Kitchens used to be a functional area intended solely for food preparation. Today, however, modern kitchens perform a wide variety of tasks, such as having breakfast or having a coffee in the middle of the morning or a snack in the afternoon, helping children with their homework or enjoying a glass of wine while preparing dinner as a couple. Therefore, having enough light to work comfortably is an essential aspect in the design of any kitchen .

Common mistakes in kitchen lighting

1. Use a single lamp or spotlight in the center of the kitchen to illuminate the entire space with it.
2. Locate several points of light, but only on the ceiling . Kitchen cabinets will cast shadows on the counter, making it difficult to see in this work area .
3. Not having enough switches to illuminate each area of ​​the kitchen separately or to regulate the light intensity in the different areas of the kitchen .

Tips for correctly lighting the kitchen

The kitchen is a multinational space , which is why it is essential to incorporate different types of lighting into it. These are the keys to do it correctly

1. Incorporate point lights

A spot or task light can make things like cutting, peeling, or following a recipe from a cookbook easier. For this, small halogens can be incorporated under tall kitchen cabinets or pendant lamps on a central island. Extractor hoods usually have a built-in light to facilitate work in the cooking zone .

2. Regulate the light

Regulating the light intensity of the kitchen allows you to create a relaxed and warm atmosphere at certain times of the day. A very popular option is the rows of small lights that are usually located under kitchen furniture or hidden in ceiling moldings. Rack lights can also help control the light intensity of the kitchen and create a soft ambient light.

3. Decorate with light

There are other lights with a purely decorative function that are also beginning to become popular in today’s kitchens . For example, those located on tables in the breakfast area or inside kitchen cabinets with glass doors. These types of lights will give the kitchen an elegant and very modern look.

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The details make the difference. Many times, a small gesture with a person says much more than anything. Clothes also go for details , which is why accessories are usually added that give them added value and are a way to personalize them . And with the house? Can you also have details? There are small changes that mean a lot. Here are ten original and creative ideas that will make a difference.

 

1. Cushions with character

 

One of the best ways to change the style of spaces without having to move a piece of furniture is by changing the cushions. The result is spectacular. If you are looking for a more ethnic inspiration, you can add some brightly colored cushions with geometric prints. For a more romantic or classic air, the cushions should have soft tones and not very marked patterns, in gray or pale pink colors. To give the living room an industrial character, you can add some of these cushions with fabric that are reminiscent of old mail bags with stamped messages. Comfort and style at once.

 

2. Tableware that provides details

 

If details are important anywhere in the house, it is at the dining room table, so a change in tableware makes all the difference. A classic, for those occasions in which the table has to look impeccable, or a complete set of dishes for day to day. There are many different shapes (square, rectangular, round …) and different styles. A modern and informal one can be a white base plate with a border decorated with white and red squares or green and white lines, for a most poppy table.

 

3. New lamp, new light

 

Lighting is one of the things that should not be neglected in a home. Light is not only useful, it is also a decorative element and creator of environments. Therefore, if you are looking for a different touch to the house, you can change the lamps or the arrangement of the light. A good idea is to play with indirect light spots in the living room , which give a warm and cozy atmosphere. If you want a modern style, then you need a lamp base of retro or industrial inspiration. And in the kitchen? A Tiffany hanging glass lamp can be placed in the middle of the space.

 

4. Art at home

 

A collector’s item will be one of the best details for the house ; a touch of distinction that will beautify any room and that will change it completely. Any art lover surely has something in mind that they like: a painting, a small sculpture, a collector’s item … First of all, you have to find the right space: if it is a painting, you will find the right room and the wall where it will be located .; It must be illuminated correctly and it must be placed in a place where it can be admired. The same happens if it is a sculpture or a collector’s item: you have to find a leading role for them and not place next to them any other object that could distract attention.

 

5. Bedspreads with personality

 

The room can be imbued with a Mediterranean spirit, full of Ibizan flavor, with a light all-white bedspread. An idea that brings light to the room and is easy to combine. If you want something with something more character, you can try a bedspread in an intense aubergine color: the contrast with the rest of the bedroom will be spectacular. If you want something more colorful, orange is also one of the best options. Quilts printed with geometric or plant motifs are also a good idea.

 

6. Towels and Toiletries

 

One of the best ways to change the look of a boring bathroom is by using the bathroom linen and its accessories. A simple idea is to put ethnic-inspired towels and accessories with dark geometric prints. They will be practical and at the same time decorative: Everything will be in order and it will look like in a different bathroom. Some sets of towels of different colors and arranged on the shelf, as if it were a rainbow, will be a revolution: the different shades will give a cheerful appearance and it will be very decorative. It is important to always know how to play with colors.

 

7. Stylish curtains

 

They are a fundamental element for windows: they give atmosphere, decorate and regulate the entry of light into the rooms. If you want to change, you have to pay attention to how the room is decorated and what size it is: for the little ones, light colors are better so that light can enter through the curtains; If the decoration is stamped, it should be avoided that the curtains are also so because they dwarf the room. From here, the imagination is free. To create a romantic atmosphere, you can try light-colored, flowing curtains; If you want a more rustic air, you can try wooden bars and broad striped curtains and coarser fabric.

