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Although it may not be obvious, lighting can change how you feel about your home. Changing the lighting in a room can change the whole look and feel of the area. Many people do not realize just how big of an impact the lights have on how a room is perceived. A room can appear comfortable and cozy or bright and welcoming just from changing the lighting. The great thing about lighting a room is that it is the cheapest form of redecorating there is.

If your home is suffering from poor lighting, there is a chance that each room isn’t seeing its full potential. With good lighting, children will be able to safely play or concentrate on studies, and the whole family will be able to enjoy quality time or hobbies well into the night without being disturbed. If the lighting in a room is poor, it can have an effect on work performance and even your overall mood.

Many homes have problems with poorly lit, dark corners. A great way to create an ambiance and bring bright, even lighting to an entire room is with recessed lighting. Recessed lighting is a clean, efficient way to supply light to an entire home without taking up space or throwing off the feel of a room. The simple design makes it easy to complement any design scheme, and recessed lighting can look great in all rooms of your home.

Not only can recessed lighting brighten up dark corners and hallways, but you can also install them over points of interest in your home, such as above the piano, a piece of artwork, or a bookshelf. Recessed lighting is also an excellent choice for task lighting. Placing these lights above work spaces, in offices, and above desks is a simple way to illuminate a focused area.

The position of this lighting style is crucial, because if they are too close together or in a single line down the center of a room can tend to look like an airport runway. If you’re using recessed lamps as task lighting, be sure to place them carefully overhead, as you do not want your body hindering the effect of the light. To help with light placement an installation, it is recommended that you call an electrical contractor.

Before you begin installing lights in a new home or renovating an old one, you should contact an electrician to help with the process. Working with a professional is the easiest way to begin changing the lighting in your home. Skilled electricians will be able to install any lights, including recessed, quickly and efficiently, which can make a huge difference in the overall outcome of a house.

If you ever noticed, most homes of the rich and famous normally have a chandelier either in the living room or in the dining room. Some of them might even consider placing chandeliers in both rooms if the outcome is not at all overbearing. The reason behind this is simple, unique chandeliers give off a sort of regal charm that adds elegance to any home. Whether it is made of cheap glass or precious crystals, chandelier adds a touch of softness and royalty to any room.

Chandeliers were first used during the medieval ages and the very first form was that of a wooden cross with candles on each end. Even then, besides giving illumination to a place, it also speaks of luxury and the high stature of the person. Shortly after, crown or ring based chandeliers started to become more and more famous and with the high cost of night lights at that time, only rich merchants and officials were able to afford them. They do not have as much unique chandeliers as we have now but theirs were made with candles, instead of bulbs.

If you decide to put up chandeliers at home, you will be overwhelmed by the myriad of choices. Not only are there more than a hundred choices, you can even have your own ideas crafted into a nicely decorated chandelier. Instead of the normal chandelier drops with a number of bulbs, you can have a customized design that only has one bulb but gives off the illusion of a number of different ones.

Unique chandeliers are best suited for homes that have a specific theme or style. Say, for example, you are going for a more geometric style, a brass chandelier might not work well with your current theme. Instead, a minimalist one with pronounced shapes will work better and reflect your theme well. The internet is flooded with different types of chandelier designs which you could order and have delivered to your home ranging from as low as $300 to thousands of dollars.

There are various materials for unique chandeliers, and the material you should get depends entirely on your style and preference. The most common chandelier material is metal with glass festoon decorating the chandelier. Other luxurious chandeliers would go as much as using gold for its base and crystals for the decorations but that definitely comes at a price.

Chandeliers are famous the world over for bringing a touch of classic while blending into your home. On top of that, most chandeliers seem to transport you back in time during the Victorian era, where everyone is clad in ball gowns and tuxedos. It gives royalty to the home it furnishes and of course, it illuminates well because of the number of light bulbs available in it. Unique chandeliers are a staple in every home, with various designs and styles available for the consumer. If you want to make your decorations more elegant with ten times more style, putting a nice and suitable chandelier will definitely work

The choice of lights to finish a basement can make or break the whole room. Not being well-informed can lead to poor selections of lighting fixtures and will turn a basement into a dull and dreary place where nobody wants to go to. But choosing the appropriate lights will make it an interesting and inviting setting for family and friends.

