Those who have purchased an older home where the floor plans tend to be less open and maximizing natural lighting may not have been taken into consideration in the original architectural design may wonder what they can do to increase the amount of available light in their homes. Lynne recommends that you first decide what it is you are trying to achieve by asking questions like: Do you want the rooms to look larger, or perhaps make the ceilings look taller? Or are you simply attempting to open up the space a bit? Lynne shares that her approach is to “always start with trying to get light out at the walls.” She points out that older homes with low ceilings can give a room a closed-in feeling and the modern aesthetic is to open those spaces up to make your home look larger and more inviting. One solution that is commonly used is taking out walls to make a centralized space that is large and gives a clear view of other areas of the home. Lynne advises people going through this process to look for all sorts of solutions until they find the one that best suits their living needs while showcasing their design aesthetic. Remodeling to Bring More Light into Older Homes
Lastly, Lynne emphasizes the need to make sure your lighting design flows naturally. With open floor layouts that favor a large room as the center of the home, Lynne says you know you have the lighting set correctly when “you can walk into the house and before you know it, if you turn 360°, you have coordination and lighting, color, temperature, and controlled focal points.” The goal is to make sure you edit what you are highlighting to avoid sensory overload. Be thoughtful about which things you focus on so that your lighting design flows, drawing the eye across the room in an intentional manner. This must be done subtly so that it looks natural. “The best designs are the ones that are just so subtle and yet, so dramatic,” says Lynne. She adds, “And then I think that's really where the magic of lighting comes from—because there's practical light and then there's the magic of how that makes the space feel.” Lighting Should Flow Naturally Through Your Home
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July 2024
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