Nowadays, turning to the internet for anything you want is commonplace, including home design ideas. For many people, the draw of Pinterest home design pages is just too great to resist.

But are these photos too good to be true?

Will your house ever look like the one in the pictures?

One can undoubtedly say that the images on Pinterest are inspiring. It is easy to lose yourself in page after page of Pinterest home décor ideas. You may even find yourself fantasizing about how “perfect” your home will look when you bring these images to life inside your house.

STOP RIGHT THERE!

Before you set the bar so high that it will take the rest of your life to reach, come back down to earth and realize that your home will never look exactly like what you see online.

Why Can’t My House Look Like a Pinterest House?

That is the million-dollar question – why can’t your house look like the ones you see on Pinterest?

The answer is simple – these are often staged homes. No one actually lives there. Take stock for a moment of what is missing from these Pinterest home design photos:

• Remote controls
• Mail
• Phone chargers
• Tissue boxes
• Food
• Television cords and wires
• Children!

Sure, the kitchen counter may have a bowl of fruit on it, but where is the rest of the food?

Now, look at the perfectly plumped pillows on the couch and bed. Does anyone you know have a house that looks like that?

Do It Yourself Pinterest Decor

You pride yourself on being a pretty handy person. After all, you have never met an Ikea project you could not put together. However, many tutorials for Pinterest home design projects are not as easy as they look. That 30-minute video may have taken five hours to shoot and edit.

Photoshoots take hours to complete, and perhaps one image out of one hundred is good enough to show.

Do you do research about the materials you are going to use? Remember when building furniture out of crates and wood pallets were a thing? Did anyone mention potential infestations or toxic chemicals?

It is crucial to think – and research – before you act. Not every Pinterest interior design idea is a good one. And, even if it is a clever idea, it might not be right for your home or family.

It is time to move beyond the Pinterest home into a world of reality.

Before you get frustrated, take a deep breath, and relax. You can still use these Pinterest ideas to become inspired. It is just time to reevaluate how you want to live within the investment that is comfortable for you.

Attainable Pinterest Home Design Ideas You Can Use

Yes, it is exciting to plan out new home ideas for decorating a room. The key to success is to be realistic in your expectations. You have to be careful that the sofa you are eying will go with that end table and chair from another “pin.”

Will the elements of your room mesh well together?

Spend some time reviewing your Pinterest home design ideas to see if they will fit in with your lifestyle and needs.

Stop thinking about what is “perfect” and focus on what makes you “feel good” for your new home design ideas. How does that photo make you feel? Can you see yourself lounging in that oversized chair on cool nights? Or is it too big for your room?

Start small with a simple idea and go from there.

Avoid trends and stick with ideas and items that are “timeless.” Make your life simple and create beautiful but lived-in surroundings that add comfort.

Better yet, forgo Pinterest and call HK Interiors today at 954-401-8542 to create the perfect space for you!

Your living room (or family room) is likely the gathering place for your family and friends. It may also be your home’s largest room. That means it needs proper lighting for the many purposes this room fulfills. Choosing the right living room lights for your space is crucial.

Layered lighting is crucial, ensuring that you illuminate all areas and corners of the room. After all, you may find yourself using this room for activities such as:

• Entertaining
• Watching TV
• Playing games
• Reading
• Relaxing

Layered lighting consists of accent, ambient, and task lighting, which you can read more about through the link at the end of this blog. Make sure to check out that blog when you finish reading this one.

Ceiling Lighting

Overhead lighting is an integral part of your design in a room as large as your living room. Ideally, work from the ceiling down as you layer your living room lights.

Track lighting is an excellent option when considering a variety of living room ceiling lighting ideas. They are flexible enough to provide accent, ambient, and task lighting with their dimmers. Track lighting also helps reduce television glare. Spot lights in the ceiling can add extra brightness. When considering lighting, keep in mind that 10 to 20 lumens are suitable per square foot of space.

Other overhead lighting options include:

• Chandeliers
• Ceiling fans that include a light fixture
• Moroccan style lanterns
• Sculptural LED overhead light fixtures

Crystal chandeliers are an option for living rooms with giant windows as they do not interfere with the streaming natural light.

Wall Lighting

Wall lights, including sconces, bring a more traditional and decorative feel to the room. Position wall living room lights above eye level to avoid glare.

Floor Lamps

Floor lamps provide highly decorative and functional living room lights that enhance the visual appeal of your space. They can be used for decoration, ambient lighting, or tasks, such as reading.

Living room floor lamps, including adjustable arc lights, fill shadowy corners. These living room lamps do double duty, as they can be positioned over the shoulder for reading or working. You may even want to opt for an oversized arched floor lamp, making quite a striking statement in your room.

