A room that only has ambient lighting will feel flat and cold, which is why layering your lighting is so important to add depth and create a cosy feel to the space. Ideally, a room should have task lighting such as a table or floor lamp for reading and accent lighting to highlight certain interesting points such as artwork or display cabinetry. When the room is dark the best features will not fade away, as accent lighting brings them to the fore and creates focal interest within the space. Decorative lighting adds artistic expression, but too many lamps in a room can make the space feel cluttered – so put some careful consideration into what you choose and avoid overkill. The overall trend for using natural materials in the home has also veered into the lighting world, with shades made from wood and natural fabrics often featured in contemporary collections. Metallic lamps are a great way to add a luxurious feel to a room, particularly if it is minimalist or neutral in colour, adding depth to the space with reflecting light.

SIMPLY DELIGHTFUL LIGHTING

British designer Tom Dixon (featured here) has just launched a new take on his Melt collection with these floor and portable lamp versions – the design being originally inspired by the organic aesthetic of melting glass or ice. Available through Siesta Interior Design in C. Plaza in Nueva Andalucía (www.siestainteriordesign.com) , Gunni & Trentino in Marbella Club (www.gunnitrentino.es) , UDesign in Polígono Industrial San Pedro de Alcántara (www.udesign.es) and Acoola in Pol. Ind. San Pedro de Alcántara (www.acoola.eu) .