Lighting Solutions Provide Ambience, Save Money, and Help the Environment
photo credit: Andrew®When it comes to your home's ambience, lighting speaks volumes. Soft lighting that infuses your bedroom with a warm glow can envelope you with a sense of comfort and relaxation. Bright fluorescent lighting can lend an industrial air to your kitchen, while track lighting adds drama and flair. Bright outdoor lighting can help secure your home, while more discrete lighting can set the stage for evening gatherings of friends and family.
The wrong type of lighting not only diminishes your home decor, but it can also leave an unwanted environmental footprint and raise your energy bills in the process. Experts agree that you can lower your energy costs by over 25 percent simply by using energy more efficiently, and that switching from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs means cutting lighting-related energy usage by upwards of 60 percent.
There are several lighting products available that can both reduce your home's environmental impact and enhance your home's decor. They include:
Touch Lamp Dimmers: A touch dimmer converts a regular lamp into a touch light. Essentially, it converts a single-wattage bulb into a three-way bulb, in that with each successive touch, the light cycles from low to medium to high to off. Ideal for table lamps, floor lamps, desk lamps, and multiple bulb lamps, a touch lamp dimmer allows you to set the lighting to suit your mood - from touch & glow to ultra-bright - while saving energy and providing you with extended bulb life.
Touch Switch: A touch switch can instantly convert an electrical outlet without an on/off switch into one that's activated with the touch of your finger. It eliminates the need for rewiring, and works well with compact fluorescent bulbs, incandescent bulbs, and halogen bulbs, as well as holiday lights and under-cabinet lighting. The convenience of the touch switch makes it easy to turn off lights when they're not needed, thereby saving on energy costs.
Dusk-to-Dawn Light Controls: Unless you arise at dawn, chances are good that your outdoor lights are on during daylight hours. Dusk-to-dawn light controls screw into the light sockets and are activated by sunlight, so that the light automatically turns on at dusk and off at dawn. Plug-in versions of dusk-to-dawn light controls serve the same purpose inside the house, making them ideal for giving your home a lived-in look while you're away. Plus, these light controls can extend bulb life by up to 500 percent!
Bulb Life Savers: Bulb life savers screw into the bulb socket and extend bulb life by making the filament burn cooler and dimmer. They not only allow you to use less energy, but they are ideal for bulbs that are hard to reach. Bulb life savers are even available for chandelier-sized bulbs.
Touch lamp dimmers, touch switches, dusk-to-dawn light controls, and bulb life savers all help you to save on energy and bulb costs while leaving a smaller environmental footprint. In the process, they add beauty and functionality to your home decor - definitely a winning combination!
Kitchen Cabinet Lighting With Custom Linear Strips
Kitchen cabinets lights were once considered purely functional fixtures whose only purpose was to illuminate shelves and work areas beneath cabinets. This is beginning to change, however, as day’s larger homes and custom floor plans transform the traditional purpose and nature of the kitchen itself.
Today’s kitchen has become more than a food storage and preparation area. It has now evolved into a central gathering place for any variety of home entertainment events. Kitchen cabinet lighting in this setting must meet more than base-level requirements to produce optimal visibility and comfort. It must address certain aesthetic concerns as well such as lighting color and brightness, color rendering of illuminated surface and interior design, and glare free light that will not hurt the eyes of homeowners and guests.
Safety, energy efficiency, and ease of operability are also top concerns when choosing fixtures, as some under cabinet lighting fixtures should be left on throughout the night, and almost all cabinet shelves will have to be adjusted or removed for periodic cleaning.
Kitchen cabinet lights fall into two primary categories: in cabinet lights and under cabinet lights. In cabinet strip lights provide interior lighting for cubic space and shelving. Under cabinet lights provide task lighting for activities done underneath a cabinet, such as food preparation and after-dinner cleanup.
Up until a few years ago, very specific types of kitchen cabinet lights were used for either in cabinet or under cabinet lighting needs. For most under the cabinet or task lighting applications, the puck light was a favorite fixture because it cast a bright circle of light onto the countertop that made it easy to see and work. When electric bills ran too high, fluorescent lamps were often substituted for pucks because of their lower heat output and power saving advantages. It was not uncommon in the 60’s, 70’s to see at least one fluorescent light over the stove.
