Lighting upgrades can make any home go from good to extravagant and it’s all because of a simple change in lighting! Fall is the ideal time to consider upgrading the lighting fixtures, both interior, and exterior. Here are a number of different lighting upgrades to choose from this fall. Some of these ideas may manage to improve the aesthetic of your home and create a cozy and warm atmosphere this season.
Knowing the Types of Lighting
There are a number of different types of lighting available across the spectrum. All have their advantages and their disadvantages.
Accent: Directional lighting or lighting that adds interest or highlights a certain object or unusual architectural feature in a room. A bulb and some kind of shield to direct the light are all that’s needed for this type of lighting. Halogen spotlights and table lamps with opaque shades are good ways to achieve accent lighting.
Aesthetic: Lighting itself can be a work of art. A neon sculpture would be purely decorative and an example of aesthetic lighting. A spotlight illuminating a statue on a pedestal or portrait on the wall is also artistic. These types of lighting upgrades also need to be used along with other lighting types.
Ambient: Ambient is a hidden source of light that washes a room with a glow. It flattens an interior and creates a very little shadow. A wall sconce is an example of ambient lighting, as are paper lanterns. Use of a dimmer can also provide ambient light.
Task: Task lighting is just that; lighting that’s used to perform daily activities such as reading, cooking, shaving, putting on makeup and so on. Effective task lighting enhances visual clarity and keeps the eyes from getting tired, so it needs to be glare-free.
Natural: Sunlight, candlelight, and firelight; this is a light that moves and is sometimes referred to as kinetic. The quality of natural light, sunlight, in particular, depends on many things — time of day, weather, what season it is. Fall has a different light than summer, for instance. The setting sun gives a different kind of light than midday sun and so on. Perhaps the morning sun coming over the horizon could bask your kitchen in a welcoming orange glow.
Use Outdoor Lighting Sparsely
Leaving your exterior lighting on for long periods of time can especially raise your electrical bills. Before you go to bed for the evening, consider turning those exterior lights off. Another alternative would be to invest in timers or motion detectors to use the lights when they are needed. Even using solar sensors allow for solar sensors to know when the sun is setting and the lights automatically turn on.
Dimming the Lights
Dimmers not only allow you to change the amount of light present within the room for ambiance or certain activities. For example dimming a halogen bulb by 20% saves about 18% of the energy costs to operate it. Dimmer switches also make your light bulbs last longer. A halogen light bulb normally lasting 5-6 months can last up to 3 or 4 years. If you need to add the dimmer, contact your local electrician who can install this for you. As an alternative, if you are a DIY individual, a simple search on the Internet can yield the right choice.
Lighting Upgrades with Control Options
There are a couple of different options for control of your lighting systems. They consist of the following:
- Timers: Light timers can be set to automatically switch on and off at predetermined times. They can provide additional security for people who travel out of town, and create the impression that a person is a home
- Photoelectric Sensors: Sensors detect changes in light and provide automatic operation from dusk until dawn. Photoelectric sensors can be rented from the electric utility company or purchased from a home improvement store. They are often used for yard lights and floodlights. They are a good alternative to timers because they don’t need to be reset as daylight hours fluctuate.
- Motion Sensors: Sensors that detect motion and activate based on movement. In addition, these are also good for home security purposes to deter burglars.
Use Path Lighting
This is more of an aesthetic upgrade, but one of interesting. Why not welcome your guests coming to your home at night with a well-illuminated pathway. There are series of different options and lighting choices. All you would need is a shovel, low voltage cable, and a plug-in transformer.
If you are able to spread the lights in varying intervals between each other, you create an interesting aesthetic for your home.
Add a Touch of Class with Wall Sconces
Wall sconces are a more sophisticated alternative to the harsh look of bright floodlights. A wrought-iron design complements traditional decor, while sleek stainless steel is ideal for contemporary tastes. For added flexibility, choose a wall sconce with an adjustable base, which allows you to direct the fixture upward for ambient light or down for sharper, more direct lighting.
While these are only some suggested ideas, they can help to give your home a variety of lights to choose from. A lighting upgrade can make all the difference in your home. Lighting can set the mood for your home, act as a form of security, and add a touch of class to your home. Whatever the reason, a lighting upgrade can turn a house into a home!
Call Wave Electric Company, LLC today for more information on lighting upgrades!
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