No One Wants to Live in the Bat Cave
By Dawn Westdawn.west@interiordesignschoolreview.com
When Christian Bale goes spelunking down into the bat cave in "Batman Begins," his descent into the dark, underground chambers has us cheering. When we walk into a dark, cave-like home, the feeling's not quite the same.
Sure Batman has the dark bat cave, but upstairs Bruce Wayne has plenty of illumination. From well-placed windows to beautiful lighting fixtures, interior lighting that makes a home warm and welcoming will be a hit every time. Here are a few lighting tips that will help you brighten any space -- bat cave or bedroom.
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Interior Lighting Tip #1 -- Invite Sunlight In
Big windows lighten up a room like nothing else. If a room has minimal windows, add some more! Not everyone is up for knocking out walls, but if you're daring, adding more windows can transform a room. If your walls are staying put, lighting that mimics sunlight is a beautiful way to enhance a room. New light bulbs with whiter light are a great way to start.Interior Lighting Tip #2 -- Avoid Dark Corners
While you don't want floodlights in a cozy study, having enough lighting to warm all parts of a room is an important part of a successful interior lighting scheme. Dark corners are a little bit creepy, and when it comes to home decorating, "inviting" beats "creepy" every time. Solving the problem is as easy as adding lamps, sconces, or overhead lights. No matter how you tackle the corners, just make sure you do.Interior Lighting Tip #3 -- Choose Focal Points
Whether it’s a beautiful painting or a beautiful dining table, choosing a spot to shine some light can be a great way to add interest and life to a room. Track lighting is one way to go, but a chandelier or even just a warm lamp can help create diversity in a lighting scheme and can help draw attention to one part of the room.About the Author:
Dawn West teaches writing at Oregon State University. Her previous experience includes working for the Community Development Venture Capital Alliance, a not-for-profit in New York City, and serving as the director for an educational program for at-risk youth in Boston. Dawn holds a B.A. in English from Harvard University.
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