Modern Furniture

A child’s first room needs to be bright and stimulating as well as practical. Careful planning means it can be easily and inexpensively adapted as the child grows, like this room where a row of simple cupboard units provides not only ample worktop surface for changing nappies, but will later be useful for play, study and storing clothes and toys. The room has a red, yellow and green colour scheme: naive flower design on white for the walls, a larger splash of flowers on the window blinds and a red and white grid design vinyl on the floor - all easy-to-clean and practical.

Safety is a vital element of design here: electricity sockets are positioned high on the wall, out of reach of toddlers, and provided with covers; windows are protected with lockable bars painted bright green and yellow to match the general colour scheme, while a built-in baby alarm is essential for peace of mind. Lighting has been carefully thought out too with strip lighting at ceiling level behind a bright yellow fascia board and indirect uplighters on the wall, both controlled by dimmer switches for easier night-time feeding. The wall has been painted white between the skirting board and dado rail, to protect the wallpaper from grubby fingers, and there is plenty of room for essentials such as a sturdy cot, covered basket, baby change unit and a nursing chair.

If you can afford it, a separate circuit of low wattage lights is ideal for a child’s room but it is expensive. Whatever you do, try to install dimmer switches so that lights can be dimmed at will and separately, leaving just one light on all night if necessary. Not only is this comforting for the child but it will save running costs.

How do you cover fanlights—those half-round, Palladian-style windows that arch above regular windows? Some people just can’t leave them alone, topping them with Easter-bonnet swags or obscuring them with pleated fanlike shades.
Better to let a fanlight breathe. Hang simple blinds or draperies that cover only the main rectangular window. Or install curtains from a rod above the fanlight, as some designers do. Both treatments have the virtue of simplicity, always a good approach to architectural ornament.

The lighting should also be planned at this stage. Begin with simple wall lights on a dimmer switch. These have two advantages: they can be turned right down at night and the fact that they are built into the wall means that there are no wires or cords for a child to tamper with or trip over. Moreover, this sort of light will be far pleasanter than that given by a central ceiling pendant.

Simple Venetian blinds at the window will filter the light during the day at rest times - or use roller blinds backed with suitable blackout material.

Make your living room more romantic, increase the wattage of the light bulbs to 100 or 150. (It’s essential that your lamps are labeled to accept this wattage; if not, they’ll need rewiring, which may cost about $30.) Then install dimmer switches and dial the brightness down. You’ll get a golden-yellow light that encourages intimate conversations.
Why not just start with less wattage? Because a 100-wattbulb dimmed to 60 watts casts a yellower light - more like candlelight - than a plain 60-watt bulb. So simple but it works! Try it.

Lighting in a bedroom plays an important part in creating the environment you desire. Creative lighting is the most flexible and effective way to change the mood or ambience of a room. The entire look of a room can be lost if proper consideration is not given to the lighting. It is important to realize that light is a medium that can be manipulated, changed and directed for different effects. When searching for lighting ideas, look at the effect the light will achieve, as well as the appearance of the light itself.

There are three types of lighting: background, or ambient, lighting, which provides general light throughout the entire room; task lighting, to read or work by; and accent, or spot, lighting, to highlight special features.

Bedroom lighting needs to meet a variety of criteria; it must be soft enough to be relaxing and peaceful, yet bright enough to allow you to see when dressing. The location of lighting in the bedroom is as important as the light fixture itself. Bedside lamps should be at a height where they shine directly onto a book. Lights located at either side of a makeup mirror are better than lights that shine from above or behind. The same applies to full-length mirrors - the light should be directed onto the the viewer or the subject, preferably from the side.

Natural light will also have a different effect on the look of a room. Skylights and large windows are one way to let in more light. After sundown the look of a bedroom can change dramatically, creating a need for various types of artificial lighting.

There should be a fixture or switch that can be easily accessed from the bed. To make sure they are installed in a location that is comfortably accessible, you may want to sit in the bed while deciding where to install lights and switches. Light fixtures should be located behind anyone reading, so the light falls over a shoulder. If the light is coming from an overhead source, it should fall one foot in front of the work or book; otherwise, the illumination will be too bright. The most effective bedroom lighting layout includes swing-arm lamps with integral dimmers located at the appropriate height.

Color and design will also influence what happens to light in a bedroom. By manipulating all of these elements correctly, you can create a balance of light and shade that has a spectacular effect on a room.