5 Beautiful Dining Room Lighting Fixtures

If you’re planning to update your dining space, then you’re also probably looking for the perfect lighting fixture to go with it. From modern design ideas to traditional styles, it is important to choose a lighting fixture that provides the right amount of light and completes your dining room decor.

Types of Lighting
Chandeliers bring sophistication into your dining space while creating a focal point. They come in a variety of versatile options from contemporary to traditional.

Pendant lights adapt in any space. Whether it be a one or three pendant light fixture, you can highlight modern furniture with the right type of shade. Just like chandeliers, these lighting options should be hung approximately 30 inches above your dining room table.

Flush mount lights are installed at ceiling surface and feature beautiful crystals for a traditional touch. They add light without being too overpowering yet still act as a focal point for your dining room.

At Elements Distinctive Lighting and Home Furnishings, we offer many lighting fixtures of all different styles and sizes. Here are five beautiful options:

If you’re looking for new dining room lighting in time for the holidays, come visit our 8,000 square foot space.

Making the Most of a Small Bedroom

Many of us wish we could have a luxury bedroom. But the reality is that sometimes we have to make the most of our tiny spaces. If you’re sleeping in tight quarters, here are a few design tips we recommend:

Low bed
A high bed can be beautiful and comfortable, but in a small room, sometimes it’s almost an eyesore. In other words, it doesn’t necessarily blend into the room as you’d like it to. What should stand out is your decor rather than your furniture. So keep things subtle by opting for a low bed, one that hits close to the ground.

High bookshelf
Add height where it’s needed. With a low-sitting bed and a high shelf, you create a height difference that creates the illusion of your ceilings being taller than they really are.

Corner desk
Corner desks are an excellent option for small bedrooms because they save you what would otherwise be wasted space. While you could caddy corner a desk, designers recommend making every inch of your space count.

Wardrobe
Wardrobes are beautiful and historical. They are the perfect organizational piece that also adds style to your room. The best part is that wardrobes act as close spaces, so don’t worry about trying to stuff your clothing in drawers any longer – conceal it instead with antique and luxurious designs.

Under-Bed Storage
We need all the storage we can get, right? Why not make the most of your bedroom by sliding organizational pieces under your bed. Under-the-bed storage is ideal for books, off-season clothes, tools, and other necessities you might need easy access to one day.

For more inspiration on how to furnish and decorate your small bedroom, visit our 18,000 square foot showroom and let one of our designers help you! We know what you need is a good eye for design and a good ear for listening to your ideas. Give us a call at 516-747-4748 to learn more.

Our Favorite Unexpected Color Palettes

We love neutrals – we truly do. But sometimes you need a little color in your life! Take your home to the next level by trying these surprising color palettes in at least one room:

Teal and Rust: We know that green and red are complementary colors, but who knew these two hues could work so well together! Pair them in your kitchen by adding teal backsplash and deep red-brown kitchen bar stools. The contrast is fantastic.

Copper Red, Black, and White: You’ve heard before that brown and black actually do go together. Now we have proof! A black and white striped floor and copper red seating arrangement sets your eyes on something sophisticated, contemporary, and luxurious.

Orange and Blue: Orange might not be the first color that comes to mind, but when paired with neutrals and blues, you take your room to the next level. Be sure to pair these colors with different textures such as velvet and wood.

Red, Coral, and Olive: Mixing these colors can warm up any space. Even if it means simply adding new pillows and curtains, you can use these classic colors together without it feeling like a holiday year round.

View more color pallets from HGTV!

Ready to redecorate? Elements Distinctive Lighting & Home Furnishings offers plenty of lighting and home decor solutions right here in our 18,000 square foot showroom! Our trained professional staff will happily help you choose the perfect elements for your home. Give us a call at 516-747-4748 to learn more.

13 Quotes to Ignite Your Creativity

Designing can be tricky, especially if you’re taking the challenge all on your own. Just like authors get writer’s block, sometimes decorators get designer’s block. If you feel like you’re floating in that boat, just read these quotes to yourself once (and then again).

