Have you ever been to someone’s house and immediately been drawn to something that seemed to be highlighted just for effect? Maybe you’ve been someplace where your eyes were drawn upwards to the light fixtures that clearly and distinctively separated one section of the room from another. That’s what good lighting can do. Light fixtures add beauty and detail to décor while also illuminating a room.
Types of Lights
To get the most out of lighting, you need to understand the different options available. Lights can be used purely for decoration, to provide task lighting, to accentuate something in your home, to set an ambiance, and for security reasons.
Decorative Versus Recessed
What’s the difference between decorative and recessed lighting? The answer boils down to whether or not you want to use lights as a part of your home’s décor. Examples of decorative lights are that pretty lamp you fell in love with the moment you saw it, light fixtures on the ceiling directly above the kitchen island, and a chandelier in the entryway. Recessed lighting sources light from the ceiling or walls without any decorative fixtures.
Where to Place Lights
There’s a method for lighting placement. Consider your options:
- Downlighting – The light comes from the ceiling or above an object and focuses downward
- Uplighting – The light is placed below something from the ground or at a low level and directed upward, such as at a painting.
- Floor lighting – Lights are positioned near the floor to highlight a walkway or stairs.
- Ambient lighting – Lights meant to set an ambiance with evenly distributed light. Mood lighting does this too, but it isn’t always distributed evenly.
- Decorative lighting – These lights are intended as décor as well as lighting, so you can put them anywhere.
- Motion sensors – These can be placed wherever you need extra safety and security.
Energy-Efficient Lighting
There are several ways to reduce the carbon footprint of your light fixtures. They include:
- Multiple lights – Having lights all over the house means you can pick the light source that provides only the amount of light you need.
- LED bulbs – They use far less energy and last much longer than incandescent bulbs.
- Dimmer switch – You can dim the lights at night or whenever you don’t need a lot of light.
- Motion sensors – They only turn on when they sense movement.
- Task lighting – Install lights in specific areas for certain tasks, like reading or watching TV.
If you’re ready to upgrade your home with a lighting installation, call our team of experienced electricians at C&C Myers in Charleston, SC to schedule an appointment today.
