To ensure that you will achieve the desired effect for your rooms, it is important that you first understand the four basic types of home lighting.

1. Ambient or general lighting - illuminates the whole room. You probably notice it from recessed and track lighting. Certain wall sconces are yet another example. I recommend that you install a dimmer with your track and recessed lights so that you have the added flexibility in adjusting the brightness.

2. Task lighting - provides sufficient light to help you perform the task at hand, e.g., reading, cooking, shaving, etc. Task lighting should be glare free. And it should make things easy to see without tiring or straining your eyes.

3. Accent lighting - is focused lighting that is used to illuminate a sculpture, piece of art, or architectural element in a room. Accent lighting is about three times as bright as ambient lighting.

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

As with all of your decorating efforts, do a little planning before you rush out and purchase your home lighting fixtures. Think carefully about the activities that will occur in each area of the room.

Don’t be afraid to use multiple types of interior lighting in a room. In fact this is highly desirable and will create very dramatic effects.

Living Rooms

* Place a lamp behind every reader’s shoulder…about 42 inches above the floor. Click on this link for ideas on re-energizing outdated Table Lamps.
* Highlight a framed piece of art with halogen track lighting or by attaching a picture light
* Use accent lights to illuminate book or display shelves.
* Install recessed lighting as your general lighting or to bring out beautiful wall textures (use a dimmer)
* Slim strip lights come in just about any length and can stick to the edge of shelves or ledges to highlight displays or provide a soft wash to a wall

Kitchens

* A grid of recessed ceiling cans will provide great general lighting
* Install individual recessed down-lights as task lighting for the sink and range
* Place halogen pendant lights over bars and counters
* Under-cabinet lights make excellent task lighting

Dining Rooms

* A chandelier over the dining room table creates a beautiful setting (use a dimmer)
* Highlight a framed piece of art with halogen track lighting or by attaching a picture light
* Install halogen strip lighting your china cabinet to highlight china or collectibles
* If a chandelier is not your taste and you have a long table, try a trio of pendant lights

Bedrooms

* Place table lamps on your bedside tables. (For children’s rooms, avoid halogen lamps which can get very hot.)
* Wall sconces can provide good general lighting without being too bright
* If there is not much space, consider recessed lights or pendant lights
* Don’t forget candlelight if a romantic setting is what you have in mind

Bathrooms

* Use shadow-free fluorescent or incandescent lights around mirrors for grooming
* To avoid heavy shadows, place mirror lights on the side rather than directly overhead
* Don’t forget to install a nightlight

HOME DECORATING MADE EASY

The choices of lighting fixtures available for us today are limitless and comes in an array of styles with different functions which is why is important for us to have a basic understanding on what type of lighting fixture serves a specific purpose. The right lighting fixtures can work wonders for your home. Useful not only for illuminating certain tasks, the right lighting can also serve to accentuate your home’s style and décor. If carefully chosen and properly installed, light fixtures can add beauty and drama both indoors and outdoors. Likewise, the right type of lighting can boost safety and comfort in and around your residence.

The Indoor Lighting Effect

Most of us are familiar with “interior design” or “landscape design” yet not particularly concerned about “lighting design”. Fact is, proper lighting design can make all the difference in how your home will look and feel; it can dramatically alter the appearance of your home and can transform a boring living space into a soothing and stunning showpiece. Lighting design goes far beyond choosing appealing fixtures and plugging them in. At its most basic, lighting design involves employing different light levels that work together to highlight unique features of each room and address specific illumination requirements. Understanding the fundamentals of lighting is the key in selecting home lighting fixtures.

The Outdoor Lighting Advantage

Light fixtures are not just for use indoors. Specially designed lighting fixtures can also enhance the exterior of your property by illuminating paths and brightening doorways, simultaneously preventing accidents and deterring intruders. Exterior light fixtures can both brighten and beautify your garden, pond, deck, fountain, trees, shrubs, and driveways.

Value Added To Home:

A good lighting design should also provide more efficient light sources so that it can translate into savings in terms of money and energy. According to a survey of realtors, home buyers respond positively to homes that are well lit. Some suggest that a well-designed lighting scheme could give you a competitive advantage and make your home stand out in the crowd.