Lighting can make a home more attractive and welcoming, or it can fall short. Homes with a shortage of lighting can be fine during daylight hours, but after dark, it will be hard to read or play games and there may be dark areas in hallways and corners. Lighting can make or break a home’s design and mood. But, modernizing light fixtures and adding light in halls and dark corners can make a dramatic difference in the home’s usability and comfort. New lighting fixtures can even lower lighting bills.
Home Lighting For Both Inside and Outside Areas
Good home lighting starts before you even enter the home. Modern exterior lights can be powered by the sun to charge during the day and light driveways, entries, and exterior areas at night to add to home security and curb appeal. Exterior lighting can create nightscapes of beauty and interest in home landscaping. Contacting a company such as nightscapes.ca can be the start of better lighting for the home and its exterior areas.
Solar-powered or LED lights can give a home’s exterior great lighting at a small cost. Patios and deck areas can suddenly be used for entertaining or relaxing in the evenings. Coming home can be well-lit and safe because of motion sensing entry lights. There won’t be any more fumbling for the keys in the dark. A well-lit entry is safer than a dark one.
8 Simple Tricks and tips To Improve Home Lighting
Moving to the inside of the home, lighting can be improved with an affordable investment. There are ways that interior designers improve the lighting in homes they design interiors for.
1. Choose one light fixture in a room to be a focal point, then add to that lighting with smaller fixtures located in crucial spots around the room. There are several types of lights, including ceiling fixtures, chandeliers, table lamps, sconces, floor lamps, and track lighting. Layering lighting can be very effective.
2. Purchase new light fixtures for each room that are the correct scale so they don’t get lost or overpower the room. Adding layers of light such as under cabinet lighting in a kitchen can be very effective. Accent lights can draw attention to special room features such as artwork or a fireplace.
3. Replace older light bulbs with more-efficient ones, and consider installing dimmer switches to control light levels and the mood in each room. Light fixtures that use three-way bulbs are the best.
4. Update old ceiling fans and lights with new ones that provide better energy efficiency and a modern look.
Replace Outdated Lighting Controls
5. Consider updating the light switches and controls to make use of smart-house technology and wireless options. With this improvement, people can control lights anywhere in the house or outside with one control device.
6. If money is limited, replace the oldest, or least attractive, light fixture in the house first, then replace other fixtures as money becomes available. The homeowner can take photos of each place they want a new light and take the photo to the lighting store for easier shopping. Lights can also seem brand new if they are given new lampshades.
7. Reduce the layers of heavy window coverings on windows and clean the windows to add natural light to a room. Consider using shades that can be lifted during the day and lowered at night for privacy.
8. Candles can add to the decor of a room. They can even be scented to add more interest. Then, they can be used as emergency lighting if the power goes out. Candles can also be lit to give a room a romantic feeling.
Walking through a house with a notepad in hand is a good way to make a lighting plan to follow. Make notes of outdated light fixtures or dark spots in rooms. Then, use those notes to add to or update the lighting.
SHOP LIGHTING…