Lighting is essential to modern life. It turns
night into day, makes our homes comfortable and livable, and provides safety and
security. Lighting chases away the shadows, puts a sparkle in our holiday displays, makes nighttime entertainment possible, and, when used correctly, can
be an art form in itself.
In recent years, architects and lighting designers have begun to recognize the role that light plays in our homes and businesses. The proper application of light can create a mood and define a space in ways that textiles or furnishing cannot. Light gives us an envornment where we can work in safety, it emphasizes important furnishing and other details, it creates sparkle and contrast that sets one room off from another.
The right lighting can transform a dull dining room into a rich, elegant dining space. It can turn a dark kitchen into a bright, cheerful cooking and entertaining area. And it can help create a sense of safety and security in a home and surrounding property.
So what is good lighting, anyway?
Good lighting doesn’t necessarily mean having a large quantity of light in your home. Your livingroom can be as brightly lit as a operating room, but to many people that’s not the mood they’re looking for in their homes. After all, it’s the quality of the light that greatly determines our pleasure with it, not the quantity.
To most people, lighting is more satisfactory if it’s not glaring - or not so bright that you couldn’t look at it directly without squinting. That’s why table lamps have shades, and in most lighting fixtures the bulbs are recessed inside heads or other housings. While there is a place for strong spotlights in a room or other space - as accent lighting to provide interest and drama - the general lighting in a room should provide a soft spread of light over the entire room, without leaving any part of it in deep shadow.
Will good home or commercial lighting be expensive?
Not as expesive as you might think. If you shop around, both offline and online, often you can find what you're looking for at a deep discount. And just remember that since most modern light fixtures are more energy efficient than their older counterparts, you'll save money on your electric bill over time.
Most people are now using compact flourescent lamps, or CFLs, in place of incandescent bulbs. These save energy, plus they last up to eight times longer, so CFLs are cheaper to replace as well. But many of today's track, monorail, and other accent lighting fixtures are low-voltage units that use much less energy than line-voltage fixtures. This can add up to substantial savings in both energy, and the greenhouse gasses that are released when energy is produced.
Why is lighting so often ignored?
As important as good lighting is, it's amazing how many homeowners -- and remodelers -- treat it as an afterthought. Most people spend more time picking out their carpet and curtains than than they do planning the lighting design in their homes. Many 30 or 40-year-old homes have their original light fixtures, and while these may function to provide general lighting, they lack the capability of adding a dynamic lighting dimension to your home.
But purchasing and installing a new lighting project can be a
confusing, expensive proposition without the proper skills and information. The uninformed buyer can either pay too much, or choose the wrong fixtures and end up with a worse lighting arrangment than when he or she started. And always consult with a qualified electrician before attempting any major rewiring projects in your home.
This site is intended as a guide to those who
wish to learn more about lighting design and the ways in which lighting can make a home a more comfortable, inviting place to live. So have a look around, read
our product reviews and
information guides, and hopefully
your next lighting purchase will be an informed and rewarding experience.
Further Reading
Outdoor Lighting
|
|
|
|
Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting
has a variety of uses, from security to entertainment, and making the right
choice in tools and hardware can make that outdoor lighting project a snap.... Read more |
Lighting Fixtures
|
Lighting Fixtures
There's a wide variety of lighting fixtures to choose from depending on your needs and budget. When going over your overall lighting design, make sure you have the right fixtures for every room and every lighting application....
Read more |
Search Our Site
Resources
Article Of The Week Check out
our article of the week. The content on this site is fresh and updated
regularly.
Share your story If you have a fun or inspirational
story relating to a favorite lighting project, we'd love to hear about it!
Use our
Contact page to email us your story.
Top Brands
Hampton Bay Lighting
Cooper Lighting
Lithonia Lighting
Progress Lighting
Kichler Lighting
Columbia Lighting
Lighting Tips
CFL Tip - If you have hard to reach lighting fixtures in your home, such as ceiling fans, enclosed outdoor fixtures, or vaulted or high ceilings, try using Energy Star compact flourescent bulbs. Not only do CFLs use less energy (and save on your utility bill), but they also last many times longer then conventional incandescent bulbs.
Safety Tip - As a safety precaution, it's a good idea to have a ground fault interrupter (GFI) in any area of your home that has water, such as the kitchen or bathroom. GFI's are more sensitive than tradition circuit breakers, and are intended to operate within 25-40 milliseconds, before electric shock can drive the heart into ventricular fibrillation, the most common cause of death through electric shock.
Modern Welding
If you have an interest in welding, either as a profession or as a hobby, stop by our welding site and learn more about this fascinating trade.
