Décor guide: showing off your objects

Décor guide: showing off your objects

Some decorative objects need special lighting to really show them off. A sculpture, a painting or even a plant needs light that is not only properly directed at it but also won't damage it. So which light fittings are best suited to lighting the objects you treasure and want to admire in the best possible conditions?

Dedicated lighting

If you want to highlight a particular object, avoid overly strong light, which can damage a painting, for example, as well as multidirectional fittings such as halogen uplighters. The same goes for ceiling lights: while they are essential for everyday life, their general lighting is not the best way to reveal the beauty of an object. On the contrary, it is better to use a low-intensity light aimed at the object, which will bring out its depth and texture.

Which light fittings to use

With this in mind, directed light is the most effective way to showcase an object. Wall lights and spotlights are therefore the best choice, ideally on a separate switch from the rest of the room's lighting, so they can highlight the objects they light without drowning them in ambient light. Likewise, use white light, which will render the colours of paintings more beautifully!