A corner floor lamp that illuminates upwards directs the light toward the ceiling. Torchiere floor lamps can be six feet or taller and are often best suited for larger rooms.

Both traditional and modern floor lamps can make quite a statement in your living space. In a large living room, your lighting fixtures can help separate different seating areas, as shown below.

Other Options for Living Room Lights

Additional led lights for room ambiance can go inside cabinets to highlight some of your favorite possessions.

These are only some of the many living room lighting ideas available to you. Working with an interior designer can help you find that perfect fixture to enhance the beauty of your room.

Make sure to check out our blog Inspired Lighting Ideas for Every Room in Your Home here for more ideas.

Call HK Interiors today at 954-401-8542 to discover how our many services can enhance your home.

Food is a common denominator that brings people together, whether in a kitchen or a dining room. That is why we have featured these two rooms in this blog on dining and kitchen lighting to create the perfect ambiance for your meal preparation and enjoyment.

Kitchen Lighting

Whether your kitchen is small or large, overhead (ambient) lighting is crucial. Kitchen ceiling lights should never be an afterthought but are essential when planning a remodel of your kitchen. Recessed ceiling lights are beneficial for the entire space as they can distribute light evenly throughout the room. Track lighting is another excellent option for illuminating your work area.

Pendant lights work great over a long counter or kitchen island. These fixtures should hang approximately 35 to 40 inches above the countertop. 70 to 80 lumens are ideal per square foot for preparation areas. You can go with 30 to 40 lumens per square foot in all other areas of the kitchen.

Kitchen island lighting is crucial for both aesthetics and functionality. Layering your kitchen light fixtures in this way brightens the space and gives the room dimension.

Under-cabinet lighting is beneficial for work areas, such as food prep countertops. The last thing you want is to cut food on a dark counter where you cannot see what you are doing. Do not forget task-specific lighting for the stove and sink.

You may also want to consider interior lighting to highlight glass-front and open cabinets. These lights make an excellent way to showcase your dishes and stemware.

If you have an eat-in kitchen, you may want to add a small chandelier above the table, as shown in the photo above. Another option is pendant lighting, using one oversize pendant over the table for a striking effect. You can see how a variety of kitchen lighting fixtures come together to create a warm and inviting space.

Dining Room Lighting

As we move from kitchen lighting to dining room lighting ideas, one thing is crucial – dining room lighting makes a statement. It can enhance your overall design scheme or stand out like a sore thumb. The right choice will set the perfect mood for having an intimate dinner for two or a grand dinner party for a house full of guests.

Chandeliers are typically the first thing people think of when looking for dining room light fixtures. They are often an excellent choice. However, today, you can think outside the box and select from many other statement-making options.

In the photo below, you see how we use hanging pendants as dining room lights, and the striking effect they make. Dimmer switches for lights can also alter the mood in the room.

Dining room chandeliers can consist of a single lighting fixture, or multiple lights, as shown in the photo below.

The crystal chandelier below is an example of the elegance that crystal can bring to a room.

Another option in modern chandeliers is the combination of crystal with another element, as shown in the photo below. That way, you get the best of both worlds while creating a beautiful visual effect in your dining room. As you can see, the image is enhanced by the wall sconces.

For more dining room and kitchen lighting ideas, as well as lighting other rooms in your home, check out our blog “Inspired Lighting Ideas for Every Room in Your Home.”

Call HK Interiors today at 954-401-8542 to learn more about how we can help enhance the beauty of your home.

Perhaps you have just moved to a new home or are about to undertake a remodel. Either way, you are probably excited about choosing wall colors, flooring, window treatments, and furniture. The last thing on your mind might be lighting. Many people consider this last as something that sheds light in the room rather than adding aesthetic beauty and value to your living space.

You may not realize that considering your options early in your interior design process can bring your whole room together in ways you never imagined. Lighting ideas go well beyond walking into a store and taking a lamp off a shelf. There is a lot to consider, and they vary based on the room.

Our lighting guide will cover elements for illuminating each room in your home for maximum effect. Make sure to click the link in each section for a more in-depth look at illuminating these rooms.

Types of Lighting

Lighting has a purpose. When we say types of lighting, we are not just talking about table lamps and chandeliers. You will often have more than one of the following three types of lighting in a room:

• Ambient Lighting: the majority of your room will consist of this general lighting, including ceiling lights (recessed or track lighting) or wall-mounted fixtures. Ceiling fan lights are another option. Remember that ambient light mimics natural daylight.
• Accent Lighting: these lights focus on a particular point in the room, such as wall art. Accent lights often have dimmers to enhance the mood in the room. Downlights, uplights, and spotlights are some of the options to consider for accent lighting. Table lamps can create a pool of light on an accent table.
• Task Lighting: these lights help you with a specific function, such as floor reading lamps, pendant lighting over a kitchen island, desk lamps, or bedside reading lamps on a nightstand.

