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+--- Thread: need lighting advice (/showthread.php?tid=183323)
Re: need lighting advice - cbelt3 - 09-24-2015
I vote with Black. Spots were intended to 'draw the eye' to some feature of the room. And make it too dark to function in. Of course you could just put UV spots in and focus them on fluorescent velvet paintings of Elvis and Jesus riding Unicorns.
Re: need lighting advice - Black - 09-24-2015
If the side lights are bright enough you could also get away with one of these in the middle:
Re: need lighting advice - davemchine - 09-24-2015
I am totally up with the starship enterprise light solution. :-)
In my mind I was thinking of simply replacing the existing light fixtures with something that would provide more light. Low cost solution. The current light is just not enough. It is always super dark in that room.
The room is actually a combination entry way and living room and is quite large. I posted previously about improving a chandelier in the entry way. I wonder if two matching chandeliers would be the answer? I'm not very good at picturing how things would look.
Here is an image that shows the whole area. The size of the room makes lighting challenging. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm going to spend a lot more time going over them this evening.
Oh, and we will address the beams at a later time when we can remodel. We are hoping to install hardwood floors and then paint walls and ceiling and maybe put in sky lights but that will have to wait a year or two.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2862082/living%20room%20light2.JPG
Re: need lighting advice - SteveG - 09-24-2015
I'm leery about those chandeliers...
Re: need lighting advice - steve... - 09-24-2015
I think a couple of brighter table lamps, one in the back right corner and one on the cabinet at left (your last photo) would improve things. It wouldn't cost anything to experiment by placing some from another room to see what it would look like. Also, I don't see what the ceiling lights are contributing at all - they just seem to be accenting empty space.
And I vote to lose the wallpaper on the end wall. :-)
Re: need lighting advice - datbeme - 09-24-2015
Those last pics help a lot. The small existing spots seem fine, but high ceiling lights like that can only service as accent lighting. You can't expect those to light the entire room.
I'm in no way a lighting expert, but I think it needs to be done in layers. You need more/other sources of light—not more light pointing down at you. Seeing the wide angle shot makes me think some sconces would help on the side walls. A chandelier could be the answer, but you already have a pretty distinctive one in the adjoining area. I think the sconces (lots of sizes and styles which will influence the design of the room), table or floor lamps, and possibly additional accent spots will fill the area quite nicely while adding interest and complimenting the architecture.
Re: need lighting advice - datbeme - 09-24-2015
I don't think that's wallpaper. That's a finish, right?
Re: need lighting advice - Ombligo - 09-24-2015
POn second thought, send the pics to TLC and hope on of the home design shows take an interest.
Re: need lighting advice - davester - 09-24-2015
That room screams for an interior designer. There are too many wacky disparate elements for a mere mortal to handle.
Re: need lighting advice - davemchine - 09-24-2015
Thanks again to everyone who offered advice. I was looking for a bandaid and now I see I need a larger solution. I know Davester is right when he says the entire room needs a make-over but as I mentioned it will need to wait awhile.
datbeme, you are correct that there is a special finish on the wall. It was a big "selling point" to the previous owners but not as much to us. It does need to be removed. Ironically the people who put it up fancied themselves interior decorators. I think I received better advice HERE on how to improve the room.
Thanks again everyone. I will post pics if I'm able to make improvements.