Light has effect on colour

• Professional interior designers and colour consultants consider the direction a room faces. Whether it is north, south, east or west, makes a great deal of difference to the choice of colour scheme.
  
• For instance, a bedroom that faces east and receives strong morning light will look very different when next seen late at night in artificial lighting. A west facing room that has a warm glow in the evening can look dull in the mornings. The choice of colour is thus important in all respects.
• Of course, the ideal aspect is not always possible for everyone. City flats may enjoy little naturally available light and be overlooked on all sides.
  
• A north facing room can expect less sun than south or west facing one, but whatever aspect, with clever lighting and colour scheming the interior can be made to feel welcoming and attractive.
• The style of house we live in can also make a great difference to the amount of available light in an interior. A house located in a suburban area with greenery all around may be in a superbly location but have a low ceilings and tiny windows which can make the interior feel dark and gloomy.
  
• Modern homes with spacious open plan interiors and large picture windows will be even more affected by their aspect and seasonal changes. If there is a living room with a patio attached which is used as an additional seating area during sometime of the year and not suitable for some other time, the décor will have to be flexible enough to accommodate the changes.
• For people in doubt over lighting and colour schemes some interior designers suggest to paint a room white before making a final colour choice. This is a good way to observe how changes in natural light affect an interior and helps to make the most of it while choosing a colour scheme.

Diffused even light:
A room in typically diffused northern daylight: shadows are not too strong and the mainly pale neutral colour scheme with colourful accents makes the most of existing light conditions. However at night under artificial light, colours may alter drastically.


Adding light:
A white gloss painted ceiling is a wonderful light reflector and in a dark room can act like a mirror and significantly increase the amount of available light. However, gloss painted surfaces must be perfectly free from paint drips and unsightly cracks and bumps as a high sheen also emphasizes less-than-perfect surfaces!

Matching furnishings
The most usual way to colour match is to look at samples in the daylight. However this does not enable us to judge to judge the effect at home under artificial lighting conditions. Viewing samples under shop lights is also unsatisfactory as they mostly use colour-corrected fluorescent tubes resembling daylight. Neither type of light will give an idea of the average home’s tungsten lighting with its distinctive yellow cast. Carpets and textured fabrics are particularly vulnerable to change from artificial lighting. Synthetic fabrics that match perfectly in daylight may no longer do so under artificial lighting.

Fabric
The effect of artificial lighting on curtains is better seen if a sample meter is pleated and held upright, looking at lampshade fabrics from behind also gives a better idea.

Paint
Window walls will appear darker as they only receive reflected light, ceilings always look darker than walls painted the same colour. It is always better to use a shade lighter than the first choice as when the walls are painted they tend to appear darker than the paint sample on the card.

Carpets
It is better to put some samples on the floor and move them around the room to see how different positions and lighting conditions can affect the colour.

STORAGE SOLUTIONS:

The Room Divider

If there is a need for a divider between two rooms, such as the kitchen and dining room in this example, the advantage of its potential is that it is more than just a barrier. This divider is packed with storage, from drawers for silverware and linens to end-cap cabinets and glass shelves.

A center opening also functions as a buffet or serving shelf, and cutouts at the top of the unit are perfect for storing baskets or bowls. The pass-through also lets light from the dining room doors into the kitchen, giving the whole area an open, airy feel.

The arrangement lets the cook be part of the group, while family or guests can sit comfortably and chat with anyone working in the kitchen. The setup also works well for families with children, allowing parents to observe from the kitchen while kids complete homework and school projects in the dining room.

The Fireplace Wall

Whether the fireplace is in the family room, great-room, or master bedroom, we can add storage with surrounding cabinets, shelves, and drawers.

In this example, the television tucks into a built-in cabinet above the direct-vent fireplace. A deep cabinet, drawers of various sizes, and pullout shelves for books, videotapes, and compact discs flank the fireplace surround.

Both deep shelves on each side and specialty shelves around the windows make great display spaces. Each side is set into a bump-out, so the whole unit projects into the room only as far as the fireplace.

The Kitchen

Unused wall space makes a great spot for a pantry with shallow shelves. Because the shelves fit within a stud wall, they're not very deep, but they can easily hold canned goods, boxed dinners, and baking mixes.

If we install the pantry in a high-traffic area, as in this example, the pantry can be covered with a pocket or folding door instead of a swinging door to keep aisles and doorways unobstructed.