Many rooms incorporate all three types, depending on their size and purpose.

Living Room Ideas

Living room lights depend on various factors, including the size and use of the room, the layout, and the design of the space. A living room can be a formal place for entertaining or the one area in your home where everyone gathers for watching television and playing games. It can be a cozy space for conversation or a vast room that requires many elements.

Bedroom Lighting

There is a certain simplicity when looking at bedroom lighting ideas – you want some form of light overhead, and then either table lamps on a nightstand or dresser or a corner led floor lamp. Having a combination of bedroom lights does more than illuminate your room – it creates a relaxing ambiance that will help you enjoy your personal space and rest easy at night.

Dining Room Ideas

No other room in the home offers as easy a decision about lighting as the dining room. The primary light source here will be your chandelier. Of course, that is not always an easy decision, as you will want to select one that will enhance your dining furniture.

Oversized light fixtures are ideal for large dining tables. A small chandelier will get lost in this space. For more information on picking the right chandelier for your dining room, click here.

Kitchen Lighting Ideas

One of the most important rooms to consider when discussing design elements is the kitchen. Your kitchen will typically feature several light sources, including overhead and support fixtures.

Because the kitchen is the heart of the home, it is crucial to create the proper ambiance in this room. It is also essential to remember that task-oriented lighting will help with food preparation. Check out more information about selecting the appropriate kitchen lighting here.

Bathroom Lights

Bathroom lighting can either start your day off on a good foot or make you feel terrible if it is unflattering. Lights that point down from above may cast shadows. Light fixtures placed on either side of the mirror provide more balance. You will want to go with 70 to 80 lumens per square foot as you do need bright light in this room. Of course, a dimmer switch makes it possible to adjust the light to suit different needs.

Remember to visit our HK Collections page for some of the latest design trends. You may find the very piece that will complete your room.

Call HK Interiors today at 954-401-8542 for more information about the many services we offer to beautify your home.

Away from the bustle of the busy day, your bedroom and bathroom are your private retreats. Our room lighting ideas for bed and bath can help you make these rooms your escape from the day’s activities.

Bedroom Lighting Ideas

Bedroom lights are often an afterthought after choosing furniture and bedding. As with any room, lighting plays an integral role in your home’s design. Creating the perfect escape from the day’s reality and helping you unwind means putting more thought into bedroom lighting ideas than placing a lamp on your nightstand. You will need varying sources of light to create the perfect space.

Bedroom lighting should start with an overhead light. You can incorporate a combination ceiling fan and light or a small chandelier. Flush mount ceiling fixtures and track lighting also work well to illuminate the room from above. Recessed lighting makes quite a statement in a headboard nook. The photo below shows a combination of three lighting sources – two from overhead and one from the bedside.

Multiple options exist for table and reading lights for bedroom nightstands, including pendant lights, which save space while creating a stylish impact in the room. Nightstand lamps can either match or not; however, they should be fairly close in size if you opt for mismatched lamps.

Another space saver is wall sconces, which hang over the nightstand from the wall. Adjustable arms make it easy to point them over your shoulder for reading in bed.

If you have a reading or seating area in the room, that is the perfect spot for a floor lamp, as shown in the photo below. Arc lamps such as this are easily adjustable.

The bedroom is the perfect spot to get creative with room lighting ideas as you can opt to be whimsical, fancy, eclectic, or eccentric with your selections.

Bathroom Lighting

Although often an afterthought, bathroom lighting can make quite a stunning difference in this room. Bathrooms often serve multiple purposes, as they may be used for applying makeup as well as relaxing in your personal spa oasis. If you have a large soaking tub, you will want to carve out the perfect niche with creative and inviting lighting.

It is also important to consider lighting placement in the room to minimize shadows and glare. Warm or true colors are crucial.

Task lighting is highly beneficial in a bathroom and can feature recessed or track lights. Pointing them at the work surfaces can make shaving and applying makeup easier.

Tasks lights can also be placed either above or around a mirror, and can take the form of a bath bar, strip lights, and vanity lighting. You can also place a chandelier in the bathroom, as shown in the image below.

If you have a tub in your bathroom, you may want to consider placing a light source above it, preferably on a dimmer switch, to set a pleasant mood. Never forget the beauty of natural candlelight in the bathroom for the ultimate spa or romantic experience.

For more room lighting ideas, check out our blog Inspired Lighting Ideas for Every Room in Your Home.

Call HK Interiors today at 954-401-8542 to help turn your home into the perfect retreat.