Fall Design Tips: 3 Ways to Emphasize Lighting
BWS Design • September 5, 2018
The days of BBQ’s, picnics, and long days spent outdoors are nearly at an end.
We’re heading towards the crisp days of fall, where the days are shorter and the nights are longer. As you make adjustments for the autumn, it’s a perfect time to make sure your home is an absolute haven.
One of the most important — and also the simplest — elements to consider is lighting. As the days shorten and people retreat indoors, nothing is more important that emphasizing the lighting in your home. Here are some considerations for experimenting with light, color, and coziness this fall:
1. It may be time for new overhead lights and lamps
Let there be light. Fall means less natural light from outside, and a greater emphasis on indoor space. Has the same lamp been gathering dust on your end table for the last decade? Do you use way too much energy keeping your house lit? Consider making some changes to the light fixtures in your home, starting with these quick tips:
- Consider installing a dimmer system to gain more control over the overhead lights in your home.
- Take advantage of the summer’s craft and artisan fairs to find unique lamps.
- Contemplate the benefits of light therapy lamps that may help fight the winter blues.
- Think about making a small investment in more energy efficient light bulbs, both to save money in the long run and add a thoughtful, ecological element to your home design.
2. Don’t be afraid to play with paint and color to emphasize light
A dingy coat of paint can really make a room seem small, dim, and cramped. Take advantage of the end of summer by investing in new paint for your walls, and prepare to be amazed at how it can utterly revitalize a room. Here are some facts to keep in mind:
- Light colors like eggshell make rooms seem larger.
- Darker colors — like a gorgeous navy blue or maroon — make rooms cozier.
- White ceilings can help brighten a room.
- Textured interior paint can add a unique vibrancy to any space.
3. Focus on natural light: window treatments, blinds, and shades
Windows are your home’s eyes out to the rest of the world, and offer the best way to suffuse your home with beautiful natural light all year long. Since you’ll be spending more time indoors as the days shorten, it’s absolutely vital that your windows reflect the way you want to see the world. Specialized window treatments, blinds, and shades can add just the right element to your home and help you emphasize lighting for your unique situation.
- Wood blinds — these are an incredible yet subtle statement for any home. Wood blinds can be adapted to fit just about any style of home, and their natural, warm look will create an absolute oasis in your home. They can be adjusted to block out as much light as you need to make a room seem cozier.
- Roman shades — these classy and elegant Roman shades will truly allow your originality to shine through as you choose the fabric that works for you. They’re also a great choice for smaller spaces since they can be adjusted easily to fit any space, and they work well for families with children and pets since there’s nothing to tug on. You can customize the translucency of the Roman blind to allow the most appropriate interaction with light in each room.
- Draperies — nothing says elegance like draperies. Cozy and warm, draperies allow so much variety in light filtering based on the texture. And they’re extremely versatile, allowing you to let more light in during those dimmer fall days while still maintaining privacy.
- Valances — just like adding a splash of paint to a room, a decorative valance can set the mood for a room. Try to consider which colors will brighten up a dim room, and which will add an element of coziness.
The fall is an amazing time to make your home a perfect oasis for the cooler months ahead. Take the time to craft a home that’s filled with comfort, class, and light. If you’re feeling inspired to make the best of the natural light in your home, contact the professionals at Just Blinds today for a free, on-site consultation.