It is wise to consider how much sunlight can enter the basement before doing the lighting purchase and installation. More sunlight is better as this will lessen energy consumption which is good for the budget and the environment. Structural designs to finish a basement may allow for bigger windows to let in more sunlight. However, security measures should not be ignored in the process.

Planning the overall lighting to provide illumination throughout the area is not a difficult task if you know what to put. Fluorescent is the best choice for most homeowners since there is not much chance of sunlight getting in and fluorescent are bright as well as power efficient. As most basements are cold and damp, this type of light will warm up the room and give it a cheerful ambiance. Don’t forget the navigation lights for the entrance and stairway; these form part of the overall lighting, too. Overall and navigation lights should have switches beside the entrance doors or at the top of the stairs for safety reasons.

Accent lights are mainly decorative and are not installed for the lighting purposes. They call attention to decorative details or focus on special architectural designs such as tray ceilings or columns. Accent lights may be colored or may be used to create a cozy ambiance.

Task lights are installed for specific functions. Reading, sewing and doing office work where extra light is needed will benefit from the focused beam of a task light. Task lights for closets and areas under cabinets will also be a great help.

Take advantage of the opportunity to use lights to enhance the atmosphere as you finish a basement that will look and feel bright and appealing.

Home lighting is probably the most important element in home interior decorating, because it is instrumental in setting the mood of any room. It can affect performance, mood, morale, safety and security. When deciding what lighting to use in your new home it’s important to consider how each room will be used, what fixtures are appropriate, energy efficiency and cost. To ensure that you will achieve the desired effect for your rooms, you first need to understand the four basic types of home lighting.

Ambient or general lighting illuminates the whole room. It is a good idea to install a dimmer with your track and recessed lights so that you have the flexibility to adjust the brightness. Examples of ambient lighting are recessed downlights, cove lighting, soffit lighting, valance lighting, wall washers, sconces, surface-mounted lights, pendant lights, track lights, chandeliers, under-cabinet lights and portable fixtures.

Task lighting provides sufficient light to help you perform the task at hand, for example reading, cooking, shaving, etc. Task lighting should be glare free and it should make things easy to see without tiring or straining your eyes. Examples of task lighting are valance lighting, pendant lights, under-cabinet lights and portable fixtures.

Accent lighting is focused lighting that is used to illuminate an object in your home like a sculpture, piece of art, or architectural element. Accent lighting is about three times as bright as ambient lighting. Example of accent lighting are wall washers, sconces, track lights and under-cabinet lights.

Natural lighting comes through windows, doors, and skylights and depending on the time of day, season, or weather, it can vary in brightness and intensity.

Types of Lighting Fixtures

Once you’ve considered what types of activities will be taking place in a room and what type of lighting is needed, you’ll need to decide what fixture will work best in each room in your new home and don’t be afraid to use multiple types of interior lighting. In fact, mixing and matching different light fixtures can help create a dramatic look and aesthetically pleasing room. The type of lighting you choose can also help make a room look larger or smaller.

Be prepared: Walking into any light fixture store can be overwhelming, so be sure to have a list of the types of fixtures your considering and how many you will need in each room. Before purchasing any fixtures, make sure you ask your builder if there are any restrictions on the types of fixtures that can be used in any specific room, because sometimes things such as ductwork, insulation or ceiling height can affect whether or not a fixture can be installed properly in a room.

Tip: Your local American Lighting Association (ALA) showroom is the best place to view the many different styles, sizes and shapes of lighting fixtures that are available to deliver the ambient/general, task, and accent light you need. Below is a list of the different types of lighting fixtures.

