Unless you’re planning a dramatic remodel, there’s only so much you can change about the bones of your house. Of course, you can give any room a new coat of paint, replace the furniture or lay down new flooring. But at some point, your home is what it is and you have to work within its limits to bring out its best side. With the right mindset, you can tackle this exciting challenge head-on and drum up visual interest without going so far as to rip out any walls or start over from scratch.
If your home’s design has been feeling a bit run-of-the-mill lately, it might be because some of the most interesting features are flying under the radar. Remember how excited you were to pick out your furniture, fixtures, and appliances? Now they’re second nature to you, and you don’t even give them a second glance. If your living space has been feeling ho-hum lately, that’s the first sign that you need a shift in perspective.
The solution could be as simple as revamping your lighting scheme. Keep reading to learn more about four ways to highlight interesting features in your living space with nothing more than a few strategic modern light fixtures.
Accent Your Art
You handpicked every piece of art hanging on your walls and hung it just so. When the sun goes down, do they retreat into shadow, creating a homogenous “no man’s land” of darkened wall? If so, that’s certainly not doing your living space any favors. It’s time to take a page out of the book of world-famous art museums and prioritize lighting.
When you stroll through the Museum of Modern Art, you don’t have to squint to see the tapestries and canvases. They’re the focal point of the room, thanks in part to a dynamic lighting scheme! Do your wall hangings justice and invest in picture lights that shine direct light on the wall hangings. This will add a quick dash of grandeur to your home with little hassle.
Show Your Shelves Love
The knick-knacks on your shelves are a clue into your tastes, your memories, and your personality. Between the vacation artifacts, photographs, books, and tchotchkes, your shelves have a story to tell.
Why not add some focused light to illuminate what’s hiding in plain sight? Installing a row of track lighting overhead is a great touch, as it allows you the flexibility to aim the lamps wherever you please. This boutique lighting will turn your shelves from mere storage units into a centerpiece for all to gaze upon.
Spotlight Favorite Furniture
Do you have a certain mid-century modern lounge chair that’s the pride and joy of your living room? Is your vintage sofa a real show-stopper, provided that people can actually distinguish its velvety texture and rich color? Do you have a one-of-a-kind handcrafted piece of furniture in your home that you just love? The solution is simple: Shine a light on it.
LED floor lamps are a premier choice because they’re flexible, portable and undeniably stylish. Many models have helpful moving arms, allowing you to position them just so to highlight your favorite piece of furniture (and create the perfect space for reading, playing a board game or simply shooting the breeze). And when you get sick of your design scheme again, you can pick up the floor lamp and re-position it to highlight something else noteworthy.
Showcase Textures
Our homes showcase a blend of prefabricated and natural materials; just think about your wood floor and the molded rocking plastic Eames chair in your living room. Sometimes we forget to celebrate this amazing feat! Lighting can help you showcase these details. Try under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen to show off your granite countertops or a table lamp in your office to really play up the natural grain. Little touches like this go a long way in creating depth of design.
Lighting can completely revamp your existing home design and highlight the most stunning elements of your décor scheme. Go ahead: Experiment with different fixtures and enjoy the extra burst of illumination.
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