Another advantage of this arrangement is the pantry's location near the mudroom. While arriving with groceries, the handy shelves provide a quick means of stashing the items. We can also build shelves tall enough to handle pet food, household supplies, or cleaning items.

The Dining Room

Most dining rooms include some type of display case, but this one offers quite a bit more storage capability than the average china hutch. Large, deep cabinets flank the main hutch, and a display shelf tops each set.

These shelves make great buffet-style serving areas during parties, freeing up table space elsewhere and eliminating the need for an extra table or portable serving cart. One side of the unit features glass shelves for displaying china and collectibles, and the other features more cabinetry.

Two panels in a different wood tone add visual interest and break up the continuous oak bank. Recessed canister lights highlight collectibles and china on the left side.

The Bathroom

The bathroom's prime storage capabilities should not be overlooked. To relieve a linen closet that's overstuffed, it is better to consider a decorative towel-storage shelf built into one end of the tub surround. Towels can be rolled inside and stacked for a colorful focal point.

For a practical place to store toiletries, an extra-wide shelf should be planned into the border of the tub surround and the whole unit can be finished in uniform tiles for a seamless look. A row of contrasting tiles is an inexpensive way to create an attractive accent.

The Master Bedroom

Space under a bed is typically wasted. In this example, deep drawers are set into the bed's base to offer extra clothing storage, taking pressure off closets and dressers and possibly eliminating the need for freestanding furniture in a cramped bedroom.

The large headboard unit also helps create a furniture look and could serve as a visual anchor opposite a large wardrobe, dresser, or armoire.

In lieu of nightstands, built-ins make perfect storage and display space. A wide shelf holds a reading light, books, and collectibles. Recessed canister fixtures illuminate artwork above.

SOME IDEAS FOR STORAGE:

Orderly Cabinets

Proper access should be kept in mind; it's easier to stay organized when we can reach the things we need on a regular basis. We will also have to consider how using storage might affect traffic flow through the kitchen.

Pullout Perfection

Pullouts make kitchen
storage convenient.

Usually fixed inside a cabinet, these vertical slots for baking trays travel on a platform supported by ball-bearing drawer guides. The ready access translates into less bending and reaching. Continuing the same theme, pans and other kitchen paraphernalia nestle on convenient sliding shelves.

At the Fingertips

The best storage tricks create interiors that are visually accessible and easily reachable, making it simple to see what we do and don't have. A pullout cabinet with wire racks keeps spices, oils, and vinegars visible as well as organized.

Wire racks make scanning labels easy.

Creative Corners

The corner space should not be wasted.

Spotting potential takes a creative mind. Angled or contoured surfaces often surrender valuable room to fixed structural elements. Instead, this island includes a tiered spice rack tucked behind an angled bump in the cabinet, saving steps and a lot of time for a busy cook.

Specialized Spaces

Some of the best spaces in our kitchen might be hiding. We will have to take a fresh look at space which might have been overlooked, and ways we might use it to add function to your kitchen.

Decent Drawers

Attractive storage drawers can be created
With proper care and decency

Storage in a backsplash isn't usually an option, but a pass-through wall into an adjacent dining room provides the depth for this stylish set of apothecary drawers. Small cubby drawers like these are an increasingly popular option in kitchen renovations, adding a lot of organizational punch in a compact and attractive package.

Feeding Station

Even pets have a vested interest in a well-planned kitchen. We can treat our dogs to a custom food drawer that elevates their meal for easier gobbling. The drawer is simply turned upside down and retrofit with stainless-steel bowls: Openings are cut in the drawer bottom just slightly smaller than the rim of the bowls; if the bowls are deeper than the drawer, they should be removed when not in use. Shallow bowls can be used and "leftovers" can be tucked away for the next meal.

Custom-made drawers for dogs or pets

Working Window

A window seat alternative.

Most window seats or built-in benches feature hinged seats that open for storage, but this alternative features drawers perfectly suited for storing linens, place mats, and oversized items. Or, an open niche underneath the seat could easily accommodate cookbooks, small appliances, or decorative serving ware.

Out of sight storage:

Stunning "storage" in a hutch.

Storage spaces can be given a very stunning look. Behind its furniture-like facade, this built-in maple dining room hutch has abundant space. Open shelves on top with built-in recessed lights artfully display the homeowners' collection of fine glassware. Generous-sized drawers below keep china and linens accessible but out of view. Attached to one end is a slab of dark granite, which is used as a serving buffet.

