At BoBo Intriguing Objects at High Point this past weekend, I snapped this pic of how they displayed all of their antiques: lot's of overhead halogen lights pointed towards the walls with candles in between. See the "dark in the middle, bright on the side" effect. As Marc from BoBo said, merchandising is all about carefully revealing something to the eye, not creating a blaring showpiece. Much of this can be utilized in the home.
• Cure Clock: 3 weeks to go
• Assignment: Read Week 6: Light Therapy
• Members: 1,360 (closed now)
With week 6 you're rounding third base and heading for home. This is the week to dig deep, catch up and then plan to bring everything in for a landing in the two weeks after. If you've taken on too much, this is your chance to recalibrate and down shift a little bit. If your momentum is good and you're right on track, this is your chance to push hard and deepen your Cure. Either way, make sure you "tweet your week" and then let's chat about lighting.
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Along with paint and color, lighting is a powerful element of room design, AND one that needn't cost a lot of money. Good lighting requires only two main things:
1. Enough Light - At least three points of light in every room. You'd be amazed how many people don't have this OR have it but don't turn it on.
2. Good Placement - Lighting should always be indirect and never create a glare that makes you wince.
To illustrate this, take a look at some eye candy pictures. Each of them shows a good example of lighting and will help you to see what it is you want to achieve in your own home.
In my Bloomingdale's window in late January (pic where with Sara taking a closeup picture), I put three lights in each of the three sections of the room (left reading chair, middle chandelier, right table lamp for sofa reading) as well as using the overheads to bounce off of the back wall and to pin-point a few objects. In homes all of the above applies except the pin-pointing of objects in the middle of the room. Light that bounces off of things and then comes to you or is filtered in some way always feels better.
Good lighting makes a room and even Restoration Hardware has changed their whole direction to accommodate a new lighting style. With darker walls and many points of low light, the room is more active and your eye is led around from cozy spot to cozy spot. This is a pic I took in their new showroom last fall.
Here's a lovely living room Kim Salmela designed for her new Hotel Maison line at High Point. Two lamps, on on either side of the sofa not only add light, they also balance the room. The best light here, however, is the sunlight streaming in the window.
This very popular Small Cool entry has a great example of outdoor lighting. Lots of little lights (xmas lights?) work well overhead because they don't glare, while a candle on the table provides a lower, warm point of light.
>> Small Cool 2010: Matt & Jac's Live/Work Space for 2
Two downward facing bedside lights here provide plenty of light for reading while the glow through the shade illuminates the room.
>> Small Cool 2010: Allan's Danish Renovation
Here's a quick pic of Kate and Andy Spade's dining room with - count 'em - two table lamps, one chandelier (@ 6 lights) and ten candle sticks (most from Ted Muehling). Their home has tons of light fixtures that add light and character, as every fixture carries a strong, eclectic style.
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This Week In The Book
In the deep treatment the overall theme is peacefulness. As you clean out your bathroom(s), I want you to get to a point where you are able to put some calming luxury back into them. If you don't have them already, there are some purchases to be made here that can change your bathroom experience.
In the One Room Remedy take a good look at the lighting in your home. I find that most homes are underlit and that most that seem drab or uninspired could be turned around simply by addressing the lighting alone. Get adventurous! Lighting can be very affordable and different kinds of lights will really make your home leap to life. Oh, and there's some painting to do this week for some. Enjoy our small tutorial on how to paint a room. It's basic, but we find that it always helps to remember it when we're painting a room.
Post Index
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Small Cool Lessons: Discovering Small Space Design Ideas That Really Work
Marisa and Peter's Playfully Eclectic Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
10 Low-Budget Pantry Items Everyone Should Have
Summer Recipe: Gluten-Free & Vegan Strawberry Shortcake
I'm exhausted.
I am too, actually. I haven't done anything this week! My mother-in-law comes on Thursday, and I was hoping to have more done by then, but I don't think so.
I am struggling with the lighting issue. We definitely need more lamps, but I am having trouble finding things I like that are in my price range. I am trying to be patient, but at times it's annoying not having adequate light.
alahoop, what's your price range and what are you looking for lamp-wise? I'm always amazed at how helpful fellow ATers are when you give them a project! Personally, I like looking at lampsplus.com and I recently discovered that TJ Max actually has a pretty good selection of table lamps. Hope that helps!
As far as my cure goes, I'm doing one room intensive on my bedroom and polishing up other areas of the house. The bedroom is almost done, I just need to borrow a drill from someone to hang my darn curtains and get a rug for the floor. In that vein, anyone now a good source for sisal rugs or water hyacinth rugs?
I also want to look at dimmer switches to put on the dining room & living room light fixtures.
This is a big weekend for me! I plan on catching up on all those bits and pieces I've had to put off. Repairs will be made, the outbox's items will be recycled or donated, the papers will finally get filed (I ran out of folders!) that clutter up my desk and the bathroom will get a good deep clean as I go through everything that has found its way there.
I can think of no better motivator than the bath I plan to take Sunday night in my fresh, clean and organized bathroom!
If it weren't for the weekly posts and inspirations, I could never get through these 8 weeks. I'm so happy with how things are coming together! Thank you!
I have been unable to find some of my needed furniture (dresser, desk, armchair, coffee table) so far and am starting to consider getting more IKEA stuff because I'm sick of feeling like I'm camping out. I don't *really* want IKEA stuff (maybe the dresser, but not for the rest), but I also don't have much to spend and the thrift stores have not yet provided. Should I wait? Or get something temporary from IKEA?
Angorian, there’s no “right” answer to your questions. Personally, I’m super cheap, so if I’m going to compromise and buy “placeholder furniture” I’d still rather it be from Goodwill/a Habitat Restore/Salvation Army/etc. because that general works out to be cheaper than Ikea and I can always drape some nice fabric over things or even paint an especially cheap/ugly piece. That said, I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with Ikea and if they have something you like, go for it. I’ve had a bed from them that’s held up well for over 10 years.
And, if it helps, one of the easiest, most rewarding DIY projects I ever did was spray paint a standard file cabinet (with kind with two drawers). I used a nice sea foam green, made the handles silver, and used it as a nightstand for years. I loved it! You have all sorts of non-Ikea options if you definitely don't want to go that route.
Squirrely - Thanks for the suggestions. I hadn't even thought to check TJ Maxx, but there is one not too far from us. I will take a look at lampsplus.com too. I don't really have a set budget on this (perhaps that's part of my problem--but the cheaper the better). I've always had issues with lamps, I don't know why. I guess lamps just aren't my "thing" because I never see any I get excited about.
Angorian - We are having that same problem, except we do have the essentials. I can wait, but I find all the empty spots annoying (and things like a buffet or end tables would certainly be handy). If we really needed something, I would absolutely go buy a cheap one just to get something in there. I know they say not to, but come on, how long can you live without a dresser while you look for the perfect one? I second the suggestion to check thrift stores (even garage sales this time of year). Some of my favorite pieces of furniture have been secondhand finds. It's amazing what you can do with paint.
Thanks! What about lighting for lofts? High ceiling....all rooms merged into one place? how do you differentiate the lighting?