1. “Great design starts with an idea.”  -Anonymous

2. “A dining room rug should extend a minimum of 3’ from the edge of a dining room table – dining chairs should always be fully on the rug – not two legs on and two off.” -Ginger Brewton

3. “Hang curtains. They make a room seem finished. Think of them as the lipstick of decorating.” -Peter Dunham

4. “In lamps with two sockets, I like to use one pink bulb and one white bulb.” -Marshall Watson

5. “Design is intelligence made visible” -Anonymous

6. “Style is very personal. It has nothing to do with fashion. Fashion is over quickly. Style is forever.” -Ralph Lauren

7. “A good paint formula for ceilings is the trim color plus 50% white.” -Anonymous

8. “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” -Leonardo da Vinci

9. “I work on the assumption that a house is successful if it’s pleasant to live in.” -Alexandra de Garidel-Thoron

10. “Everything in a bedroom should contribute to an atmosphere of peace.” -Billy Baldwin

11. “Furnish your room for conversation and the chairs will take care of themselves.” -Sibyl Colefax

12. “Interior design is making the best possible use of the available space.”  -Anonymous

13. “A designer’s job is to tell a story. Sometimes we encounter similar stories, but the beauty is that the ending is always changing.” – Sarah Daniele

If you’re looking for more inspiration to help you with your latest design, turn to the trained professionals at Elements Distinctive Lighting & Home Furnishings! Come see the different home elements that we offer in our 18,000 square foot showroom! Give us a call at 516-747-4748 to learn more.

Are You Making These Interior Design Mistakes?

How do you plan to design your home? Some love trends while others love traditional elements. Regardless of your design preferences, here are four interior design mistakes we’ve seen often.

1. Hanging photos wrong height
You found a photo you love and want to hang it on your wall, but hanging it dead in the center, or too high or too low will throw off the entire look of the space. Try this: center the image at eye height. If you’re hanging up a gallery, not only do you need to be cautious of the height but also the layout. <ock up where each picture will go and step back to look before hammering nails in the wall.

2. Forgetting about Lighting
Lighting is perhaps the most important element to your space. It accentuates certain areas, creates the illusion of more space, and can brighten up your home. If you have a fine work of art hanging on your wall, you might want concentrated or track lighting. For your bathroom, consider two vanity lights on each side.

3. Going print-overboard
Accent print pieces can look glamorous in a room, but pairing an oriental rug with a leopard chair might be overdone. We know you might want to try out the latest trends, but please do so with consideration to everything else in the room. Design is all about balance.

4. Pushing furniture against walls
You might think that pushing furniture against the wall creates the illusion of more space and creates a welcoming environment, but interior designs couldn’t disagree more. Not only does this method create an awkward empty space in the center of the room, but it also makes a formal and unwelcoming vibe. Instead, arrange pieces of furniture throughout the room, with some room to walk around.

Elements Distinctive Lighting & Home Furnishings is here for all your home decor and lighting needs. Take a walk through our 18,000 square foot showroom and speak to one of our lighting and home decor experts – we’re ready to create a timeless space! Give us a call at 516-747-4748 to learn more.

How to Warm Up a Monochromatic Space

Homeowners might shy away from white on white, either because it’s too bright or too boring. Before you shy away from the monochromatic look as well, we want to share a few secrets with you. Secret No.1: white on white is one of the most luxurious-looking minimal themes in interior design. There are just a few tips you need to keep in mind when creating such a neutral space.

Choose the right tone
First things first – pay attention to the tones that you bring into your space. There’s a whole broad spectrum of whites, and many don’t realize that the undertones of the whites you choose can have a huge impact on the warmth you create. Make your space welcoming by choosing whites with a tint of yellow or pink.

Add Softness
Think texture, and then add some. When you have a room that’s filled with white on white elements, what you need is a hint of softness – textures like sheepskin or faux fur pillows. Add flowing curtains to soften the appearance of your monochromatic walls. You can even hang fur wall art if that’s your preference. The options are limitless!

Layer it up
Mixing textures is essential in a monochromatic room. Materials such as stone, ceramic, and glass can all be of white tone, but each has a different characteristic that sets them apart. Playing with these surfaces creates visual interest in a room, which ultimately can soften the harshness of white on white.

Looking for decorative accents to warm up your white on white space? Elements Distinctive Lighting & Home Furnishings has it all! Stop by our 18,000 square foot showroom one of our lighting and home decor experts will help you choose the right solutions for your home! Call 516-747-4748 to learn more.

