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How to Buy
Lighting
Table of Contents
Here at
TheLighting.com, we understand the impact that lighting has on the look of a
home. It can make all the difference between a cozy room and simply an
uncomfortable place to spend time. The right type or lighting for your home can
put you in a great mood, whereas the wrong type can do the opposite. It is for
this reason that we provide this comprehensive lighting guide to help you pick
out the lights that fit your home perfectly. First, we will take a look at light
types and an element that all lighting has: light bulbs.
Light Types
There are
three main kinds of lights that can be used in your home or office: Task Lights,
Accent Lights, and Ambient Lights. Let us examine each one more closely.
Task Light
This is the most common lighting
and is the one that is most essential in your home or office. It is needed to
perform daily activities, such as cooking, reading, cleaning, or getting
dressed. Because it is used so often, this type of lighting needs be effective
without tiring the eyes or creating a glare.
Accent Light
Accent Light is directional
lighting. It focuses the attention on a certain part of a room and can be very
useful when an object needs to be highlighted. Accent lighting is not difficult
to achieve, and all you really need is a light bulb and a shield to direct the
light in the direction that you want accentuated. Table lamps with opaque shades
are also an excellent way to attain accent lights.
Ambient Light
This is a light that covers the
room with a glow and creates little or no shadow. It usually comes from a hidden
source, such as a sconce on a wall that is not easily seen, especially in the
dark. This kind of lighting creates a romantic atmosphere
Light Bulb Types
There are
several types of light bulbs that can be used in your home. They are: Tungsten,
Fluorescent, Spotlight, Halogen, and Incandescent.
 Tungsten Light Bulb
This is the most common light
bulb used and is the one that you picture in your head when you think of the
word. It gives off a yellow light.
 Fluorescent Light Bulb
It gives off a “cold” light that
cannot be attached to a dimmer to regulate brightness. When shopping for
fluorescent lights, remember that they often come in special colors. Keep this
in mind because giving off light the same color as your room will create a
lovely effect.
 Spotlight Light Bulb
This light bulb gives off a
surge of light on a particular area. It is effective when you only want a
certain part of a room illuminated.
 Halogen Light Bulb
It creates “white light,” which
creates the effect of natural daylight. It makes colors seem sharper and saves
energy, as well. It is also a great light bulb to use when trying to create the
Accent Light effect.
Types of Lighting
Lights can be
placed in several areas of your home, such as on the floor, the wall, or the
ceiling. Therefore, there are many different types of lighting available. They
are broken down into three main categories: Ceiling Lights, Wall Lights, and
Lamps.
Ceiling Lights
Lights from
above are effective when looking to save space. If there is a lot of furniture
on the floor, and the walls are full of pictures or paintings, the only place
from which it is possible to illuminate the room is the ceiling.
Chandeliers
This is the most elegant
lighting option and is sure to please both you and your guests. A common
misconception is that chandeliers are simply for the dining room. This is not
the case. They work well in the hallway, foyer, or the bedroom. If hung in the
dining room, however, make sure that 30”-36” of space remains between the
chandelier and the table. This leaves a comfortable amount of space for eating
without worry of anything hitting the chandelier.
Pendants
Pendants are lights that hang
front the ceiling and are not fixed onto it. They usually hang lower than
chandeliers and are often used to illuminate a dining or game (pool, card)
table. Because they hang so low, shades come with the lights to prevent a glare
from being created.
Ceiling Fixtures
Unlike pendants and chandeliers,
which hang from the ceiling, ceiling fixtures are firmly attached. They are a
very common way to light the home and are therefore available in many styles,
shapes, and colors. Be sure to pick out the fixture that goes with the motif of
your home. If your furniture is contemporary, for instance, pick a fixture that
is modernly designed and has a color finish that fits the rest of the room.
Recessed Lights
This type of light is placed
directly into the ceiling. As such, there are a limited variety of styles or
colors because this light will not be seen. Because of this, it is a perfect fit
in any room and will mesh well with all furniture layouts.
Wall Lights
Wall Lights
create a beautiful effect by illuminating the surface of the wall and the
immediate space around it. They are generally broken down into two categories:
wall-mounted fixtures, such as sconces, and swing-arm lamps.
Sconces
Sconces are most useful for
hallway or accent lighting. If you have a long hallway, for instance, a series
of sconces on the wall will create a gorgeous effect. They are also used for
walls along a stairwell in order to prevent accidents. There, lights from above
are not practical because of the uneven ceiling. Wall lights with arms, on the
other hand, decrease the width in the already narrow stairs. Therefore, sconces
are the most feasible solution.
Swing-arm Lamps
Swing-arm lamps are excellent
for reading because they can easily be adjusted, depending on your location in a
bed or chair. They are often found in the bedroom, and there are usually two of
them, one on each side of the bed. This creates symmetry and adds order to your
room. Install them 30” above the seating surface, as this creates the best
lighting effect with the least amount of shadow.
LAMPS
Portable lamps
are useful because they can be easily moved when the layout of your room
changes. They are also the most popular and populous type of lights and your
selection when shopping will never be limited. They are available in all styles
and colors, so be sure to pick out the one that works best with your home décor.
There are three general kinds of lamps: floor lamps, table/desk lamps, and
accent lamps. Let us examine each one.
 Floor
Lamps
Floor lamps should unite and
coincide with the furniture in your room. If the room has a traditional look of
dark wood, the floor lamp should match. On the other hand, if the room is
contemporary, the floor lamp should have an aluminum finish or something along
those lines. Sometimes, a floor lamp that matches the handles on your furniture
(such as a dresser or nightstand) works well with the layout of a room. Floor
lamps are useful in dark corners where ceiling or wall lights usually do not
reach. Keep in mind that if the floor lamp has a three-way switch, you must
still purchase a three-way light bulb. On its own, the switch will not provide
multiple levels of lighting.
Table/Desk Lamps
Table and desk lamps usually
have a very similar design. They are generally one to three feet high with table
lamps being taller than desk lamps on the average. This is because table lamps
are meant for general lighting, while the purpose of desk lamps is only to light
up a certain area. Desk lamps are also more functional and may come with
something like a pencil holder or a clock.
Lamp Shades
Though seemingly trivial, an
incorrect lamp shade can make the lamp seem awkward and throw off the look of an
entire room. When shopping for shades, keep in mind that the lamp shade’s height
should be the same as the height from the base of the lamp to the bottom of the
bulb socket. This ensures that, at eye level, the shade covers the socket. The
lamp shade should also be at least as wide as the widest point on the lamp, but
it is desirable that the shade be even wider.
Accent Lamps
Accent lamps are generally used
not for the lighting of an entire room but in an area that needs extra light.
They are typically small, and you will seldom find an accent lamp over 1.5 feet.
Accent lamps are helpful when you wish to emphasize a certain area of a room or
a certain decorative object. They are gaining popularity and their selection is
growing daily.
OVERVIEW
After reading this guide, you
are more prepared than ever to evaluate your home and decipher what kind of
lighting is needed. Keep in mind that there are many styles and colors
available, so select the one that meshes with your room best. Lighting should
cooperate with your décor, not compete with it.
TheLighting.com features a wide
selection of lights for all areas of the home. You are sure to find the perfect
addition on our website!
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