Proper home lighting makes a difference in the ambience and functionality of your environment. When electrical lighting is properly positioned, it provides good general lighting, functional lighting and is decorative all at the same time.
General lighting is important to the general activities in the home such as in the kitchen, office or den. For these areas, pot lights are most effective. The best bulbs to use for pot lights are halogen bulbs as they provide a full spectrum of light that resembles natural sunlight. In parts of the country where long and dark winters exist, these halogen bulbs work best not just because they provide excellent lighting, but also for humans who suffer from a light deficiency in the winter months. With good general lighting, it is important to have dimmer switches installed so that you can adjust the lights to your particular needs. With dimmer switches, you are able to control the exact amount of light you wish - you can boost up the intensity of the lighting when you are doing focused work or you can subdue the lights to create a more relaxed, calm effect.
As far as the efficiency of halogen lights goes, halogens use slightly less energy than incandescent bulbs. The most efficient bulbs on the market are fluorescent bulbs. These use one-fifth to one-half the energy than a regular incandescent bulb uses. Fluorescent lighting plays a huge role when it comes to general lighting inside your home. Though fluorescent lights are highly energy efficient, they are limited in style and do not fit into every room-type in your home. Fluorescent lights today are manufactured in a variety of decorative colors (about 200 shades) ranging from cold blues to warm yellows and pinks, but their shape and size is often awkward for some rooms.
Decorative lighting should enhance the decor of the room but it should also be functional as well. In the Victorian era, there often was one central lighting fixture in the ceiling that was the focal point of the room. This fixture was heavily decorated with stained-glass or alabaster to add to the greatness of the room. Lamps in this era were also very popular and had heavy glass shades or tiny chandelier bulbs around them. These lighting pieces were as much a part of the decor as other furnishings in the room.
Task lighting is lighting for a specific purpose. Lighting a central work area in the kitchen, lighting above the bathroom mirror or lighting to draw attention to a fantastic oil painting or a decorative wall are all task-oriented lighting. Today people have become very creative when it comes to task lighting. Today you can add a light inside your shower that is paired-up with a ceiling fan or a warming light. Placing addition lighting inside your closet helps you see your clothes and accessories better first thing in the morning. Having a well-lit pantry makes it easier to read labels and to keep the room better organized. Placing a night motion light outside the home so that if intruders come by, the bright light will shine directly on them and deter them from breaking into your home. These are just a few examples of how task lighting can make a difference to your home and your peace of mind.
It is both fun and easy to combine decorative lighting with task-oriented lighting. In a dining room for example, where functionality and ambience meet, a chandelier with a dimmer switch is very useful. The chandelier itself is a beautiful work of art but add the dimmer switch and you suddenly have a very functional lighting tool. You can boost-up the intensity of light when you need it or you can dim the lights to a soft glow whenever the occasion arises. You can purchase free-standing halogen floor lamps that also have dimmer switches. The floor lamp becomes a piece of furniture for the room it is in, the dimmer switch makes the lamp very versatile and adaptable, and last but not least, the halogen bulb used to light the lamp is energy saving and cost efficient. With a bit of planning and forethought, you can combine task-oriented lighting with beauty and decor.
Before you begin purchasing lighting fixtures, lamps and switches, it is most important to make sure your wiring is safe. Always use a qualified electrician to install electrical fields, wiring and outlets. Trying to do it yourself may cost you in the long run. With regards to purchasing your lighting fixtures, quality comes at a price and, of course, you get what you pay for. However, the marketplace offers a huge selection of lighting fixtures at a wide range of designs and prices. A good quality lamp will last a lifetime and likely will never go out of style. Making wise lighting choices today will bring you pride of ownership but most importantly, peace of mind for years to come.