Watt is the issue

Priya Jagat

There is so much to experiment with when it comes to using lamps and chandeliers to do up the house. These elevate the otherwise simple interiors of the house, are a staple décor element at hotels and resorts and make the indoors look inviting. “Lighting should be considered the jewellery of the home. It evokes emotions,” says lighting designer Marcia Zia-Priven. So when you go for lamp shopping for your place, do keep certain things in mind.

Try different options

Pick from hanging pendants, wall sconces, spot lights, up lighters and down lighters. Try these in different permutations and combinations to lend the perfect look and feel to any room.

Besides furniture and upholstery, the lights installed make a room look different from the other. A large centerpiece chandelier adds drama to a room like diffused and dim lights add mystery and bright lights make surroundings exude cheer.

Know thy lighting

Each room requires these three types of lighting arrangement — ambient, task and accent. Ambient guides you through the house, task helps you read a book as you curl up on an armchair and accent draws attention to special art and artefacts. Lamps should ideally be placed at the eye level, wall sconces a little higher and chandeliers and pendants hung from the ceiling. Try to create light and dark areas in the room. Put some objects in the light and leave some in subtle shadow.

Where and why

Pendant lights are used to dramatise entrances and hallways. An unusual fixture over the dining table makes for a perfect setting. To ensure that formal areas like living and drawing room look welcoming, use table lamps, floor lamps and a chandelier. Up lighters, down lighters and recessed lights highlight architectural features and art and collectibles. Kids’ rooms always need some extra lighting. Task lights are very important as these make it convenient to watch television, read a book and cook inside the kitchen.

Power matters

A setting can go completely wrong if the colour of the light doesn’t complement the décor and also if the wattage is not correct. Yellow light adds warmth to a room. The wattage of bulbs used in lamps and hanging pendants should also be controllable. Lamps in different areas can have different wattage bulbs, depending on utility.

Plan in advance

Should lights be added as a finishing touch or pre-planned when the map of the house is drawn? A lighting plan is crucial as light points get marked and wiring is done accordingly. An afterthought means exposed external wires that are an eyesore. Knowing what goes where helps chart out the lighting plan. Plan ample plug points for lamps to avoid wires criss-crossing the room.

The writer is a Chandigarh-based interior consultant