How to set the mood in your home with lighting & colour palette
With Valentines Day fast approaching, we thought it was the perfect time to share our top tips for setting the mood when designing a space. It is important to consider the mood you want to create in your home, and it can and should vary from room to room. Without a doubt, the two biggest factors when setting the mood are using the correct lighting and colour palette.
Lighting
In our work as interior designers in Sydney, one of the biggest let downs we see time and again is when homeowners neglect to consider lighting. Our interior design services are often sought to soften the space and make it feel more romantic. While specifying a set of downlights works from a purely functional perspective, it often creates an overly harsh and sterile look in the home. We do often specify downlights, but this is in addition to alternative lighting sources in the space. Make sure you consider how you and your family use each space, for example emphasising task lighting in areas like the kitchen and home office, and more dim, relaxed lighting in the lounge and bedroom.
We have put together a treasure trove of lighting inspiration so you can make more creative choices in your home…..
Pendants
Wall sconces
Strip lighting
Floor lamps
Table lamps
Colour PALETTE
This varies depending on personal preference, but it is generally a good idea to go with more soothing colours in spaces like living room where you will spend a lot of time and want to relax, and bedroom for sleeping. Soothing colours will promote relaxation, patience and reflection.
Another good option is using deep colours to create a cocooning effect in the space. Deep colours will make a space feel cosy, inviting and enveloping.
Credit to Ikea
Credit to John De Bastiani Interiors
Credit to Lisette Voute
Credit to Room For Tuesday
For a space where productivity is key, use stimulating colours like yellow, red and blue. This doesn’t necessarily mean using them in their primary colour form, there are endless varieties of these hues which are softer and offer the desired effect without feeling extreme or out of place.
Credit to Angelina Gladkova
If you are interested in using fun patterns and colours but feel hesitant, placing them in less used spaces like dining rooms, hallways, powder rooms could be perfect for you. Our eyes become easily fatigued by overly stimulating colours and patterns. It is best not to put such combinations in frequently used spaces as they will make you feel drained and distract you.
Credit to Farrow & Ball
Credit to A.A. Ford Interiors
Credit to Rifle Paper Co
The materials you use will also greatly contribute to the colour palette of your space. Natural materials like timber and rattan add warmth to a space and can give a homey feel. Similarly, using linen in your upholstery or window furnishings creates a more laidback and relaxed look.
Conversely, materials like metal, marble and other stone materials can add formality to your space. If you are wanting to elevate the style in your home and add a touch of luxury, adding these materials can make a big impact.
Credit to Roo Home
Bonus TIDBIT!
Once you have your lighting and colour scheme down pat, it’s also a good idea to consider the shapes you are using in your space and if there is any clutter. Much like using natural materials, organic, free-flowing shapes promote relaxation and give a laidback feel. For a more formal, often industrial feel, use more angular shapes like rectangular coffee tables and boxy seating. Regardless of the look you are going for, we recommend mixing up the shapes in your home so it doesn’t feel overly contrived or excessive in nature.
Finally, consider how much you want on display in your space. Where you might enjoy showing off several display shelves in your living room, this could feel overly busy and cluttered in your bedroom. Clutter increases our stress levels so it is important to minimise this as much as possible in spaces like our bedroom where we primarily seek to unwind. If you missed our last blog you can read more on the effects of clutter there and how to tackle it.
For personalised help to set the desired mood in your home, please reach out to our team here at Sunbeam Studio, Sydney’s leading interior design studio; we would love to help you achieve your dream home.