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RESIDENTIAL
LIGHTING – KINDS OF LIGHTING |
Accent
Accent lights illuminate prized artwork, highlight a special architectural feature
of your home, or a well-used section like an entryway, staircase, hallway or
side door. LED light bulbs are particularly useful for accent lighting fixtures
because they offer a directed clear white light with no UV damage or overheating
while saving you money on energy costs.
Bath & Vanity Lighting
Bath & Vanity lighting is particularly crucial because not only do you want
the fixtures to fit into you bathroom’s design, but the type, quality,
and placement of light will affect your appearance and your mood. Its best to
surround your bathroom’s mirror with light—in the form of wall sconces
or wall mounted lights. The bottom line is that you want even, shadow-less light
and compact florescent bulbs (CFLS) are usually the best way to achieve that
perfect combination of ambient illumination.
Chandelier
Chandeliers make a dramatic statement above dining room and kitchen tables. From
sleek modern designs to an ornate or antique sculptural piece, the perfect chandelier
makes a bold statement while tastefully illuminating your dining area. But some
homeowners are now incorporating chandeliers into their bedroom and living room
decors. Wherever you install a chandelier, it will quickly become the focal point
of any room. Browse through MyHome’s chandeliers at any of our three showrooms
or speak with one of our consultant about finding a unique piece for your home.
Keep in mind that the type of bulb you use in your chandelier needs to be soft
enough to set the mood for that intimate dinner party (or for romantic bedroom
moods) while still providing much needed light.
Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are ideal for use in often over-heated kitchens. A fantastic combination
of light and breeze, ceiling fans illuminate while gently aerating the room.
Keep in mind that ceiling fan and light units that have earned the ENERGY STAR
label are about 50% more efficient than conventional units. These fans can even
save you about $10 a year in energy costs!
Table, Desk and Floor Lamps
Table and floor lamps provide wonderful task lighting but they can also add a
touch of flair to your home design. Of course, the lamp’s design must fit
into your room’s design, but also consider the type of light bulb appropriate
to each lamp’s function. A desk lamp would do well with the directed bright
light of an LED bulb whereas a floor lamp in your family room would do better
with a softer compact florescent bulb set on a dimmer switch.
Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting should clearly illuminate walkways, driveways, patios, outdoor
fuse boxes, and balconies while still fitting in with your landscaping. LED bulbs
offer a great alternative to traditional bulbs as they last longer and aren’t
as vulnerable to fluctuations in temperature. But you may also want to consider
solar landscaping lighting fixtures, which are basically stakes you place on
lawns or in landscaping beds near entrances and walkways to safely light a path
for you and your loved ones. Security and floodlights are also essential to install
near garages and in backyards to deter intruders. (Burglars avoid homes that
are brightly lit and instead target less well-illuminated homes as they’re
more likely to escape detection.)
Pendant Lamps
Pendant lamps are similar to the chandelier. Basically lamps hung from the ceiling,
pendant lamps can offer a sleek and sophisticated look perfect for lighting a
kitchen table or living area. Since the lamp’s shade can be matched in
color and pattern to the rest of your décor, pendant lamps offer wonderful
opportunities to add texture and color to your designs. But there are also many
stunning glass pendant lamps available, which offer a unique and colorful accent.
Track Lighting
Track lighting allows you to custom design your lighting system, making it one
of the most versatile methods of illumination out there. Perfect for showcasing
artwork, prized collections or your home’s architectural details, track
lighting can also provide enough illumination for an entire room. Track lighting
fixture designs are diverse and can fit into just about any home design. Bulbs
can range from low voltage halogen to LED to compact fluorescent, depending on
the quality of light you need and how much of the space you need to illuminate.
(Track lighting used to illuminate a mural, for example, would do well with LED
bulbs but whereas a system meant to illuminate an entire room would do better
with compact florescent bulbs.)
Recessed Lighting
Recessed lighting offers a clean and modern look for your home while maximizing
the amount of light or highlighting artwork or special architectural features
in your home. Because fixtures are essential hidden in your home’s ceiling,
recessed or canned lighting can really open up spaces so they look and feel bigger.
But some ceilings aren’t really conducive to recessed lighting: if you’ve
got a concrete ceiling or a ceiling with plasterwork or molding details, you
may want to install a chandelier or pendant lamp or even a wall sconce instead.
Sconces
Sconces are wall-mounted lighting fixtures that offer a great way to light rooms
where floor space is scarce. Styles range from ornate to modern to sculptural
so you’re sure to find a sconce to fit your home’s design and your
own unique personality. Compact florescent bulbs as well as traditional incandescent
bulbs both work well to create ambient light.
Cove Lighting
Cove lighting provides smooth, indirect lighting that enhances the architectural
details of a room. These flexible strips curve around a room and are hidden behind
a molding or in a ceiling cove. Combine this low voltage lighting with chandeliers,
pendant lamps, sconces, and even floor lamps to create a textured and luxurious
lighting for any room.
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