Transforming an interior into the perfect space can be challenging. While the thought of planning, designing and completing your dream project is undoubtedly exciting, achieving what you set out to accomplish can often be an uphill battle.

The key to achieving balance in the space and between the different elements in the room is to ensure that all the items complement each other, either directly or indirectly.

When it comes to interior decor, a large-sized room can often be easier to decorate. The real challenges come with the small ones. Recent trends in the infrastructure and design of modern houses have favoured open-floor plans to achieve a sense of space. But architects, designers and homeowners can also use lighting and furnishings to make better use of the available space and maintain an atmosphere of space and height.

Brighten up any cave-like environments

The modern style of décor celebrates elegance, functionality, and clean lines. It is, therefore, important to look out for dark spaces that shouldn’t be there, or areas that feel cramped or cluttered.

You can open up your space by using natural and light materials and staying away from too many dark tones, while also looking at options to create ambience through light.

Make the kitchen island the centre of your space

A kitchen island is not only used for cooking and preparing foods. It’s also a gathering place for friends and family. Brighten up your kitchen space by installing a cluster of unique light fixtures, or a custom linear pendant light.

Alternatively, if you’re going for a more minimal look, use a ceiling can light, like the About Space Cannon light, which comes in lengths of 160mm or 300mm. Just make sure you’re allowing enough light for food preparation. You can consider adding dimmers to give you the option of mood lighting when you’re not food prepping.

Add mood, and style, with floor lamps

Adding a floor lamp to the corner of the room can be the missing piece to make a room feel complete. It’s also a great way to add ambience to a space without flooding it with light.

When selecting a floor lamp for your space, it’s a good idea to first consider the artwork you’ve placed on the walls. If the floor lamp is arching, will it block your view? Do the colours tie in, or have you selected a neutral colour that will complement the work? Will the lighting make your artwork shine, or will it cast long shadows and reflective glare?

Define the direction of the light beams

Light and shadow go hand in hand. That’s why it’s important to make sure that your lights are installed in the correct place.

You won’t always know where the furniture will be placed before you install your lights. If this is the case, it may be worth considering adjustable ceiling lights, which are available with different beam angles.

About Space has a range of adjustable ceiling lights to choose from, such as the Beam 12W. This 180mm-high ceiling fitting comes in black or white, with three beam angles to choose from (60, 38 and 24), as well as options for different colour baffles. It’s the ideal ceiling light when you need flexible lighting. The Beam’s ability to direct light makes it extremely versatile. With the adjustable feature, you can direct the light in any direction, even after it’s installed.

Don’t skimp on style

When selecting lights for a space, take into consideration that you’re committing to a look for an extended period. It’s not like furniture that you can simply move or swap around whenever you feel like it. With lighting, you’ll need to hire an electrician if you want to make changes.

Select lighting that’s going to be efficient, but that’s also going to make you happy when you walk in and see it every day. Consider the height and size of your space when selecting your lighting. Will it be overbearing or dominating? Or perhaps it’ll be too small and get lost in the space. Look for practical lighting options that will stand the test of time. Or, if that’s not necessary, make a statement with a feature pendant.

Make a statement

You can mix and match your lights to make sure you’re achieving proper illumination in different places. If you’re using downlights, your space may have enough practical light, but it could still seem to lack something. This is the perfect opportunity to add a statement light. You can make it a feature of the room, almost like a piece of art, and you won’t need to worry about practicality, as you’re enhancing a space that’s already sufficiently lit.

How to achieve an ambient space with the right lighting

Lights play a significant role in giving a dull space a touch of brilliance. The key to creating ambience in your space lies in how well you can balance the shadows with the light.

That’s why it’s important to choose the right lights for the right locations for maximum effect. But choosing flexible lighting means you also have the freedom to change up your styling when you need.

About Space provides a variety of lighting options and solutions, ranging from wall and ceiling mounted light, adjustable lights, linear LED pendants, to table and floor lamps.

Check out our extensive lighting collection to find a stunning solution for your next project.

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