Brightening a dark vestibule
Looking at Roarah’s cool vestibule got me thinking about my own. No, I’m not getting a cool tile floor. But mine needs some light!
Hard to get a good pic. It is tiny and dark.
The main issue: no electricity. No outlet, no overhead light fixture. And I am not willing to do major electrical work so I’m looking for a low budget, easier solution.
If you look on the shelf you’ll see a holiday window candle light. That is what we use when we are expecting company after dark (um, which hasn’t happened in a year and a half)! I was pretty pleased with that solution TBH and one possible, quirky idea is to just get a few more that operate on a remote control (is it possible — say 3 battery candles operated from 1 remote?). I don’t need a LOT of light — people don’t spend more than 30 seconds out there but I’d like it to not feel like a tiny dark cave.
Another idea — take down the shelf/hooks (even though I really like that vintage piece) and hang a painting on that wall with a battery operated picture light.
Any other ideas? Another idea in the quirky dept is to run a length of battery operated string lights around the ceiling.
I could use a lighter entry rug too. Not easy to find because I need a very low pile bc of the door, and it’s a small area. What I have now are FLOR tiles (4). The wall color is already very light (Healing Aloe). Guess I could repaint in a light cream but not sure how much difference a new paint would make on its own.
Thoughts?
Comments (85)
Sueb20
2 years ago
mtnrdredux_gw
2 years agoLove the Brockhampton Star Sue
. Also love the Bumble Bee, which we had in aqua in a guest room in our first house
They have it in a pretty green too
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Comments (13)At that height, I don't think it is a chair rail, it is a picture rail. Those are unique antique fixtures and hard to come by. I wouldn't remove, but I would not have a separate color for the lower half. I would consider the wall all one and paint it all the same, and then use the picture rail to hang the boards. Does not really matter how you paint, either light or dark. Lighting and window will make most difference in how "light" the room is. Vibrant colors can also make a room feel more cheery, if not "lighter." Up to you which way to go. A little green can go a long way, you might consider some plants. I hate watering them and have a tendency to kill indoor plants, even though I am a horticulturalist. I am like the plumber who always has a leaky faucet at home. I tend to ignore my houseplants. So your idea of an accent wall with some greenery might be a really nice and easy way to make the office a fun space....See MoreProblem with lightbulbs I ordered to brighten up dark space...
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Comments (4)Love your sectional and rug! Are you taking up the wall-to-wall carpeting? You could get a rectangle ottoman, in blue to match your rug, to use as a coffee table and also to put your feet up. Or a glass top table. I would get a large print (check out Allposters.com for a great selection) and hang it over your sectional. One small end table, a few colorful pillows and a slim chair to complete the room....See MoreBrighten this dark foyer!
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2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoI missed the bunny post. Yes! I think that is so much more your style. You have a light heartedness in your style that I'd like to see in the first impression when you enter.
I don't want to send you down a (pardon the pun) rabbit hole, but spoonflower might be a good place to look.
I was thinking Fornasetti (sp?) too. When I tried to google what i was looking for, there were some real clunkers... to wit:
Sueb20 thanked mtnrdredux_gwSueb20
2 years agoBackpedaling on the wallpaper idea, maybe a more bright patterned rug.
The reason I have a humdrum rug there now is because this is in the foyer and I didn’t want to clash.
But could one of these work?
mtnrdredux_gw
2 years agoSueb20
2 years ago
Also found these…which are a bit bigger so would cover more of the dark floor, thereby adding more light/color?
But I do think the top one is more fun.Sueb20
2 years ago
Bumblebeez SC Zone 7
2 years agoSueb20
2 years agoThis one. I used amex points too, so if I screw up this little experiment, I won’t feel too bad. I am hopeful, though!
Sueb20
2 years agoI ordered this rug! I think the light and the rug will brighten things up out there. Will report back…
Bumblebeez SC Zone 7
2 years ago
colduphere
2 years agomartinca_gw sunset zone 24
2 years agomaddie260
2 years agoSueb20
2 years ago
Allison0704
2 years agoSueb20
2 years agoSueb20
2 years agoSo… this isn’t hung properly yet. (1) it is precariously hanging from a nail that was already in the wall and (2) it needs to go higher.
One issue — I used the ”handy outlet” recommended in the blog (actually a link to another blog from the initial blog). Theoretically, the puck light could be glued to the end of the handy outlet and then easily unscrewed to change batteries. Well, before gluing the puck to the outlet, I screwed the outlet into the lamp socket and… it is now stuck in there. Hard to explain but it just will not un-screw. I am sure it’s because the fixture itself is cheapo. So, I used velcro to attach the puck to the end of the handy outlet.
My main concern was wondering if looking up into the puck light would be ugly/tacky but I think it looks fine, PLUS you basically need to be leaning against the wall to be looking up into the light, and no one would be doing that.
The remote for the puck light is amazing! You can turn it on and off, dim it to any level, and set it to turn off after a certain amount of time from 15 min to 2 hrs.
One surprise — because I guess I didn’t pay attention to the specs, the fixture extends further from the wall than I expected. I actually removed part of the mechanism where the fixture attaches to the back plate so it’s now a couple inches less deep.
I don’t know that I’d be 100% happy using this in a ”real” room — if for example it was in a living space where you’d be looking up from a chair seeing the inner workings of the puck light hack — but for this situation, I’m very happy! Also, no one’s going to be lingering in the vestibule studying the details of the lighting.
PS all of my finagling took probably 20 minutes.
PPS unexpected bonus — I love how the light illuminates the detail on the coat hook thingie, so I’m definitely keeping that.
3katz4me
2 years agoSueb20
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoKswl, funny, I was thinking of painting it when I first bought it (at a consignment shop for like $20) so yes, that’s an option.
Sssh, DH is in the process of hanging the light. No swearing yet. See the rug?? 😃
Sueb20
2 years agoSueb20
2 years ago
martinca_gw sunset zone 24