mind
When you’re looking for a home, the size of the living room, location and school systems can all be factors that weigh in to your decision. And rightfully so – these are pillars your family will stand on! But when you’re decorating, a new factor enters the playing field – light. While light may seem like a factor you don’t think of, it’s relationship with color can influence everything from the size of a room to how often you might need to paint. Darker colors typically absorb light, making a room look smaller. Lighter colors typically reflect light, making a room look bigger. However, the angle of light and direction your room is facing can also change how much light your room is getting.

So how do you work with these principles in mind prior to painting your home?

Applying What You Know
If you’re to this point in the renovation process, you probably know what color you want to use, what flooring you’re going to install and what light fixtures will complete the space. Prior to installation, though, there are things you can do to make sure all decisions are final. House Logic recommends painting a piece of drywall and moving it around a particular room to see how the light plays on the color throughout the day. You can contrast this with other colors, and even carpet samples, to see if the color you want will look like you’re expecting it to. Natural light isn’t the only influence on a space – you can select different types of light bulbs to make sure your artificial light is providing the types of influences you want in a room. Incandescent lights are known to cast warmer, yellow light, where fluorescent lights cast blues and greens. For a more festive feel, you can also install light bulbs that have been colored red, blue and even green. Recessed light, lamps and elegant light fixtures are all other options that can highlight details in a room and bring out facets of your personality.

Other Helpful Tips
You can also go with certain colors to encourage a particular feeling in your home. For example,painting rooms with less light lavender or pale yellow can mimic natural light. White is also a way to instantly brighten up a space. In contrast, blacks, reds and browns pull light into them and can make a room seem smaller. While they’re great, bold colors for accents and statements, they’re not go-to colors for brightening a room.

Although paint is what we do, it’s not the only tool at your disposal. Selecting quality pieces of furniture is another great way to influence how open a space may feel. Windows are another design element to your home. You can leave your windows bare or select quality fabrics that reflect your home’s theme and colors that enhance the mood in a room. Rugs and runners are another great way to incorporate quality fabrics, prints and personality in a room.

Your home is a sanctuary that should reflect where you are in life. We have more than 15 years of experience with paint and have an eye for matching color to make your vision a reality. Contact Page to get started on your next project.