Insights into Interior Design: Lighting and Mirrors

When interior designers use the term “wall hangings,” they are commonly referring to anything and everything that one may hang on a wall. London is a fabulous place to choose wall hangings due to the many active artist communities and the strong tradition of professional interior design. In this third and final article in my series on “How Interior Designers Select Wall Hangings,” I will discuss some approaches to lighting and mirror installations that I have seen while working alongside many of London’s most successful interior design professionals.

Lighting is an incredibly important part of the art of interior design when it comes to wall hangings. Sometimes it can be absolutely stunning to include a spotlight effect or underlighting to draw the eye towards a particularly fabulous photograph or painted centrepiece. In London, interior designers will normally include lighting elements at the very first stage of their brief. As with so many parts of interior design, nothing is ever an afterthought – the entire design is comprehensive and perfectly envisioned right from the start. For example, professional interior designers will anticipate a need for any wall-hung picture lights and will make sure this is included in the electrical drawings for the electrical contractors to fit a socket at the appropriate height during the early preparation phase of your project. (In most London residences, such sockets heights are non-standard.)

Mirrors can be appropriate for an interior design because they make a room appear larger and can help the resident to better visualise artwork or other wall hangings from many perspectives. This is particularly important for certain smaller London residences which may feature awkward spaces or difficult corners. The professional interior designer will make sure to think hard about appropriate placement of mirrors – whether they are being included for practical or decorative purposes. If a mirror is framed, the interior designer will make sure that the frame is matched or coordinated with other frames or materials in the room.

When using a mirror decoratively, the professional interior designer will always pay attention to make sure that it reflects something of interest. I have seen less experienced interior designers in London occasionally hang a mirror in a place where the reflections can cause annoyance or distraction to someone sitting at a table or on a settee. Fortunately mirrors can be easily re-hung elsewhere, but the most prestigious London interior design consultancies will always take this into account and get it right the first time.

Lily Candice is regular article writer for Interior Design London – Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.

London Interior Design, Interior Design London

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