Tips On Lighting A Bedroom

Tips on Lighting a Bedroom

Choosing the right lighting for the bedroom can be difficult. The room should be calm and dark enough so that you can sleep in it, but it should also be functional enough for reading and all other activities (a lot of people use the bedroom as a study as well). The best solution of course, is to have enough windows and natural light. However, this isn’t an option for most apartments and balancing enough light sources is the second best option.

The size

The size of the room is the most important factor in getting the lighting right. Before you decide on any lamps of fixtures, measure the whole room and get an idea how much space the large furniture will take. There’s a basic formula (but it can be changed if the room has curved walls): the square footage of the room x 1.5 = the amount of wattage needed. Also, have in mind that bedrooms typically have lower ceilings, which is why you should avoid fixtures with longer bodies.

Wall sconces

Wall-mounted scones are an excellent solution for smaller and crowded rooms since they take up least space. Lighting fixtures could be categorized as ambient, task or accent. Scones could be used as both task and accent lighting, depending on the type and placement of the light. Crystal wall sconces could be used to add accent to artwork or other memorabilia. They are a bit more sparkly than the average light, which means they won’t go well with all wall colors, but yellow and beige could be a good match. Also, a sconce with a wide rim could also be used as reading task light and it fit in with both modern and classic room design.

Hanging lights

String lights are a more decorative solution and they leave you with more space for the furniture. It’s also a good idea for those who like to rearrange the furniture often because they can work well with any setup and they don’t interfere with the moving. Sydney Local Electricians could help you set these up in no time and the work won’t leave a mess. It might be a good idea to position the large pieces of furniture before you get the light installed, just to see how they work with the room.

Floor lamps

Floor lamps are mostly decorative and they are designed to create a mood and atmosphere in your bedroom.  Think about the placement of these lamps only once you’ve placed large (or at least most important) decorative pieces. Also, with decorative lights – shadows are as important as the illuminated areas. They should add drama and tension to the décor. The top of the floor lamp should be about 40 inches from the floor and if the lamp is more than 15 inches wide it could be used for reading like any other task light.

High tech

This may not be an option for everyone, but wireless technology can be a great addition to bedroom lighting. Turning the lights on and off from your bed makes things easier and more comfortable, but there’s more to it than that. You can set up different levels of illumination and have pre-prepared mood option that can also be activated from your phone or a mobile device. There are also gadgets that turn off the lights when the room is empty for a while and turn them one when someone enters, but these take a while to be installed and fully operational.

Choosing a perfect lighting can make your bedroom infinitely more cozy and pleasant to be in. Plan the lighting as carefully as all other aspects of the design because it is equally important. In the end, consult a professional electrician for any work that you might find overwhelming.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

Why Hire A Professional Bathroom Remodeler

Why Hire a Professional Bathroom Remodeler

If you’re looking at having your bathroom redone and you’re not a contractor or a plumber, it’s best to leave things in the hands of a professional.  You may be handy and able to tackle a few of the changes yourself, but time and money are both key issues when it comes to renovations in your home, and having someone come in and take care of the job from start to finish can actually save you both in the long run.

Do you really have time for this?

Most households these days are made up of two incomes, and often kids are thrown into the mix as well.  With a job, kids and all of the activities that you’ve already got to juggle through your week; do you have the time to allocate to a renovation project?  Most of us, if we dug down and answered honestly, would have to say no.  Even if you’re one of the lucky ones, and you can pull a few hours out of your magician’s hat, how many of those do you want to spend eating drywall dust and attempting to figure out why that tap keeps leaking when you’ve followed the instructions exactly?  It’s not as if we have an unlimited number of bathrooms to use while you’re on your back under the vanity tinkering away at the pipes.  Even if all goes well and you don’t run into any problems, instead of sacrificing your precious weekends on the project, hiring a contractor could mean having the work done while your family is out of the way at the office and at school and it could be done in half the time. 

Your contractor can suggest a better way

You probably already know what changes you’d like to have made in the bathroom, but a contractor with experience will know just by a glance which of your plans are going to work and which might need tweaking.  The planning stage is crucial in any project and the advice and suggestions from a professional can be invaluable.  If you know you want to update your bathroom but haven’t the foggiest idea where to start, this is also where your professional remodeler can shine.  They know what features are popular and which ones will stand the test of time so that you add long term value to your home.

