Tag: TV

The Rules of Lighting

This episode discusses the traditional lighting rules (general, task and accent lighting), why they are misleading, and how to use lighting to create a comfortable sense of space.

Most decorating shows will tell you to include
(1) general lighting
(2) accent lighting and
(3) task lighting.
But these recommendations are propagated by light manufacturers.

General guidelines for lighting if you want to create a comfortable sense of space:

Table and floor lamps can provide general lighting and task lighting for most spaces.

Have at least three table or floor lamps. This eliminates most stark shadows.

Arrange your furniture and tables to pull your lamps toward the center of the room. Try to have them at your conversation circle.

More lights with lower lumen bulbs are better than fewer lights with higher lumen bulbs. Check the lighting in almost any swanky restaurant or bar to see this.

References:

Sense of Space

Basic Furniture Arrangement

What Are Scale and Proportion?

This episode discusses the terms “proportion” and “scale” and how they will be used in this series.

Scale and proportion are often confused in the interior design world. On Roominess, we’ll talk of things being “out of scale” if ALL of the dimensions of a piece (say a couch) are too small or too large for the space.

We’ll talk of things being “out of proportion” if just ONE or TWO of the relative dimensions are too large or too small.

If you run into a scale or proportion issue in your house, try these tips:

1. Add emphasis to the end wall of a narrow space. This will visually balance the space to seem wider and not as long. You can do this with an accent color, art, or a bookshelf.

2. If your art is out of scale (too small) for the wall, group several pieces of art together. The overall grouping will appear to be an appropriate scale for the wall.

3. Art that is out of proportion with a wall (a tall thin piece of art, for instance) can still be used effectively if it is paired with other art that creates a better proportioned grouping.

4. A square or round dining table feels out of proportion in a more oblong dining room. You can (a) put in extra table leaves or (b) create a secondary furniture grouping at one end of the room.

5. If your living room is longer in one direction, align your couch with the short direction of the room if you can.

Fear of Color

This episode discusses the fear of color and talks about three examples.

Many people are “afraid of color.” In most cases, the problem is not color, but contrast. If you run into a color problem in your house, try these tips:

1. Add more color to the room with art, accessories, rugs, curtains, etc. More color in the space will decrease the overall contrast of a room.

2. Pull color into the center of the room (rugs and accessories) to deemphasize dark or bright walls closing in the space.

3. Make sure to have enough light in the space at night to avoid colors appearing too dark.

RoominessTV Introduction

There are lots of decorating shows and magazines, but very few explain the process of interior design well.

This is the intro video for the RoominessTV tutorial series. You may be interested in the series if
(1) You don’t understand the process of interior design
(2) You already have furniture and don’t plan on a “makeover” of your space.
(3) You don’t have a budget for interior decorating. It just happens.