The lure of lights

One of the fastest and easiest ways to do a home makeover is the intelligent use of lights. The festive season is the perfect time to accentuate your home with decorative lights and add that extra sparkle all around. Here are a few ideas and tips that will light up your special spaces:

Go quirky

Unleash your creative streak — you could choose to invest in inspirational, arty, or unusual light fixtures that serve as an interesting focal point in any room. Or, play-up the room by placing lights differently. Quirky usage of lights go well with traditional as well as a modern styled house.

Save power

LED lights are now doing the job for which once low-voltage lights were used. These are effective as well as energy saving. These tiny, brilliant bulbs can add charm and intrigue and light up even the darkest spaces. LED lights are also a great way to add some colour in a bedroom, living room, study, or even sit-outs and gardens.

Go for the layered effect

The key to a good lighting plan is a layered approach wherein you combine three types of light — functional, ambient, and accent lighting. The goal is to draw the eye to the design elements that are most important in each space, be it spotlights that heighten the beauty of a prized artwork or gorgeous wall scones that uplight with an aura. A combination of lights that are smartly chosen can bring to life any room and lend drama when the occasion demands it. You can choose lights that have dimable and tune-able to complement the look and feel.

Pendant lights

From outdoor spaces to small nooks, pendant lights can make a huge difference to any space. Warm yellow lighting is best used in areas meant for relaxation like the living room or the bedroom. In a living room with high ceilings, a larger pendant makes use of overhead space. A pendant light can be placed at an entrance with a high ceiling or be used as a chic lighting option in the bathrooms. A bold pendant can work wonderfully outdoors as well, particularly at the entrance of your residence. Redoing your home is never about picking a hot-seller or going with what someone says is right. It is all about making it a space you are proud to own and is an extension and reflection of your personality.

To ensure that the sparkle in your home lasts, buy lighting solutions that come with service and warranty guarantees.

Irresistible chandeliers

Adding chandeliers to your living area creates a beautiful and a relaxing ambience underpinned by opulence. Chandeliers act as a show-stopper in any home. It is the glass crystals used in chandeliers that really make these stand out, be it Murano, Bohemia, Borosilicate or Asfour. Statement chandeliers instantly attract attention. Try and use the brighter shades of yellow, golden, orange, red, and green. These colours complement each other and provide a bright and charming ambience.

— Inputs Vikas Gandhi, Senior Vice-President, Lighting, Usha International