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Wednesday, February 27th, 2019
Fine Furniture Runway Collection: How many lighting fixtures do you think this dining room has?
Indoor and outdoor lighting design must be focused on energy efficiency. If you’re about to construct your dream home, then you should take ample time designing the lighting fixtures that you will install.
Designing the Indoor Lights
When you’re designing the indoor lighting and you want to optimize energy efficiency, you should consider adding more light. The quantity that you bring in also counts just as much as light quality.
Install LED or fluorescent lighting on the ceilings and walls. Take time design the light in key areas such as the living room, kitchen, bathrooms, the hallway and other high-traffic areas.
You can also use portable LEDs and CFLs that are going to be used for two hours each day. Be sure to find the Energy Star labeled lights. Invest also in occupancy sensors that would automatically turn your lights on or off.
Consider the light walls because these will minimize the need to use artificial lights. If you’re thinking of using recessed lights on your ceilings, use UL or Underwriters Lab approved fixtures only. These are airtight so they meet all ASTM (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials) requirements.
Measure the ceiling height so you will know how to properly hang the lighting fixtures. There are lights that already come with adjustable rods or cables but there are also those that don’t so be sure to do your measurements.
The rule of thumb is, the bottom of your lighting fixtures must hang at about 12-20 inches below an eight-foot ceiling.
When you’re hanging a light over a kitchen island or a dining table, take note that the recommended distance is 28-34 inches from the lighting fixture’s bottom to the table surface. Note the size of your lighting fixture, though.
A smaller light may be hung lower while a bigger one can be placed higher.
When adding new pendant lights, consider if you can use cord swags. These can provide an industrial feel to the kitchen.
Light the stair risers so that no one would trip when he or she goes up or down the stairs.
Play with colors. A bright, colorful light in a neutral room will surely be interesting to see. Decorative lighting can also help in adding mood to the space.
Design for Outdoor Lighting
When you’re designing outdoor lights, you should consider aesthetics, utility and security.
For aesthetic lighting, make sure that the exteriors of your home are properly illuminated giving emphasis to areas such as a plot of garden or a beautiful landscape.
As for utility, be sure to put ample lighting on the driveway and the porch. These lights will help the people navigate around the house. Security-wise, the grounds must also be illuminated whether on the driveway or all around the house.
Energy efficient outdoor lighting needn’t be bright. Use fluorescent or LED lighting for energy efficiency. Think if you can have a few floodlights installed. Combine these with motion and photo sensors.
Check also that the outdoor lighting fixtures come with reflectors, covers or deflectors. Any of these will help reduce light pollution outdoors. Make good use of controls and timers so that decorative lighting can also be turned on and off.
Some of the lights that are commonly used to improve the outdoor setting are –
Lighting, as cliché as it may sound, can make or break the design of your home. Lighting can increase the ambiance as well as the mood of any space whether you’re illuminating outdoors or indoors. If you get it correctly, you get the assurance that your home will look at its best.
Tags: designing the lights, home lighting, lighting plan, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Decorative Elements, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Lighting | Comments Off on What Is the Best Lighting Plan?
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2016
Uttermost Accessories Garvin Twist Sconce With Candle 19476
Interior design lists lighting as one of the crucial elements yet it is one of the most overlooked phases in design. An effective lighting plan should improve the overall look of the room, furnishings, even the colors.
There are three kinds of lighting that can work together in order to achieve balance. These are the task, accent and ambient lighting. A wall sconce, depending on where it was installed, can fit into any of these three categories.
If you snubbed wall sconces in the past, well, it’s time to reconsider. Minus any wiring task, there are pluggable sconces that can up your fashion statement.
Cords Can be Fashionable
Who said wall sconce cords are plain nuisance? Most wall sconces now come with cords that are meant to be displayed. There are also built-in channels that can improve the wall sconce’s decorative appeal. Many lighting suppliers now offer channels which you can add to wall sconces to cover any unsightly cord. The cord can then be concealed behind paneling or furniture.
Be bold as you choose the wall sconce cord that you will display. This can be made of sparkling metal or any bright-colored channel. You always have the option to spray paint the cord, too, so that it would easily match the color of your walls.
Free Up Your Desk
Get rid of that old table lamp which just eats up desk space. While it is an effective task light, having it feels like you are still working inside the office and not at home. If you have decided to set up a home office, then be sure to tone down the lights. You are, after all, alone in your office environment so you can now adjust the task lighting.
Use the same ol’ plug for your sconce but, this time, instead of a bulky table lamp, what you have is a modern look that didn’t just diminish the amount of clutter on your desk but also gave your home office a more fashionable appeal.
Uttermost Lamps and Lighting Cristal De Lisbon 2-Lt Wall Sconce 22401
Closet Conversion
Another way that a wall sconce could come in handy is when you convert a closet into a disappearing home office. Every square inch counts and so a wall sconce is a great way to optimize available work space; the wall sconce will also make the closet feel less of a closet.
Wall Balance
What wall wouldn’t look lovelier if you place a pair of wall sconces on it? Plug-in wall sconces can effectively frame a lovely art piece. This pair of ambient light can bring attention to your piece of art which is something that you would want the beholders to do.
Be Gone Awkward Areas
There are areas in your home that are a bit more difficult to light. Such is the case with your reading nook, corners and window bench. A pair of wall sconces will effectively add another layer of light (apart from the natural light brought in by the windows). These nooks can be beautifully framed and the result is a jewel-like spot.
When setting up for a reading corner, use a downward-facing lighting fixture. A swing-arm sconce will also be a great spotlight.
Save Bedside Reading Space
If you have a cottage interior design, you can choose a bronze or black plug-in sconce for your bedside light. This is a great way to provide guests with individual reading light while still adding to the cottage appeal. The space is also saved for the nightstand where they can place their eyeglasses and books as they doze off.
Wall sconces can be awesome architectural highlighters. Cap your living room, bedroom, dining room, even bathroom looks as you place pairs of sconces on your walls.
Tags: accent light, accent lighting, ambient lighting, designing the lights, general lighting, home lighting, interior lighting, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, wall sconce, wall sconce design, wall sconce installation
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Lighting | No Comments »
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