What should be avoided is the temptation to put modern conveniences in period dress?
Color
Color can play an important part in disguising or enhancing the proportions of a room. You can make the room feel spacious with pale, cool colors, or draw the surfaces inwards with warmer tones and darker colors. Look at the proportions of a room. High ceilings may make the room appear cavernous so dark colors or patterned finishes will reduce that feeling and hence the room feels and looks costlier. Relieve the class trophic effects of low-ceiling.
Cottages and modern houses with pale colors on the ceilings
Paint effects applied to doors
ABOVE A blocked-up doorway has been turned into an open display area with shelves that house a fine collection of china. The dado rail continues across the opening J and a trellis screens the radiator behind. Windows, for example, help to diminish their importance so they are not so noticeable. Other visual color techniques are vertical stripes to give the impression of height, and dominant all-over patterns to unify a large space by making the walls appear to advance.
Picture rails and dado rails, dividing the room into bands of color can also help to reduce the apparent height of a room, but avoid too many divisions if ceilings are low. On reflection Mirrors are invaluable because they increase both light and space and add to the decoration of a room - as well as serving as a looking glass. Mirror can be fitted behind shelves to increase the impact of plants or ornaments. Placed next to a window, in traditional pier-glass style, it will increase the availability of light; while an overmantel mirror balances and increases the impact of a fireplace.
STRUCTURE & STYLE LIGHTING
The aspect of a room regulates more than the quality of the light. It also determines when the room will be sunniest and this may help to decide its function. Dual aspect rooms which face north-south or east-west have the advantage of receiving light throughout the day but most homes are designed with rooms which face one way.
In the northern hemisphere, an east-facing room may make an undesirable bedroom for all except early risers but could become a delightful breakfast room which will be filled with sunshine at the start of the day. It may be less suitable for a sitting room where you relax in the evenings unless it is used by the family throughout the day.
A west or south-westerly aspect is ideal here. A south-facing room will make a better living room than a kitchen, screened with a protective awning to prevent it becoming uncomfortably hot, while north-facing rooms receive a cold, clear light which artists and many students prefer. Geography is important too. Towards the tropics the fierce sun may dictate a cool or dark color scheme, while in temperate countries pale, light- reflecting colors will be a more popular choice.
Artificial light Lighting in the home must do more than dispel the darkness. It should highlight the features of a room, give general background illumination or direct light for working, or create atmosphere with soft pools of light. Candlelight for special occasions creates a sense of theatre all its own, but for everyday use most settings need at least two types of lighting , and busy rooms, such as family living rooms, require all four.
Bright ideas Decorative light fitting include chandeliers and candelabra, pendant lights and ceiling fittings, wall lights and table lamps.
