Creating anything worthwhile requires planning and design. You certainly would
not remodel your home without designs and planning. If your house has the same
old lights that have always been there, perhaps you are in need of a lighting
“remodel”. Lighting is a powerful presence in your home. Not only will it simply
keep the dark out; but it is the single most powerful tool to transform the look
and feel of your home. Light is the most important element of design.
There are three basic, interrelated aspects to a successful lighting makeover:
lighting planning, fixture selection and circuit design.
Lighting Planning
Decide which rooms or areas you want to relight. What type of lighting do you
need in each space? Consider, generally, what you would like the new lighting
to accomplish. Do you want to create a whole different mood with lighting or simply illuminate
areas that are hard to see now? Do you want a cozy space or a relaxing room?
There are three types of light you need to consider in each space you plan. General
lighting distributes illumination equally over an area. A ceiling light is an
example. Task lighting provides focused light over a specific area that is bright
enough for performing specific tasks. Desk lamps and under cabinet lighting are
common task lighting fixtures. Accent lighting highlights an object, surface or
small area you want noticed, such as a small spotlight on a wall portrait.
These three basic types of lights are the building blocks of your lighting
remodeling project. Used in combination, they can produce dramatic results.
Plan your lighting by jotting down which types of lighting you need in each room.
Space Restrictions, Current Lighting Trends and Fixture Selection
Once you have determined what type of light you need in each space, it’s time
to choose your fixtures. In considering your fixtures, one must often make a
trade off between style and ease of installation. If you are building a new home,
installation options are wide open. If you are adding fixtures without remodeling
(cutting holes in walls etc.), your options for adding power outlets etc. may be
more limited. As more and more homes are remodeled every year, an increasing
number of track lighting, monorail lighting and cable lighting solutions have
evolved that don’t require the demolition and patching of walls.
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