However, due to more elaborate and ornate kitchen build outs, the dominance of puck and fluorescent under cabinet lights is no longer as absolute as it once was. This is because larger numbers of people are replacing generic counter top materials with custom, more ornate granite and marble. This presents a new dynamic for cabinet lighting manufacturers because these surfaces are highly reflective. Kitchen cabinet lights must now shield the eyes from reflective glare in addition to providing the same levels of light as they did before.
While it is true that most fluorescents are housed in frosted fixtures that minimize glare, they do not render color with enough detail to do justice to the subtle shades and variations that custom counter tops feature. Puck lights, with halogen lamps, render color better, but they are simply too intense and will almost always throw reflected light back into the eyes.
In this type of setting, it is almost always better to go with custom cabinet lights in the form of linear strips. These fixtures add value through both their low profile design and the unique qualities of glare free light they produce as an accent lighting source.
Each custom lighting strip is custom fabricated to exact kitchen cabinet or shelf dimensions. It is virtually invisible to the casual eye and features special shielding that reduces reflective glare to near-undetectable levels.
Linear strips, such as the ones manufactured by Phantom, accommodate a wide variety of festoon bulb options. A very popular bulb type for under cabinet kitchen lighting is xenon. Xenon low voltage lamps render colors at a level almost equivalent to that of sunlight. As a low voltage, dimmable lighting strip, it will bring out the subtlest red of granite and the multi-dimensional hues of marble like no other form of light—at a fraction of the cost of competing linear strip lights.
Linear strips fitted with incandescent festoons are ideally suited for interior kitchen cabinet shelf lighting. Incandescents produce the “whitest” form of light and make everything within the cubic interior of the cabinet clearly visible. Unlike puck lights, they consume virtually no cubic space within cabinets, leaving more room for storage and a more balanced presentation when the cabinet is opened in front of guests.
Restaurants should consider retrofitting any existing kitchen cabinet lights strips with LED replacement festoon lamps. These lamps produce a lumens output equivalent to that of incandescent and fluorescents, but they use 80% less electricity. Although a restaurant kitchen requires little, if any, aesthetic consideration, employee comfort and cost consciousness are of vital importance. Fluorescents emit UV radiation that is never good for anyone’s eyes, and incandescent lights left on for long hours will result in expensive light bills. LED energy saving light bulbs are simply a good investment.
Replacing low voltage festoon lights with a one-time LED light bulb upgrade will bring immediate, recurring, monthly return on investment, and it will create a more comfortable working environment for cooks.
It is also good for residential homeowners to consider installing at least one LED kitchen under cabinet light as a cost-conscious safety measure. This eliminates the need to stumble through a dark kitchen to rely upon the refrigerator light as one’s sole source of illumination, and it adds a bit of comfort as wel
Factors To Keep In Mind About Kitchen Lighting
Changing your kitchen lighting can also be a way for you to improve the look of your kitchen without having to spend too much money. By changing the lighting in the room you can highlight certain areas as well as make a nice romantic nook for a late night snack. There is no end to the possibilities when you decide to upgrade the lighting in your kitchen.
Where to Start
In the kitchen, it is important that certain areas have enough light such as the sink, the area where you work to make the meals and the dining area. If you are looking for mood lighting, you can install lights under your cabinets or even inside them so that finding that all important ingredients is easier. Before you make any changes, take a look around the kitchen and decide where you would like more accent and more light.
When you are ready to go shopping for new kitchen lighting, it is wise to take a picture of the room along with you to the store. This will help you to decide if the lighting or fixtures you choose will blend well with your décor.
If your kitchen is large, you might think about installing track lighting. This can give your kitchen a modern feel as well as an abundance of light. Using a dimmer switch in conjunction with track lighting can allow you to change the setting making it as bright as you would like, and then when dinner is through, you can lower the lights giving the room a more relaxed feel.