Tips to Achieve a Timeless Design

We often talk about what’s trending in the world of interior design. But sometimes you want to put money into decor elements that last a lifetime. How do you know what’s timeless and what is simply a fad? Our expert tips should help you achieve that timeless look.

Start with the bones
Upholstery and decorative elements can always be changed, but the bones of your home are harder to adjust. We’re talking walls, floors, and ceilings. Start with a solid foundation to set the stage for the overall design of your space – create a foundation that is easy to work around when you feel like making changes.

Keep things natural
Use natural materials, like stone, wood, and marble. These textures are timeless and convey a sense of luxury and raw beauty. A few examples that come to our mind: a fireplace, irreplaceable countertops, stone floors – the list goes on.

Avoid clutter
A timeless home is a clean home. Overdoing anything can overwhelm the room, but luxurious clean lines and negative space lasts forever. Make the most of your space using functional storage that conceals well.

Install the right lighting
Lighting is everything when it comes to creating a timeless look. Choosing proper lighting can highlight your home’s best features and conceal the not-so-proud ones. Whether you have crown molding ceilings or built-in shelves, accentuate the space using light in all the right places.

Elements Distinctive Lighting & Home Furnishings is ready to help you create a timeless look for your home with all the decor and lighting you could need. Take a walk through our 18,000 square foot showroom and speak to one of our lighting and home decor experts – we’re ready to create a timeless space! Give us a call at 516-747-4748 to learn more.

Living Room Elements You Need Now

You’ve seen them in magazines – living rooms that seem way out of your league and well over your budget. But most interior designers agree that looks can be deceiving. In other words, many beautiful decorative accents and lighting options don’t need to cost you an arm or a leg. There are always options within your reach.

So if you’re looking to liven up your living room, here are a few elements you’ll need to search for now – options you can find within your budget and style preference:

Bookshelf – Bookshelves are a timeless design, but they’re also functional. It allows you the perfect space to display not only a collection of your favorite novels but also those unique decorative accents, be it old world or modern.

Accent Chair – Speaking of decorative accents, there’s nothing like an accent chair to contrast with your living room furniture. For example, a powder blue arm chair with dark wood finishes perfectly compliments the warm tone of your ivory suede couch. If you’re going for a change-up in texture, pair a suede sofa with a deep brown leather upholstered chair.

Mural – Does your living room combine a variety of complementary colors? While you can tie them together with a rug, why not play up your walls with an abstract mural – one that encompasses the very essence of your living room (and brings all hues together).

Pendant Lights – These glass fixtures, whether metallic, crystal, or transparent, can add just the right ambiance – that kind that exudes warmth and comfort. These lights also act as a focal point in your room, illuminating the space and making the illusion of even more room.

Good lighting and the right decorative accents can transform your space from dull and uninviting to the one room where everyone wants to be!

Whether you’re looking for decorative accents or lighting options for your living room, Elements Distinctive Lighting & Home Furnishings has it all! Stop by our 18,000 square foot showroom one of our lighting and home decor experts will help you choose the right solutions for your home! Call 516-747-4748 to learn more.

Living Room Remodeling Inspiration

Wish your living room looked similar to those inside interior design magazines? Luckily, it isn’t as hard to achieve as you might think. What you need is a little inspiration and a professional to consult with:

Don’t be afraid to go bold by combining different patterns together. Sometimes having an open concept layout needs separation, and what a better way to do that than to create different styles. For example, make your room pop with animal print chairs in the dining room and a cobalt blue upholstered chair in the living room. Add a geometrical patterned rug in the living room and your home will be one all your guests will talk about.

Metallics are the latest big trend. Whether it be a chandelier, wall art, pillows, or table lamps, there are many ways to make your living room shine. By mixing bronze, gold, and silver upholstery and decorative accents, you can take your living space from dull to extraordinary!

Keep things clean and bright by sticking with a monochromatic or dual tone. The benefit of sticking with a crisp white color is that it goes with everything. Plus, when you add decorative accents, they really do pop. While some might be afraid of the upkeep of white upholstery, you might benefit if you only use your living room seldomly. Paint window and door trims white and add a white coffee table if the monochromatic look is what pleases your stylistic preference.

If you’re looking for more inspiration to help you with your living room design, turn to the trained professionals at Elements Distinctive Lighting & Home Furnishings! Come see the different home elements that we offer in our 18,000 square foot showroom! Give us a call at 516-747-4748 to learn more.