Storage hidden in the background

Even the most generous storage spaces can be unobtrusive. With simple white doors, this row of closets blends seamlessly into the background when closed. Open doors reveal a meticulously planned combination of drawers and shelves. Recessed lights inside the closets triggered by opening the doors ensure that you'll never leave the house with mismatched clothing. Additional storage comes from a built-in bookcase.

Simple as child's play.

A simple storage design can make life so much easier. Clean up time is now a cinch for these kids, thanks to the three pull-down toy bins built under this window seat. Flanking bookcases and numerous well-designed cubbyholes offer space for bigger toys and books.

Tucked under the stairs.

Room for storage can be found in the unlikeliest places, even under the stairway. Rather than cover the area with drywall, these homeowners carved stereo shelves, display niches, and a fold-down work desk around the posts that support the stairs. Open treads allow natural light to reach this newfound space.

Built in Storage Spaces:

Built-in bookcases expand a
narrow room's usefulness.

Everything in a house should be useful. So if there was a need for bookshelves, the best solution to find the proper space is into the wall, so best idea is to build them in.

Savvy Storage Solutions:

The following are some of the solutions for savvy storage:

Prioritization of different items:

It is better to keep items which are used daily in the most accessible storage areas.

Storage items by weight:

The heaviest items can be placed in storage areas between hip and shoulder height; store only the lightest items overhead.

Use of "found" space:

Unused space can be used for specialized storage. The sliver of space beside the refrigerator can be used for a slide-out pantry. The space between wall studs can be used for cookbook storage.

Division of the available space to vertical spaces:

Installation of vertical cupboard dividers can be done to maximize storage space for pan lids, platters, and trays

Curio Cabinets:

Are you a great collector of show pieces?Do you like the traditional styles of showcasing your knick knacks so that all your guests can see them and admire them?Then think of having a nice tall Curio Cabinet at your home..

But when you decide to have one of these either to buy a ready made one available from the market or you decide to make one by your carpenter, several things are to be borne in mind.
Here are some tips from me..

1. Decide on the type of unit you want to have.Will it be a traditional or a contemporary unit?Decide on the colour of wood.
Generally curio cabinets look good if they are nicely polished. Decide on the colour to be used.
Do you have lots of crystal or silver ware or glass items?think of having the unit polished in some dark colour.

2. Definitely have some spot lights fixed on the unit which will make all your showpieces dazzle and prominent.You can even switch of the main lights of your living room at times and light on this unit to give full emphasis on the collection, so that your guests don't even miss a single piece.. Sssh these are some secrets, don't tell anyone ;)

3. Put some nice brass or antique looking handles to the shutters of the unit if you are having a traditional type..otherwise sleek steel handles will go well with the contemporary kind.

4. Glass is the sole and heart of this kind of unit. Make all the shutters covered with good quality transparent glass,they may be etched at the sides making the unit aesthetically beautiful. Put glass shelves inside so that light comes to each and every item present inside.5. The full unit can be covered with full glass shutters or it can be broken into two parts-the upper part being the curio unit and lower one covered and for storage.

6. Various shapes and sizes can be given to the unit.It can be a sleek tall one, or a broad elegant with mirrors at the back, or a round type or even a corner piece fitting so well in the dining room or living room corner.7. Thinking on the lines of a traditional curio unit?Then how about having some nice beadings or mouldings or engravings on the head of the unit that will make it look real classic?Apply your own ideas and innovativeness and have a grand unit to showcase all your collectibles that you have collected so emotionally and have brought carefully from so far.

COLOUR IN THE HOME :

COLOUR IN THE HOME :

There are many variations of the basic colours. The paler versions, which are sometimes more appropriate for covering the walls within our homes, give us the same qualities as the bold colour but in a gentler way. When decorating an area - the complementary colours, and their variations, should be remembered and combined with our main choice of colour by way of soft furnishings perhaps, pictures taken are also helpful to take in to account the aspect of a room. For example, whether we require a comfortable atmosphere in a north facing room or it may even be any other colder rooms in our house, then we should use some warm colours (i.e. variations of the warm colours of yellow, orange and red) to avoid the room feeling colder.

