b'lighting featureA ny designer worth their salt will tell you that lighting is one of the most essential ingredients forawelldecoratedspacenotthe afterthought that many of us consider it. The right lighting has the power to completely transform the way everything is a room feels, lift your spirits and make you more relaxed illuminated or productive. becausegreatlightingdesignisnt However, necessarily as obvious as other elements in a space, such as wall colours, furniture, flooring, window treatments andstatementdecorativeaccessories,itoftengets forgotten about until everything else has been decided A designer and a colour expertupon. By this point, the budget has usually been spent elsewhere and you cant afford to do it justice.shed light on the most commonlyInteriordesignerAnnaMajorofHausofDesign overlooked decorating detail. (www.hausofdesign.co.nz) says there are a number of reasons why its crucial not to leave lighting to the end of the design process. Lighting is an element that affects your senses, so to not value it highly in the buildingphaseisareallycommonoversight.If the space feels dark and poorly lit, it will ultimately impacthowyouliveinthespaceandhowyou enjoy being in it.If lighting is an aspect that you dont feel confident planning for yourself, Anna stresses that its especially important and worthwhile to make sure your electrician is good at planning and has a good understanding of what is out there in the marketplace. And if you arent sure that the electrician is quite understanding yourOpposite: Changes in both natural and vision, then it would be best to engage an interiorResene artificial lighting levels can drastically change designer to make sure your feature and task lightingSnow Drift the mood of even seemingly neutral hues and are appropriately planned. go a long way in affecting the overall energy Whileitsnot impossible, it isdefinitelymoreof your space. Wall in Resene Eighth difficult and expensive tomake lighting changes onceResene Canterbury Clay, floor and bedhead in Resene the house is lined, she says. Quarter Blanc Eighth Joss, room divider in Resene Eighth Another reason is that lighting plays a big role inPavlova, side table in Resene Parchment and tall vase in Resene Beethoven. Pause Voile how your chosen paint colours look. Even if your roomResene curtains in Naturalle from the Resene Curtain is well lit by natural light, you can still run into someEighth Pavlova Collection (available for ordering from your serious decorating challenges if youre not taking thatlocal Resene ColorShop or selected curtain lightingintoconsiderationwhenyourepickingoutspecialist), bedlinen, cushions, rug, art and your paint colours. purse from Mood Store.Resene EighthFor a lot of people, there is still the idea that usingCanterbury Clay Above: Soft pink walls are both flattering the same colour internally in all of the rooms will be theand practical for areas where youre safe way to go, says Resene Colour Expert Carolyngroomingespecially if youre applying Atkinson. There is the expectation that if a colourResene makeup. Back wall in Resene Loblolly with looks perfect in one room it will be exactly the same inEighth JossResene FX Paint Effects medium coloured all rooms.But due to the directional aspect of naturalwith Resene Half Gull Grey, front wall in light and its effect upon colouryes, even true whiteResene Sakura with Resene FX Paint Effectsand how differently each direction makes aroom feel,Resene medium coloured with Resene Quarter Mercury Blanc, floor in Resene Mercury, skirting this generally isnt the case. boards and desk in Resene Snow Drift and Youcantalwaysbendyournaturallightingstorage boxes in Resene Snow Drift and conditions to your will with your colour choices, either.Resene Resene Sakura. Pause Voile curtains in To try and make dim or cool rooms look warm, sunnyorParchment Naturalle from the Resene Curtain Collection inviting, Carolyn says its common for homeowners to(available for ordering from your local choose soft yellows or crisp clean whites. Resene ColorShop or selected curtain specialist), ottoman from Freedom Furniture, However, in a south facing room, softyellows canResene lamp from Good Thing, mirror from The alter to a green or sour tone that doesnt achieve theHalf Gull Grey Warehouse, sculpture from Good Form,desired effect, and the white can look grey and icyrug from Grounded Homeware, art by instead of fresh and bright.Resene Quarter MoonbeamBrenda Clews.is a good example of a yellow that can pick up a sour orReseneSakura Resene Resenegreen tone in easterly or southerly light. But underBeethoven Loblolly62 63'