Lighting the Cabinets
Using lighting in or around your cabinets can make a dramatic statement. If your cabinets are made of plexi-glass or any other see through material, it can make your cabinets a focal point of the room. A more practical approach to cabinets and lighting is to place lighting beneath the cabinets to add a little flair. You can light underneath your cabinets with cost conscious plug-ins or battery operated fixtures.
Common Mistakes
It is important that you choose proper lighting for your needs. Many people fail to ask those who are experienced and knowledgeable about lighting their advice and in turn can have some great lighting that creates a blanket of light, but does nothing to illuminate the area where you will be doing most of the preparation for the meal. If you are not familiar with any aspect of lighting, you would be well advised to speak to an expert before you make any final decisions.
Take a trip to your local lighting store and be sure you bring pictures of your current kitchen. If you are doing a full remodeling, explain the changes that you expect the kitchen to have and ask about the best sources of light for each area.
You will also have to factor in how much space there is between the ceilings and your cabinets and how tall the ceiling is. Other factors that may influence your lighting choices are the size of the room and where the doors are located.
Maybe a House Call is in Order
Finding a local light specialist in your area and seeing if they can make a house call can make planning for your kitchen lighting easier. If the expert can see the actual space and hear your ideas for change, he can better guide you to the proper lighting that will make the most impact in your kitchen.
Taste is Important Too
You may want a new chandelier over the dining area and perhaps track lighting over the sink. It is important to purchase lighting that you will be happy with for a long time and blends well with the rest of the décor. If your kitchen is French Country and you choose a modern lighting option, it will give the room an imbalanced feel.
It is also not recommended that you simply choose the latest fads in kitchen lighting. Fads fade fast, but you will be stuck with your kitchen lighting for many years. Choosing kitchen lighting that is easy on the eyes and pretty to see can be a tough job. If you do your research and ask the experts, you will save your valuable time. Doing a lot of comparison shopping when it comes to kitchen lighting can save you money too. It has never been easer to compare prices since the advent of the internet. You can practically do all your research and shopping from home using your computer or if you prefer, go to a lighting store and see what they have available.
Lamps Are Decorative And Functional Too
Many people don't think twice about the lamps and lights in their home. When you're trying to spruce up your decor though, or creating a brand new decorating theme, one of the best places to start is with lamps... because they can be both beautiful and functional at the same time.
Here are several popular types of lamps to consider when decorating a room in your home:
Table Lamps - Table lamps are wonderful for both decorating and functionality. They come in a variety of sizes and styles, and can really accent specialty decor pieces you might already have. Small table lamps are quite decorative when sat upon a stack of hardback books, and large table lamps make great centerpieces for greenery, knick knack arrangements, or keepsakes.
You'll want to be careful not to overwhelm small, dainty tables with large, bulky, overbearing lamps though. A solid rustic wood table would easily carry a large wood table lamp, but a small victorian-style side table would do better with a delicate-looking tiffany or hurricane table lamp.
Floor Lamps - Floor lamps are excellent for adding both additional light and style to various areas of your home. I particularly like them in reading areas. Place a nice comfortable chair or divan in the corner for instance, away from the walls a bit, then place a decorative floor lamp in the corner space behind it. This will create a cozy, inviting feel to the space while also providing extra light for reading, writing, or knitting.
Wall Lamps & Lights - Lighting used on the wall varies in style. There's recessed lights which are helpful and decorative in kitchen areas or bathrooms for instance, and there are wall sconces which are wonderful for adding warmth and ambiance.
For a unique and different look, try creating a wall arrangement using wall sconces instead of candelabras or candle sconces.
Picture Lights - Picture lights are used primarily to highlight pictures and artwork in your home. These work similar to spotlights by focusing the majority of their light on the artwork. Most are very decorative, and they come in a variety of styles to match whatever your decorating theme might be.
Oil Lamps - Oil lamps can still be bought in many places today. Some are replicas, meaning they don't actual burn oil to create light, they simply look like the oil lamps of old. Others actually do have a wick and can burn oil. Most people use the actual oil burning lamps for decoration only, and you can even buy colored oil to fill the lamps for an additional decorative touch.