Colours Effects Suggested Areas of Use Violet Calming for body and mind. Good for meditation and prayer. Enhances purpose and dignity. Heightens our awareness and helps us to give of our very best. Purifying. Places of worship, entry areas to clinics and hospitals, festival areas. Pale violet in bedrooms Indigo Sedative. Helps to open up our intuition. The colour of divine knowledge and the higher mind. Not suitable for areas for entertainment but for more 'quiet' places. Bedrooms, treatment rooms. Some people find indigo is helpful for studying so this colour could be used as part of the decor of a library or study. Blue Calming, relaxing and healing. Not as sedating as indigo. Also the colour of communication. Any rooms except those used for physical activity or play. Green Balancing, harmonizing and encourages tolerance and understanding. Depending upon the shade, can be used for most areas. Use with other colours/colour as well to avoid the balance and harmony becoming more like total inactivity and indecision. Yellow Stimulates mental activity, promotes feeling of confidence. Helpful for study as it helps us to stay alert. Activity rooms, entrance halls. Not for bedrooms as yellow can interfere with sleep since it tends to keep our minds "switched on". Not ideal for areas of possible stress. Orange Warming and energizing. Can stimulate creativity. Orange is the colour of fun and sociability Any activity area and creative areas. Not ideal for bedrooms or areas of possible stress. Red Energizing, exciting the emotions, Stimulates appetite. Any activity area but red needs careful choice of tone and depth and the space in which it is to be used as it can make a space look smaller and can be claustrophobic or oppressive. However, used well, red and its variations can make a space feel warm and cozy. Often used in restaurants. Magenta Magenta is the eighth colour in the colour spectrum and is a combination of red and violet, thus it combines our earthly self and spiritual self, thus balancing spirit and matter. It is uplifting and helps us to gain a feeling of completeness and fulfillment. Lecture spaces, chapels, halls etc. Not ideal for play rooms or activity rooms. Turquoise Cool and calming and good for the nervous system and immune system. Any room except it is not ideal for activity areas. Pink This colour soothes and nurtures. It helps to dissolve anger and encourages unconditional love. Ideal for a baby's or child's bedroom. Black Black used with another colour enhances the energy of that second colour. Black gives us the space for reflection and inner searching. Not ideal as a single colour, but when used with care, can enhance and complement other colours in almost any situation. White White contains all the colours. It emphasizes purity and illuminates our thoughts, giving us clarity. Any room, but it can be a little intimidating to some. Needs to be broken up with another colour or with plants/ornaments/pictures etc.

Room By Room Schemes:

Let us discuss and get some ideas about how to decorate a house or an apartment room by room. Here are just some key ideas to make your space look vibrant and comfortable.

The Entrance or the Hall:

These are some examples of the entrance staircase and the hallway. The entrance should be grand and welcoming. Hence warm colours can be used for the hall leading to the staircase.

All these examples show the colours chosen are quite vibrant. For a long corridor however some colour that approaches and for a smaller hall a colour that recedes should be used in a proper way.

Lounge:

The lounge is the area where people spend most of their time.

Hence the colour used here should not be very irritating to the mind. If very vibrant colour is used it should be used quite carefully.

These examples show how proper groupings of objects are being made to break the big lounge into small cozy corners.

The lighting of the lounge is also very important. Subdued lighting should be used to give the atmosphere of restfulness.

Dining Room:

This room is place where people tend to spend some time. Hence can be coloured in some interesting fashion.

If however it forms the integral part of the living room then it should be generally treated with the lounge as a single scheme.

The main attraction here are the centre table and the chairs and the focus should be given to the tabletop with proper illumination.

Kitchens:

These are the places which we spend for preparing our food. These should be well illuminated either by natural lighting or else by artificial lighting.

Vibrant colour if used should be restricted to some walls and should not be fully applied over the entire kitchen as the kitchen produces warmth and its better not to use very warm colour all over in the place which adds up to more heat.

Bedrooms:

These are the most important places in the house. People take rest in these rooms hence the colour scheme of these rooms should not be such that it gives some sort of irritation to the mind.

The colour schemes should be very peaceful and restful. The examples shoe how cream or pink tints can be used in proper shades which give restful atmosphere in the rooms.

Master bedrooms should have a general scheme to the advantage of the users of the bedroom and will have some expressions of the users of the room.

Bathrooms:

The scheme of the bathroom will be dictated by the colour of the suite and if dressing room or powder room is present it will also be in the same colour sequence of the bathroom.

The colour scheme for the bathroom can be anything from grand gorgeous having vibrant colours to mild soft restful colour. The fittings fixtures, the tiles carpet, cork, floors all should be in coherence with the colour scheme selected for the walls.