Interior Design Tips
#1 Energy Efficient Lighting
One of the most important factors in creating atmosphere and ambience is lighting design and the selection of appropriate light fittings and lamps.
With emphases on anything energy efficient to reduce greenhouse emissions, lighting has come under the microscope. Specification of energy efficient lighting is now becoming a must as most authorities require the reduction of wattage allowed for specific projects.
The suppliers of this industry suggest that most of the well used type of lighting (halogen) will be off the shelves and unavailable in the not too distant future. Therefore companies manufacturing and importing commercial light fittings are bringing new products to the market place seemingly every day, to cater for this evolving phase.
The use of compact fluorescent lights, with higher output lamps, LED and fiber optic lighting alternatives, will save not only the environment, but also cost in delivering longer life and minimize electricity usage. As electricity takes up 90% of the cost of a light fitting in its lifetime, the initial cost of purchase is outweighed by the ongoing cost of the electricity supply required.
The designer’s responsibility is then to be up to date with the latest products available and their suitability to a project.
#2 The Designer’s Task
Whenever the question arises: ‘Do we need a professional designer for this project?’, the inevitable answer is always ‘Yes!’.
Interior design is not only about knowing what we like or even dislike when it comes to individual components that make up the overall design concept. Colors, fixtures and fittings, their cohesive integration into a functioning whole, in terms of the “LOOK”, as well as practical usage of the space from a spatial planning aspect, need to be combined into a design that ‘makes sense’ and fits into its surroundings.
Design is much more then the sum of its parts and a professional designer will approach a task with a holistic viewpoint. Once given a comprehensive brief she can deliver a rounded, functional and visually appealing concept considering all aspects important to the client.