Hall/Foyer Fixtures can create a harmonious atmosphere, while providing you with the general lighting you need to greet guests and move safely from room to room. Use ceiling, chain-hung, or close-to-ceiling fixtures in hallways, stairways, and entranceways.

Chandeliers can add sparkle and style to your dining room while giving you the ambient/general lighting you need for dining and entertaining. They are also used in large bedrooms, foyers, or over a living room grouping or a grand piano. Some are designed with downlights to provide task lighting for homework or table games. Chandeliers are available in both incandescent and tungsten-halogen. The addition of a dimmer control lets you alter the intensity of light to suit the mood and activity going on in your room.

Pendants can provide both task and ambient/general lighting. Equipped with shades or globes to avoid glare, they are usually found hanging from the ceiling over dinette tables, game tables, kitchen counters, or other work areas. When used over end or night tables, they free up the space occupied by table lamps. For added flexibility use a dimmer control.

Ceiling Fixtures usually provide general lighting and are very practical in busy areas such as foyers, hallways, bedrooms, kitchens, baths, laundry rooms, playrooms, and dens. They are available with incandescent, fluorescent, and energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

Wall-Mounted Fixtures can provide ambient/general, task, and accent lighting. Many are designed to match and supplement dining room chandeliers, or to provide hallway, bedroom, or living room lighting. Wall brackets are often used for task lighting at the bathroom mirror. They are available with a choice of incandescent, tungsten-halogen, and energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

Bath/Vanity Lighting Strips provide task lighting, while supplementing the general lighting provided by ceiling fixtures. Similar to the lighting in theater dressing rooms, these soft glowing strips of globe-shaped incandescent bulbs provide excellent lighting for grooming.

Portable Lamps provide ambient/general, task, and accent lighting and give you the added flexibility of moving the light whenever you want. Table lamps, floor lamps, and torchiers are available in a variety of styles to complement your decor. Small specialty lamps, such as clip-on lights, uplight cans, adjustable task lights, mini-reflector spotlights, desk and piano lamps fill a variety of task and accent light needs. These lamps are available with incandescent, tungsten-halogen, and energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

Track Lighting can provide ambient/general, task, or accent lighting all at once in one flexible lighting system. You can move, swivel, rotate, and aim the individual fixtures in any direction along the track, giving you the versatility to change your lighting scheme whenever you want. You can also hang chandeliers and pendants from the track. Track fixtures are available in standard or low-voltage current, and a choice of incandescent, tungsten-halogen, and energy-efficient compact fluorescent light sources.

Recessed Lighting can provide ambient/general, task, or accent lighting inconspicuously. Installed in the ceiling with only the trim showing, recessed fixtures can be used anywhere in the home. They are ideal for low-ceiling areas, and with a special adapter they can also be used in cathedral ceilings. They are available as downlights, adjustable accent lights, and wall washers in both standard and low-voltage current and a choice of incandescent, tungsten-halogen, and energy-efficient compact fluorescents.

Undercabinet/ Undershelf Fixtures provide both task and accent lighting. Under kitchen cabinets they light a countertop. In a display cabinet they show off special collections. They include slim, energy-efficient fluorescents, miniature track lighting, and strips of low-voltage mini-lights.

What About the Bulbs?

Certain fixtures are designed for a specific type of bulb, such as a two- or four-pin fluorescent bulb. Others can accommodate the more common screw-in type. When choosing fixtures, be sure to note what type of bulb it requires, so that you won’t be surprised to find the bulb you bought isn’t the right one.

Incandescent bulbs are the most heavily used in homes. Unfortunately, these bulbs are inefficient and expensive to operate. Fluorescent bulbs have come a long way from the humming, glaring office lights we’ve all been exposed to. Today’s fluorescent bulbs don’t hum, and they provide light that is almost identical to incandescent bulbs. The best part is that fluorescent bulbs have significantly longer life than incandescent bulbs (almost 10 times as long), use less energy and are affordably priced for use in your home. Halogen and LED bulbs are also available for the home market. Both are more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, but are more expensive than fluorescent lights.

