Lighting In Your Home

by Gerdie van Wingerden

There is a huge selection of lights and lamps. They can be literally found in every style, size and material. You can even make your own lamp. Pinterest for example has lots of ideas to try at home. In DIY shops you can choose from different colour cables and you need a light fitting.

Often you see a large hanging lamp over the dinner table, a tall standing lamp next to your favourite chairs and a small table lamp next to the TV or on a small side table. But what to hang over the coffee table? Do you actually want a lamp over the coffee table?

In my photograph, you can see my candle chandelier. This one is more decoration than a functional lamp. At Christmas I use it. I twist a large green garland around the chandelier and hang beautiful baubles from the lamp as well. You also have the option of mounting lamps on the walls for a little extra, supporting light. And if you can’t manage because there is no wiring in place, you can work with little lights, like in the photo.

(If you have no sockets in reach, you can use lovely battery-powered lights, that give just enough light to brighten up that dark corner. You will be able to find them in various shops.)

I love old chandeliers! Especially in a rustic, sober and calm interior is one eye-catching detail wonderful! Because of its small lights and light- catching crystals, a living room gets a lovely atmosphere even when the lamp isn’t lit. You can decorate the chandelier as well, especially for Christmas, but use lighter greens for Spring. Such a centre point! I have an old, antique chandelier, as you can see in the photograph. I desperately wanted one in our new house, so before we even moved in, I started searching online. There are various sites where you can find second-hand chandeliers. If you’re looking for something specific, start searching early as you can’t guarantee a quick find. By starting early, you allow yourself to find that one special lamp.

Another place to look for those antique chandeliers is car boot sales, charity shops and house clearance shops. Maybe your gran or an old aunt has a beautiful specimen hanging, and you can strike a deal... they can have a beautiful new lamp and you get the chandelier. As I said already, the right combination of a brilliant chandelier in a rustic interior can brighten the room and gives a playful twist as well as warm lighting. A rustic interior can quickly become dark and foreboding and a bit cold. Lighting can make or break a room so make sure to take out time to think about it and to look around for what you want in your home. Once the lighting is up, it tends to stay there, so choose wisely. And enjoy the dark winter evenings in your warmly lit room!

Gerdie van Wingerden is a Dutch blogger and mother of four children. She loves to share her passion for homemaking and interior design. Gerdie works in a Home and Giftshop as a stylist, as well offering her services as advisor on her website, No34.nl, where her blogs are regularly posted as well.