Creative Home

Archive for December, 2009

If you are seriously considering redecorating your dream home, one of the most important elements that you must spend time and effort on is lighting. Your choice of lighting can significantly impact on the feel and character of the interior of your home. Depending on the type of lighting you choose, a room may evoke a character that is cozy, inviting or detached at the flip of the switch.

The popular trend nowadays is the use of lighting fixtures that complement the architectural design of the home. Specifically, top choices for modern homes include taller lighting fixtures since most modern design today involve higher ceilings. In the past, eight feet was the norm. Today, it is not unusual to see modern homes being outfitted with nine or ten footer fixtures.

Further, interior design experts have also noted the shift in the type of materials of lighting fixtures. Interior specialists and homeowners are now inclined to veer away from the usual resin and plastic look in their lighting fixtures and revert back to the old school in home interior design where copper and brass are the dominant materials of lighting fixtures.

Homeowners are now going for recessed cans as their primary source of light while under-cabinet lighting fixtures are installed to brighten up the parts of the kitchen where major tasks are performed. It is now an accepted norm to provide lighting for the top portions of kitchen cabinets and toe spaces for the warm feel that they want to achieve in the interior of homes. Homeowners are now also inclined to install mini pendants as accents in the overall design of the interior. These lighting fixtures perfectly combine with the chandelier found in the dining room especially if the two rooms are adjacent to each other.

Outdoor lighting is now a hot item as more and more stakeholders are directing their resources on this ubiquitous outdoor fixture. Homeowners are spending more time and money on their patios, decks and terraces. Major players in the home lighting industry have recognized this emerging trend and have started focusing their attention in the development of new and advanced designs of their lighting products that meet the outdoor requirements. They have also used materials in these lighting products that can withstand the elements.

Table lamps, wall scones and chandeliers designed for outdoor use are usually made out of cast aluminum. These materials are more durable and do not rust or corrode. These outdoor lighting fixtures also meet the safety standards required of exterior electrical devices as they don’t short out or cause fire even if they are exposed to moisture and rain. Landscape lighting materials have also evolved into decorative elements. Gone are the days where the security lights look unattractive and plain.

With all the exciting developments and new design ideas presented by modern lighting fixtures and products, home improvement specialists and homeowners alike now enjoy wider choices in the their design options. This is one aspect of the design of your home where you can showcase the character and look that you want to have in your home.

Just a few years ago there was and opinion that rugs and carpets are reserved for houses in traditional style – usually because of their classic designs. But nowadays it is said that modern interior decor can’t exist without modern rugs.

Probably the producers of mats, carpets and rugs decided that it is time for a change. And that’s why they’ve changed their assortment into something with more modern designs. This was a reason of giving mats and rugs a second chance – even in modern and very fancy houses.

Very popular are these days carpets with long hair. But some people should remember that they might not be very practical. Especially when a person have a dog or don’t like vacuuming to much. That’s only an example showing that choosing the right floor covering should be done wisely. Our taste is not the only element that we should think of while designing our floor.

One of most important matters is fabric that our carpet is made of. For example more and more popular are getting now wool, sisal and sea grass. Even if the last two aren’t a typical materials for making rugs. Many people prefer having ecological interiors rather than having carpets made of artificial textiles. Even if the look of the room might sometimes suffer.

For some people more important is a matter of cleaning the fabric that was putted on the floor. That’s why they decide for having washable rugs. It’s sometimes hard to find such rugs that can be cleaned with water and also may be fasten permanently. A good alternative for that is having small colourful mats on the floor covered with panels. It is very similar to what we usually have in the kitchen – washable kitchen rugs and tiled floor under it.

As it comes to colours of carpets it’s of course a mater of taste. But this season most popular are melange textiles. They seem as one coloured textile but they break light in an interesting way. It is better to have few samples before we buy it. Something that is popular in particular season for modern houses might not match the particular modern house.

Choosing the right rugs to modern houses shouldn’t be that hard this season. There is a much wider choice and greater selection than ever before.