Room-By-Room Home Lighting Ideas

When you start shopping for lighting fixtures, you’ll find that there are literally hundreds of home lighting options, so think of lighting from two perspectives – function and aesthetics. Functionally, your home lighting needs to provide the right type of light in sufficient quantity for your intended purpose. Aesthetically, you can configure your lighting to create the desired mood through its intensity, style and color.

Below are some ideas for lighting the various rooms in your home.

Living Rooms

- Place a lamp about 42 inches above the floor in areas where you plan to do reading.

- Highlight a framed piece of art with halogen track lighting or by attaching a picture light.

- Use accent lights to illuminate bookcases or display shelves.

- Install recessed lighting as your general lighting or to accent beautiful wall textures, but be sure your lighting comes with a dimmer.

- Slim strip lights come in just about any length and can stick to the edge of shelves or ledges to highlight displays.

Kitchens

- A grid of recessed ceiling cans will provide great general lighting and flexibility.

- Install individual recessed down-lights as task lighting for the sink and cooking areas.

- Place halogen pendant lights over bars and countertops.

- Under-cabinet lights make excellent task lighting.

Dining Rooms

- A chandelier with a dimmer over the dining room table creates a beautiful setting.

- Highlight a framed piece of art with halogen track lighting or by attaching a picture light.

- Install halogen strip lighting inside your china cabinet to highlight china or collectibles.

- If don’t care for a chandelier and you have a long table, try using a trio of pendant lights.

Bedrooms

- Place table lamps on your bedside tables, but avoid halogen lamps in children’s rooms because they can get very hot.

- Wall sconces can provide good general lighting without being too bright.

- If space is limited you should consider recessed lights or pendant lights.

- If you want to create a romantic setting, place candles around the room.

Bathrooms

- Use shadow-free fluorescent or incandescent lights around mirrors for grooming.

- To avoid shadows, place mirror lights on the side rather than directly overhead.

- It’s always a good idea to install a night light.

If you are someone who plays the piano or any other instrument, you know how difficult it can be to try and practice playing your instruments just anywhere in the home. It is nice to have equipment from House of Troy that can sit in its very own room without any distractions or interruptions in the room. It is also very nice to have the room set up the way you like it with proper decorations and a comfortable area to play in. Some people like to make it as comfortable as possible, making it look like just another room in the house, but others like to make it as professional as possible with piano lights, room sound equipment, and several different gadgets to make the music playing experience even more exciting.

When playing music at home it can be very easy to be done for the day and to feel a little bit of boredom around other distractions and fun things to do, but if you can keep those things from bothering you, it can be very helpful. Having one room in your home set aside just for music can help immensely. It can be very helpful if this room has closed doors and if this room is simply shut off from the rest of the house. Without any random interruptions or distractions, students can learn a lot more when it comes to their music and much more can be completed in one day rather than if your instrument was with you in front of the television.

When decorating a music room, it is important to stick with the comfort level of the musician who will be using the room. Lots of bright colors, floral patterns, and comfortable chairs can change the mood of the room, making someone want to lay down for a nap rather than practice their instrument. Blacks, grays, and whites are all helpful and can still look very polished and decorative within a home. Again, it all depends on the comfort level of the musician and what they are into.

Many music teachers who teach out of their own home follow these same simple rules when it comes to others playing in their home. Making the room too personal can make it uncomfortable for others to sit in while making it too dry can be boring as well. The best piece to fill a music room is one black grand piano. The perfect vision of a music room is white walls, delicate hardwood floor and one black grand piano and nothing else.

Playing music is a gift and anyone who can play music very well should be given whatever they need to keep playing music as well as they do. Whether you or your child is a musician or if you are a music teacher yourself, then you understand the importance of music and all that it does. By keeping a room in your home just for music you are helping your musician more than you can imagine.

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