Lighting is a great way to make your house a home, while increasing the value instantly. In today’s market, you frequently see the same lighting fixtures in every home; the basic, low end, hardware store lighting that builders purchase in bulk to save a buck or two. While they certainly serve a purpose, they just don’t add any “pizazz” to your home.
Lighting should be planned to compliment your lifestyle. The right ceiling lighting will help you preform tasks more easily, while making you feel safe and comfortable, allowing you to enjoy your home to it’s full potential. Lighting adds beauty and drama to any space; it can make small rooms appear open and airy, and larger rooms cozy and inviting. A crystal chandelier can create a stimulating atmosphere for a night of entertaining, or a quite feeling of relaxation after a long and tiring day.
And don’t forget the outside! With path and spot lighting, you can make your home the showplace of the block! Outdoor light fixtures are a wonderful way to showcase your home and landscape design. From the elegant coordinating fixtures to compliment to lights on your home to whimisical decorative lighting, the selection of low-voltage lighting has grown considerably in recent years. Low voltage lighting is is a simple way to add value to the outside of your home and it is relatively easy for the do-it-yourself weekend project.
Popularity: 59% [?]
There is something almost whimsical about the look of Tiffany ceiling lights. These masterpieces created in the style perfected by Louis Comfort Tiffany himself are wonderful additions to any home. Impress you guests with a unique piece and replace your outdated ceiling lights with some classically inspired Tiffany lights.
Louis Comfort Tiffany was born in 1848 to the retailing family that owned the Tiffany & Company jewelers. It wasn’t long before his interest in the arts was sparked and he began working primarily in stained glass. This later led to his patent of an iridescent glass finishing process. At his peek in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s Tiffany had a thriving factory that was making a variety of handmade stained glass windows and lamps. His glass studio remained open until 1932, closing shortly before his death in 1933.
Today, Tiffany inspired fixtures and ceiling lights recreate the same look of original pieces at a fraction of the cost. Each of these fixtures has dozens of individual glass pieces fashioned together with bronze, iron and other metals. Each design is an artistic work with an individual style and story. Look for grapevine and ivy inspired designs to name just a few.
You can find an assortment of Tiffany ceiling lights available online. From flush mounted designs to semi-flush designs there are applications fit for every room. In addition, the color palettes of the many individual glass pieces differ on each design so there will likely be one that will fit easily into your current scheme.
Dress up your home with new ceiling lights in the Tiffany inspired tradition. Shop online to find the best selection and the best service in the lighting industry. Guests will wonder were you were able to find such decorative lights at such reasonable prices.
Popularity: 30% [?]
So you’ve decided to start making changes around the house to save on electricity. Lighting is a great way to do this. Part 1 discussed a few habits that can help to reduce the amount of light wasted around the house. It also discussed utilizing CFLs and dimmer switches for ceiling lights and other lighting to save on energy. It doesn’t have to stop there though; there are other savings to be had with a few more energy saving tips.
Put your lights on timers. Oftentimes, outdoor light fixtures can be easy to forget to shut off. At the same time, these lights are good to keep on when kids are playing in the yard late into the evening. If you have the problem of forgetting to turn them off on a regular basis, setting the lights on timers can be an effective way to solve the problem and save on energy. Simply adjust the timers to come on when the evening sunset arrives and turn them off after you usually close up the house for the night.
Outdoor light fixtures can also benefit from the installation of motion detectors. This technology provides for the safety of the household while saving on electricity overall. Motion detection can be utilized in a number of different outdoor lighting applications. For example, they can be used to control spotlights and post lighting in the yard.
Occupancy motion sensors for interior application are now becoming more common. They commonly replace wall mounted light switches and can turn the ceiling lights and wall lights on when you enter a room and turn them off again when you leave. This can be good for children’s rooms as kids often forget to turn off lights behind them.
Finally, with all of these tips being thrown around, remember that the cheapest lighting is natural lighting. Sometimes all you need to do is open the blinds and save on electricity the old fashioned way.
Popularity: 46% [?]
It’s no secret that energy has become more and more expensive in the past year. As a result of these energy price increases, families across the nation are discovering new ideas while embracing old ways of saving energy. Try utilizing just a few of these ideas to reduce your own energy consumption.
Turn off the ceiling lights when you leave the room. Simple right? True, but that doesn’t mean that everyone actually remembers to do it. When electricity bills are low no one ever thinks twice about leaving a few lights on around the house. When electricity bills are high, people start to remember to conserve. Practice turning off ceiling lights and lamps in vacant rooms; you’ll be surprised how often you leave unnecessary lights turned on when its not a priority to turn them off.
Use lighting specific to your purpose. Focused lighting such as pendant lighting can sometimes be all you need to go about your tasks at night. Sure, sometimes it’s necessary to turn on all the lights in the room, but more often than not, using a focused pendant light or a nearby lamp can be used without the need for bright ceiling lights.
Purchasing CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lights) for your household lights can save you a lot of money in electricity. In most cases these bulbs can save you 75% in energy drain and last around 10 times longer than traditional light bulbs. They are now common in almost any size and application and will pay for themselves after a period of use. Save energy right away by replacing old lights with CFLs.
Utilize dimmer switches when possible. Dimmer switches allow for the reduced flow of electricity to the light, thereby reducing the light output and minimizing energy drain. If you don’t have any dimmer switches, consider installing them in rooms where ambient light is utilized to reduce eyestrain, such as a TV room.
With these simple changes in habits and technology, your household can be saving energy immediately.
Popularity: 22% [?]
Shopping for a new, beautiful crystal chandelier is only part of ensuring a successful purchase. It is also essential to ensure that the chandelier is the perfect size for the room in which you plan to place it.
Estimating size based on another piece of furniture is often the easiest way to select a chandelier’s dimensions. This works well if you already have the piece of furniture that the crystal chandelier will be positioned above. For example, if you are placing the chandelier over a table, the table will be able to dictate what the appropriate size range is going to be based on its size and your individual taste.
If you have yet to pick out the furniture the crystal chandelier will hang above or it is going to be placed in an entryway or grand room, measuring is the best way to go. Luckily, there is a well-known rule of thumb on how to estimate for size:
Step One: Start by measuring both the width and length of the room in which the chandelier will be placed.
Step Two: Once you have the measurements, add both numbers together. Remember, add both numbers, and don’t multiply them. You are not trying to find the area.
Step 3: Take the number you get by adding the length and width together and then use this answer in inches. This number is the diameter (in inches) of the crystal chandelier appropriate for your space.
Here is an example by the numbers. If you have a room that measures 10 feet by 11 feet then you would add the two number together (10 + 11 = 21) and then instead of 21 feet, use it in inches, so 21 inches. Therefore, 21 inches is the diameter of the chandelier that would fit properly.
Step 4: Purchase your new crystal chandelier!
Popularity: 24% [?]
