Lighting up your Home and Office
By Allen Maccey
Lighting fixtures and fittings have more of an effect on your home and your enjoyment of the time you spend there than you might realize.
Proper lighting makes the difference between a harsh uninviting glare and cozy and intimate lighting. The challenge is balancing the lighting in order to have bright lights in areas that need it and lower lighting in areas that aren't going to be used as workspaces.
Lighting has many purposes other than providing light. With the correct level of light or fixtures and fittings, light can be used to create a certain atmosphere within a room, to display a certain feature or piece of art within a room, or to enhance a particular work area with extra lighting will leaving the remainder of the room bathed in a soft glow. Lighting fixtures and fittings in addition to lighting levels go a long way in setting the tone for a room.
Soft warm lights with fixtures that look antiqued rather than modern will result in a very intimate space that is both appealing and inviting. Indirect or recessed lighting features are very effective at providing soft light within a room.
Another great way to wash a room in soft light is the use of wall sconces. Lamps are another great way to provide warmer, softer lighting within a room. Lamps are also great for decorative touches Experts recommend using 3-way bulbs in lamps and dimmers and dimmer switches for the remainder of your lighting if all possible.
You want to be careful however, that you do not have too little light in areas where more lighting is needed. Dimmer switches as mentioned above will help with that as will installing tract lighting in areas where work is often done, whether this work is computer work, puzzles, models; anything that requires brighter lighting in order to achieve. Brighter lighting can be achieved through higher wattage bulbs, halogen bulbs, and fluorescents. Buying fixtures that accommodate these bulbs is important in the areas that you will be using brighter lighting.
Another thing to consider with light fixtures and fittings is energy consumption. Lighting your home accounts for a good portion of your monthly energy bill. Choosing bulbs that are Energy Star qualified will not only save money on lighting because they use less energy, they will also help you save on your cooling costs because they produce less heat.
Compare your lamp and lighting fixture and fittings with others that offer the same overall look. Be sure to compare Energy Star qualified fixtures in your comparisons, keep in mind that using Energy Star qualified lighting will save you money each and every month on your electric bills. Another benefit for Energy Star bulbs is that you will not have to change them nearly as often as regular light bulbs.
In fact most packages claim that their bulbs last on average 7 years.
Choosing the right fixture and fitting accessories for your home lighting effects so much more than the things you see, or don't see. Selecting energy efficient lighting and fixtures will have an even greater impact on your pocket book. Take care to choose lighting that will set the mood you want in your home, provide adequate lighting in project areas, and will provide a nice comfy cushion for your wallet.
About the Author
Allen Maccey is a writer and DIY enthusiast. He writes for Home Improvements & DIY in the Fixture and Fitting Ideas section.
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