 

8. Aroma renewed with incense and scented candles

 

The house always has a characteristic smell, an aroma that belongs to it and that is representative of the personality of its inhabitants. It is about looking for a new smell for the spaces, it is not too intense, it is simple, it does not tire anyone and it does not become uncomfortable or unpleasant. Great, light scents can be achieved with scented candles or incense sticks. In addition, the scents can transport you to many places: a lavender one can make Provence feel very close, while fruity scents provide the image of a Mediterranean town. And the aromas of spices? Perhaps cinnamon will awaken new sensations …

 

9. Collage of mirrors for a chic look

 

Mirrors are a symbol of identity and, as the house always has a strong character and personality, it is essential that they have a lot of presence. Arranged like a collage, they add a different point to the decoration.

 

10. Flowers and plants, synonymous with life

 

Why not give the house that green and natural touch by decorating it with bouquets of fresh flowers and plants ? In addition, they look good in all corners of the house, from the living room to the bedroom, through the kitchen and the hall. You just have to add a plant in a room to give it a fresh and green air.

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In general, light levels are associated with certain attitudes, such as darkness with sadness. But how does the lack of light really affect a person’s life beyond the moods? How does poor lighting in the home affect health? It is important to differentiate between the damages that the lack of any type of lighting has for the body and the damages of not perceiving enough natural light .

 

Commonly, inadequate lighting can cause eye fatigue, fatigue, headaches, stress and domestic accidents, in addition to the obvious damage to eyesight that comes with performing tasks in insufficient light. Likewise, incorrect lighting can be the cause of inadequate posture that triggers, in the long term, muscular ailments.

 

Natural lighting

 

All vital functions undergo differential regulation depending on the time of day. This regulation is carried out in a cyclical way, day after day, and is called “circadian rhythms”.

 

Through circadian rhythms, the body releases a series of substances into the bloodstream that promote activity during the day and rest at night. The duration and the start and end time of these cycles are determined by the hours of natural light.

 

The alteration in the sequence or order of these rhythms has a negative effect in the short term. Many travelers have experienced jet lag, with its symptoms of fatigue, disorientation, and insomnia. In addition, some psychiatric and neurological disorders and some sleep disorders are associated with irregular functioning of circadian rhythms in general.

 

Knowing that sunlight is what regulates the activity of many of the vital functions of the body, you can see the great importance of good lighting . In addition, it is necessary to emphasize the essential thing to measure well the way and the intensity with which the natural light penetrates the houses, taking into account the time that is spent throughout life at home.

 

The alteration of circadian rhythms in the long term could have harmful consequences in multiple systems, particularly in the development of cardiovascular diseases.

 

To achieve a healthier life, good lighting must have a fundamental role in planning the home, so that maximum performance is obtained at daylight hours, making the most of natural light, of perceiving the necessary light to carry out all kinds of tasks when the night falls and of course to leave the home completely dark if so desired.

In this projection of the home it is essential to take into account the type of room and what is the optimal way to illuminate it . Complementary elements such as lamps or curtains should also have special attention given their influence on the passage and blocking of light into the house.

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Is the strong smell that paints give off and that forces you to open doors and windows , is it harmful to health? The increase in diseases in the population such as cancer or certain diseases of the central nervous system, whose causes in many cases are yet to be revealed, has led researchers from around the world to analyze the composition and toxicity of the products that surround daily life . Among these objects of study are paints and varnishes , in which volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals and formaldehydes are found , all of them substances that can affect health.

 

Plastic paints and volatile organic compounds

 

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are all those hydrocarbons that occur in the gaseous state or that are highly volatile at normal ambient temperatures. This means that, at room temperature, any of these substances can be breathed.

 

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment , this category includes more than a thousand compounds, many of which are highly toxic . Among the classes in which VOCs can be classified according to their dangerousness are compounds that are extremely dangerous to health and compounds that can cause significant damage to the environment.

 

The plastic paints that are commonly used to paint homes contain, in most cases, one or more of these compounds, with their consequent harmful damage to health. The toxic properties depend on each compound and the exposure conditions , and can cause allergic reactions or dizziness in short-term exposures, as well as neurological injuries and other psychiatric effects such as irritability, forgetfulness or difficulty concentrating on longer exposures.

 

The alternative: natural paints

 

Knowing how harmful these plastic paints can be to health due to their content in VOCs, formaldehyde and heavy metals, it is evident that the main benefit that natural paints have is the absence of these harmful substances in their composition.

 

Natural paints are mainly composed of vegetable oils, metal oxides and other derivatives of mineral or vegetable origin , which makes them biodegradable and respectful with the environment . Another characteristic of this type of paints is that they allow the transpiration of the materials they cover, preventing the appearance of damp , cracks and chips.

 

In conclusion, these are paints that do not have harmful substances, protect the environment, promote perspiration and also have a great durability . In fact, the Altamira Caves, which are over 13,000 years old, are painted based on iron oxides and charcoal.

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