Murphy’s Law

A renovation project for any part of the house is bound to have its own amount of “Murphy’s Law”.  Just when you have your plans laid out and think you’re making headway, disaster strikes, or you discover that some important structural element was overlooked that won’t allow you to proceed with the plans you’ve so painstakingly drawn up.  It’s back to the drawing board, and do you have the experience you’ll need to redo your plans?  Do you know how to avoid problems in the first place?  A contractor has done hundreds, if not thousands of jobs, and will likely have tackled a problem very similar to yours many times before.  He’ll also know all of the tricks that make renovation projects go quickly and without a hitch.

Experience matters

When you’ve spent good money on the fixtures and other elements for your bathroom, it pays to have it installed and set up properly so that it works from the get go.  When we attempt to renovate without the experience that a professional would have after years of service, we often run into issues that we’re not sure how to fix.  A steam shower, for example, is an incredible way to get the most out of your shower and create a spa like atmosphere for you and your family.   It can help to open your pores and even alleviate some common cold and flu symptoms by opening your airways and allowing you to breathe easier.  In order to get the most from your steam shower, your best bet is to allow someone who’s done it many times before handle the instillation and set up.  If you ever have any issues with the steam shower, your contractor will know exactly what was done and can even have a good idea of the problem before he or she steps foot back into the bathroom.

Hiring a professional to do the job will definitely save you time and headaches, and having the job done properly the first time around will save you money as well.  Their experience and handling of your bathroom remodel can make a potential mine field turn into a renovation project that gives your family the space they’ve dreamed of.

Thank you to Nina Wells who wrote this article. Nina is a guest author from Steam Shower Store and is a respected and expert voice in a plethora of health related subjects with over 10 years of writing under her belt.

Bathroom Remodeling Do's and Don'ts

Bathroom Remodeling Dos and Don’ts

Remodeling a bathroom is a great way to refresh your old bathroom, and add a bit of value to your home as well. However, if you’re inexperienced in construction works or interior designing, this may be a bit of a challenge for you. Nevertheless, if you have a clear vision of what you’d like your bathroom to look like in the future, check this guide and be sure not to make any mistakes during the renovation process.

Pick the Right Surface

If you decide to change your old tiles, this time pick the porcelain ones. Unlike ceramic tiles, porcelain ones come in many shapes, sizes, patterns or colors and are much more durable than ceramic ones. What’s more, you can even choose the plank pattern, so it could like a hardwood floor. However, the color and pattern isn’t the major thing to think about. The most important thing to keep in mind is how slippery the tiles will be. Both those in the shower area and outside should be safe enough to walk on when they’re damp.

Don’t Forget the Lights

Quality lighting fixtures are an essential part of every home. If you want to have a well-illuminated bathroom, but also a perfectly designed space, don’t forget to invest in some fancy lighting fixtures. Ambient lighting with ceiling fixtures can be a fabulous upgrade to your bathroom. Wall-mounted shaded lights by the mirror, recessed fixtures, or sconce lights ‒ choose the one that you like the most and that you think would look best in the bath and go for it. Without proper lighting, you can be at risk of hurting yourself, so invest in some good lighting.

Don’t Move the Ventilation or Plumbing

Plumbing and ventilation are some of the most important features in the bathroom. Therefore, if they’ve been functioning properly, you have no need to change or move them to another place. Moving the plumbing can be dangerous, and it can cost a fortune. Not to mention, with all this additional work, the remodeling can take even longer than you expected. Furthermore, try not to block the ventilation with any new feature or décor in the new bath. It’s essential that the bathroom has proper ventilation system, since it can get steamy. Unless it’s air-conditioned properly, mold will appear in the bath causing you a lot of problem.

Expect the Unexpected

Renovation is a long and daunting process, so even when you think everything is almost complete, something will go wrong. Whether you’re faced with a broken pipe, a cracked glass, or a damaged bathtub, try to prepare yourself for these kinds of mishaps. What’s more, don’t forget to include a couple of unexpected accidents to your budget as well, so that you don’t have to go through financial stress too.

Hire a Constructor

The best thing you could do when you decide to remodel a bathroom, is to call a professional. You may think you are skillful in plumbing and constructing, but you’ll soon be proved otherwise. Therefore, save yourself the trouble of breaking a pipe, and choose some of the professional bathroom renovations Sydney offers. They’ll do the job fast, and you won’t have to worry about a thing.

Remodeling a bathroom can be challenging and exciting at the same time. While you’re looking forward to a refreshed room in your home, you need to go through an exhausting process of painting, installation and fixture changing to achieve the final result. Therefore, if you want to make the process as fast as possible and save yourself the additional stress, be sure to pick the right surface for the baths, hire a professional for all the heavy works, install quality lighting fixtures, don’t move the plumbing or ventilation system around, and always expect the unexpected.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith