PERFECT HOMES MAGAZINE - ISSUE 15 issue 15 | Page 48

Playing tricks on the mind 48 Light can alter the appearance of a room without physically changing it simply because it directs our view, influences perception and draws our attention to specific details. Light is a wonderful tool in interior design as it can be used to divide and interpret rooms in order to emphasise areas or establish continuity between the interior and exterior. South facing rooms – get the most light and provide the best area to open out space and create depth. Neutral colours such as cream work very well however white can often make the light bounce and seem overwhelming. When working with light think about where each of your windows face in relation to the sunlight, as each direction has a different amount of light shining through. West facing rooms – They usually get the most heat due to their positioning. West facing rooms are dark in the morning however brighten as the sun moves west. North facing rooms – can often look cold and have a flattening quality on a space, but it gives the ‘truest’ light. Warmer colours therefore suit rooms like this well as well as soft-coloured curtains which help to diffuse light and create an atmosphere. If you have areas within a room that doesn’t receive enough light the trick interior designers use is to use mirrors which bounces light around a room – position mirrors so they reflect light from a window and into a dark corner or area of a room which will help boost the illusion of depth, space and light. THE WORLDWIDE PROPERTY BIBLE - www.simplymedia-group.com East facing rooms – are the ‘morning rooms’ for light and therefore the volume of light dips at the sun sets so bear this mind when choosing what to use the space for.