# Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Lighting Interior Design Ideas: Lift Your Spirits with Light

First in a series of interior design ideas for lighting.
What is the single most important element in your living space? LIGHT!

LIGHT has the power to lift your spirits or drain your energy. More than any other single interior design element, LIGHT will impact you as you enter a space.

So I’ve created a series of lighting tips that I know you will enjoy! You’ll have fun in the coming months trying new interior design ideas with LIGHT that will give your interior new life and lift your spirits!



The ultimate goal is to have the LIGHT well balanced in the space – so keep in mind as you explore this series: Lighting Interior Design Ideas: Lift Your Spirits with Light, that your interior will be beautifully balanced with LIGHT when you take these action steps. So get ready to enjoy and explore all the ways to get your lighting in balance – and – make you feel totally comfortable in every room.

To get started, follow these steps:

STOP, FEEL, OBSERVE, ACT!

 STOP and FEEL

Walk into any room – STOP - then ask yourself how you FEEL in the space. Do you FEEL your energy soar or drain? Do you FEEL relaxed or fidgety? Do you FEEL open or closed in? Do you FEEL like you want to stay a while or leave as quickly as possible?

OBSERVE YOUR LIGHT SOURCES

Next OBSERVE the light SOURCES in the room. Is the light only coming from an overhead fixture? (Definitely the poorest placement of light.) Is the light coming from more than one source? (Always a good thing.) Are all the walls lit in some fashion? (Most important to feel comfortable in the space.) Are there various types of lights? (Everything from candles to accent lights?) Is there daylight? (Wonderful, but needs to be controlled to moderate the heat and light of the sun.)


OBSERVE YOUR LIGHT TYPES

Next OBSERVE the light TYPES in the room. Is the lighting warm or cool? (Many fluorescents and LEDs, although great energy savers, emit a cool/blue light.) Is the lighting too dim or too bright? (Most spaces are over lit.) Is there a way to create different moods? (Are there multiple switches and dimmers?)

I’m guessing that you have OBSERVED most rooms have plenty of light, but still don’t FEEL totally comfortable and don’t lift your spirits.  Most likely, you’ll find unbalanced lighting is the culprit – so let’s fix it.

TAKE ACTION!

So now, armed with what you have OBSERVED – it is time to ACT and get your lighting in balance! In this series you will find tips to create contrasts and an overall feeling of well-being that will lift your spirits by using multiple sources of light, multiple variations of light strength and making sure all walls have some form of light.


Here are 10 light sources working harmoniously together –
Can you spot them?

Next Week: Lighting Action #1: Switch Your Switches

Please write with your comments or questions for more interior design ideas. Just let me know how I can best help you with lighting solutions that will lift your spirits and create a positive impact in your life. Barbara@barbarakrai.com

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 4:08:05 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Comments [0]  | 
# Friday, October 09, 2009
Make Your Bookcase into a Work of Art

Interior design ideas for bookcase "art":

A bookcase is so much more than a place to store books! It doesn’t matter if you have a lot of books or a few books – or maybe even no books. It doesn’t matter if your bookcase is low and wide or narrow and tall. The approach is the same.

Look at the outside frame of the bookcase as the frame for the “work of art” then fill the center with your “picture”. Start with placing your books, provided you have some, (no paperbacks - please!). Be sure to place some standing upright and some lying on their sides. You can also lean a book with a beautiful cover against the back of the unit.

Add Your Personality

 

“Personality” items include framed pictures – can be people or scenery. I love taking close-ups of nature when I am traveling and then frame those photos as mini abstract art. Pay attention to your frames. Choose an interesting mix – They don’t have to be fancy or expensive. I have one frame with seashells glued on that my grandkids collected here on Clearwater Beach. But be careful not to have any one frame too heavy and jump out at you – keep everything in balance.

Next add some other interesting pieces. For instance, I have a small wooden bowling pin that my aunt won as a trophy in 1929. I also have an adorable ceramic music box my daughter gave me with little birds that move up and down. Then I have an exquisite crystal sculpture – the award for my store design in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.  And, on and on, so you get the idea of adding your “personality” to the mix.

Strike a Balance
 

While adding your personal items is key—there’s a fine line between creating clutter and creating an interesting mix. So be sure to carefully place your items, balancing off the books and creating your work of art - “picture in the frame”.

Keep in mind, sometimes less is more. So go with what you have. Maybe you are just starting out and don’t have a lot of books or items to put on your shelves. That’s OK. Just create a nice balance with what you have. Then it is fun to look for things at art shows or when you travel. But don’t go shopping and buy stuff just to fill your shelves – it is so much more satisfying to add meaningful things over time.

Finish it Off

Finally, small plants are a great way to add more interest if you feel your “work of art” needs it. Sometimes plants are essential and sometimes they are not needed at all. Just continue to create balance if you decide to add greenery to your mix. And, be sure to choose only high quality plants – remember this is your personality you are creating!

So, go for it! Make Your Bookcase into a Work of Art

Need some guidance? I welcome your comments and questions along with any photos you can send and I will be happy to give you additional interior design ideas and tips.

Barbara Krai Interior Design serving Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Palm Harbor, Oldsmar, Dunedin, Odessa, Safety Harbor, Lutz, Avila, Cheval, New Port Richey, Bradenton, Lakeland and all
surrounding Tampa Bay Beaches and regional areas along the West Coast of Florida.

Friday, October 09, 2009 2:39:35 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Comments [0]  |