Expert Advice by Just Blinds
Your selection of window treatment products and services is not merely about getting a job done. Rather, if you look hard enough, you can find direct correlations between the type of person that you are and the window treatment that you select. We have created this personality-based guide to help you best discover what kind of window treatment truly matches your spirit. The Dependable Type: Wooden Blinds You are the person that all of your friends can count on. You are the type of person who truly sticks to your plans when you make them, and you are the type of person who will choose wooden blinds for your home. Privacy is important to you when selecting your blinds, and that is why you find yourself pulled into the idea of putting up wooden blinds. Besides that, they happen to be highly functional, and that's not something that you are willing to pass up either. The Planner: Blackout Curtains Those who value truly getting the most value out of their blinds or anything else that they install in their homes will think very carefully about their options. For those people, going with blackout curtains makes a lot of sense. They want to gain as much value as possible out of their options, and they know that they can significantly improve their quality of sleep and so much more when they opt for blackout curtains. These also happen to be a great option for those who work night shifts or other odd hours and yet still want to enjoy their sleep. They need blackout curtains to help increase the quality of that sleep and allow themselves to get their day started right. The Tech Enthusiast: Smart Shades They roam among us: The type of people who are quick to adopt any new technology and get to work figuring out how it can improve their lives. These people are great because they are not afraid to take a risk and because they help to move our society forward. They simply want to get more out of each day, and they often do so by adopting and using the latest technologies. These individuals will gravitate towards smart shades for the following attributes: Innovation - Who wants to stick with the boring old ways of shading one's house? Smarter options are now available, and you better believe that the tech enthusiasts among us are willing to latch on to them. Efficiency - These shades are a more efficient option for those who care about that kind of thing. They can be easily activated and set up to open or close automatically (how cool is that?!). Progressive - The "cool" factor is a big deal for people who fall into this category as well. They might not admit to it right off the bat, but they care deeply about what others think about them. As such, they want window shades that have that cool factor attached to them. The Dreamer: Sheer Curtains Finally, we land upon the dreamer. This is the person who views every day for the possibilities that it can bring. They are not scared off by those with a negative attitude. If anything, they believe that they can change those people! Instead, the dreamer wants sheer curtains because they bring in soft light, open spaces, and bring about a feeling of possibility all throughout the house. Sheer curtains are the ideal option for someone who classifies themselves in this way. They will receive plenty of compliments on their curtains, and they will appreciate how open they are to the world. Which kind of person are you and which window treatment option makes the most sense for your personality? For more inspiration and ideas, reach out and contact us today.
We all know and understand the concept of installing outdoor shades on a patio. It is the classic way to create a cool and comfortable space for yourself and your friends to spend some quality time together outdoors. There is nothing wrong with that, but it is limiting to think that the patio is the only part of one's property where outdoor shades are appropriate. There are some surprising and unexpected places where homeowners have taken to installing outdoor shades recently. We want to take a look at some of these to provide you with ideas for your next home improvement project. 1) Balconies Some homes are built quite close together, and some homeowners naturally feel like they would like to do more to protect their privacy. Although their neighbors might not intentionally be looking through their balconies, it is easy for the human eye to drift. Thus, some city-dwelling homeowners have made the choice to install outdoor shades in this area. On top of keeping prying eyes off of your property, outdoor shades also block the sun rays from your balcony as well creating a more comfortable space to spend some time. 2) Outdoor Kitchens One of the most delightful social experiences that someone can have is to invite over a large group of friends for a meal cooked outside. It gives everyone the opportunity to share stories, laughes, and a bit of food all at the same time. Of course, this is best done in an outdoor kitchen. Your outdoor kitchen is a space where you should feel comfortable and have the ability to entertain a large group of people all at the same time. This means looking at installing outdoor shades to provide an extra layer of protection from the heat of the sun. Thus, this has become another area where homeowners are quickly installing outdoor shades. 3) Poolside Lounges Now we are really talking! Who doesn't love to kick back with their favorite cold beverage and spend some time relaxing next to the pool? That is what you can enjoy more completely when you set up a poolside lounge with outdoor shades. Poolside lounges are meant to be a place where you can spend several hours at a time. However, it can get pretty hot while doing so if you don't put some outdoor shades in place. Get those shades up so you can let all of your worries melt away as you take in the smell of pool water and sunscreen. 4) Garden Areas Do you enjoy a little gardening in your downtime? You might like it even more after setting up outdoor shades that protect you from the excessive heat of the sun. Gardening is labor-intensive work and can take several hours of diligent labor to do it properly. However, you don't want to overextend yourself and end up getting physically overworked. Keeping some of the sun away is an excellent way to ensure that you don't overdo it. Just make sure that you check up on the sunlight needs of the various plants that you intend to put into your garden before installing outdoor shades. 5) Exterior Windows Did you know that it is possible to reduce your energy bills by installing outdoor shades? It's true! If you place outdoor shades on the exterior windows of your home, you can reduce the strain placed on your air conditioning by naturally reducing the overall temperature within your living space. This means less money out of your pocket and more money for working on your next project. There are many interesting places where homeowners are installing outdoor shades these days. For more creative ideas on what you can do with yours, reach out and contact us now.