Decorative lighting can be used to not only illuminate a dark house, hallway, or room, but to also add ambience and style to these areas. Specific features can be emphasized with decorative lights, leading the eye to focus on certain objects or facets that are located within a living space. Alternately, structural blemishes can be diminished by the use of strategically placed illumination.

Overhead versus wall lights
A large overhead fluorescent light can certainly be used to successfully light an area. However, such a lighting arrangement usually creates a harsh, interrogation-style ambience within the living space. Such lighting is better suited in a corporate or hospital setting. A more playful lighting arrangement might include installing wall sconces at set intervals along each wall. This can work especially well for hallways. For large rooms, sconces can be directed to display their light vertically, simulating tall, slim columns.

Lamps
In order to create a feeling of intimacy, small lamps may be placed on tables and desks. These lamps can have shades made of ivory-white satin, or they can be of bolder material such as burgundy-colored velvet. Such lamp shades will emanate a given color of light around the room, adding to its ambience and dominant decor. For a whimsical touch, these lampshades may also contain cutouts that allow the light to shine through and cast shapes upon the ceiling, walls, or floor.

Torchieres
Specific features in a room, such as a fireplace or an entertainment center, can be highlighted with torchieres. Such lights solidify the aforementioned items, drawing the eye to their significance via illumination. The torchieres can also convey compositional weight; polished brass, wrought iron, or some other metal can be chosen for the torchiere base, and lead crystal for the shade.
Torchieres can also be used as decorative pieces unique unto themselves. Tiffany-style stained glass lamp shades that resemble large flowers, vines, or leaves can be purchased. Other popular stained-glass designs include dragonflies, birds, and butterflies. Such stained-glass designs are not only wonderful to look at, but they illuminate the room or hallway with kaleidoscope-like patterns colored light.

Playing with light
Lights can be set up so that they cross each other\’s paths, creating a patchwork effect on the walls or ceiling. This effect can be especially dramatic if the lights are of different colors and so create new colors upon crossing. Alternately, mirrors can be placed directly in the paths of the light beams, illuminating the room and making it appear bigger.

Flood and outdoor lights
Lights can be strategically placed around the house and/or within the landscape in order to showcase certain features. In-ground lights can help illuminate flowers, bushes, fountains, and trees. Small solar lights can be used to illuminate a stone walkway. Additionally, a house can be lit up, as well as decorated, by spotlights. For a more dramatic effect, colored spotlights can be used, especially during given holiday seasons.

Windows and natural light
A room\’s furniture and decor can be placed in such a way that the objects themselves pick up and/or distribute light. For example, a large window can be installed with stained glass so that it projects colored light onto the floor during sunset. Alternately, glass prisms may be placed at strategic points along a window so that they project small rainbows onto the walls.

Author Bio: Paul Stratkona has been in the lighting field for more than 16 years. He has been a lighting consultant helping and advising a countless number of homeowners and business across the country. Check out his portfolio and visit our website at www.lightandconcept.com to learn more about modern lighting

Category: Home Management
Keywords: decorative lighting, lights, torchieres, illuminate, light decor