From the Floors Up

Pros and Cons of LED Lights

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Light is a very powerful component in our home. We can have light come in naturally through windows or artificially through light bulbs. But when it comes to adding lights to our homes, we have many choices. It does not necessarily come down to the watts of the lights. What really makes an impact on the environment is the type of lighting you choose. From incandescent to LED bulbs, every light bulb has its own set of pros and cons. In fact, switching your light bulbs out to one style can make your home’s lighting flow better and help with illuminating your space. LED lights have been getting a lot of hype lately, however, are they ideal for you? Let us look at some of the main pros and cons to help you decide if you need LED lights in your home.

Pro – Long Life and Efficiency

One of the main benefits of LED lights is they last for a very, very long time! They are very efficient at saving energy as well, which can help lower your maintenance and electric bill. In fact, they are generally 80% more efficient than the traditional incandescent bulbs.

Con – Artificial-Looking Illumination

LED bulbs look like LED bulbs. Incandescent lights have a yellow tint to them, mimicking natural sunlight. These light bulbs do not feel natural. They have more of a bright white or even a cool undertone blue hue to them. This artificial lighting is very effective at illuminating your room, yet very noticeable that it is artificial lighting as well.

Pro- Lower Heat Output

With a lower infrared and ultraviolet output, these bulbs burn much cooler. This feature can lower the risk of and fire. Though lightbulb fires are rare, this is a great hidden benefit!

Con – Dimming

If your home is wired for dimming lights, this is not the choice you will want to choose. Most LED lights will not respond to dimmers. They have two distinct settings: on and off. This feature is important for any room you are trying to create ambiance or mood in with lighting. In that case, try to stay away from LED lights.

Pro – Eco-Friendly

LED bulbs are very eco-friendly options. Other light bulbs can have hazardous vapor like mercury or emit CO2. However, these bulbs do not have these negative effects.

Con – Initial Cost

Typically, you will pay more to buy LED light bulbs off the bat. However, remember that these bulbs will last longer. Though you may spend more at first, they will last much longer than traditional light bulb solutions.

All in all, these lights can help save energy and lower your electric bill. Maybe this is an excellent option for you? Yet, if you are looking for dimmable light or a warmer feel to your atmosphere, another bulb may be the route to go.

Revamping Your Bathroom’s Lighting

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These days the single lighting fixture hanging from your bathroom ceiling just is not cutting it. In fact, most modern bathrooms embrace a spa-like ambiance through their lighting scheme. Often this look is achieved through clever light placement. So if you have not done so already, it is time to switch up the lighting in your bathroom.

Know Your Design Theme

The type of lighting that you use depends on the style of your bathroom and the overall theme of your home. If your home is modern and minimalistic in design, you will want to steer towards lighting fixtures that have straight lines. Use LED bulbs for the lighting quality to bring subtle emphasis. On the other hand, if your decorating is shabby chic, you can add some luxury by installing chandeliers.

Emphasize the Vanity

Vanity lighting is also essential. The lighting scheme in the vanity area should be void of dark shadows and welcome bright lights. Consider installing triple lighting sconces. Lighting sconces come in a variety of colors and designs. In fact, you can purchase glass or stainless steel sconces. If you are going for a classic look, try small chandeliers on each side of the vanity to provide generous lighting as well as style.

Add Lighting in Unexpected Areas

Hidden light fixtures are a great way to add a romantic style to your bathroom. In fact, track lighting has also made its way into the modern bathroom. Track lighting takes on all kinds of shapes and designs in today’s market.

Understand Your Space

When planning out a lighting scheme, you should keep in mind how much lighting your bathroom requires. This factor can vary depending on the size of your bathroom. Make sure that the lighting fixtures you select are able to handle the necessary amount of wattage to light the space.

If you are renovating your bathroom or simply making small changes, you should revamp the lighting scheme for increased efficiency and an improved appearance. We believe that lighting can completely transform the look of space if done correctly. Be sure to use these four simple tricks when updating your bathroom’s lighting.

Best Lighting for Rooms Without Ceiling Lights

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Many homes and apartments today come without overhead ceiling lights. This feature is great because it gives you the freedom to select your own lighting, yet it can also be problematic because you start off without any general lighting. The first thing to do is to make sure the light your get serves the right purpose. Since your room is missing general lighting, this light feature’s task is to illuminate the whole room. With this in mind, a simple end table lamp may not do the trick. To help, here are some great options to consider for rooms without overhead ceiling lighting:

Plug-in Ceiling Pendants

If your room has no overhead lighting, you probably have an outlet that will provide electricity when the light switch is flipped. First, you will want to locate this outlet then you can purchase a plug-in ceiling pendant. A pendant is a light fixture that is mount to the ceiling and hangs down from a rod or chain. These lights can come in thousands of styles, so find one that works with your home design. Try to tastefully secure your wire to the wall and down to your outlet when installing these pendants.

Plug-in Light Rail

Light rails can also provide an excellent source of light for your room. You will want to install the lighting rail in an area that will allow your lights to cover the entire room. Plus, plug-in light rails can usually have several lights installed on them, so you will want to angle your lights to help provide balanced lighting throughout the entire atmosphere.

Large Floor Lamp

There are many large floor lamps available on the market today as well. This option may be your best bet if you do not want a wire running up to your ceiling. Floor lamps are a common remedy for dark rooms. Just make sure you find a floor lamp that provides adequate lighting for your space. Some lampshades may not be transparent enough to allow light to cover the whole room properly, so be sure to look for the right lamp for your space.

While not having overhead lighting may first seem like an inconvenience, there are still a lot of great options to explore. You have the freedom to choose the lighting style you want. Try to look for a lighting option that works best with your design style by incorporating one of these ideas. Thanks for reading!

Tips for Choosing Modern Style Lighting

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Have you done a recent renovation, or are you simply jazzing up a room and want to try Modern design? We completely understand and realize just how popular and how pleasing it is to bring something from history back to life! We recommend introducing a little Modern lighting into the room and starting here.

First, we must not get confused about the difference between Modern style and Contemporary style. Actually, they are quite different, and we are going to help you understand and determine just what you need to purchase for modern style lighting.

History

Modern style evolved from the movement in the 1920s to the 1950s. Modern style differs from Contemporary because it follows a defined style, straight lines, geometric shapes, clean and minimal furnishings, and accessories. We have listed below some tips and tricks for making that special Modern lighting purchase.

Room Size

Start by looking at the room and think about the size of the room with any cabinets, countertops, islands, built-ins, or bookcases that may be present. This will help you determine the number of fixtures you must purchase. If you have a countertop or kitchen island and it is six feet long, and the fixtures are twenty-four inches, think about purchasing three light fixtures.

Ceiling Height

If you have ten plus feet of ceiling, you must think about the height because you will need more intense lighting to cover the area and to be able to see properly. Many Modern rooms install recessed lighting. Recessed lighting is unnoticeable and very minimal, which is perfect for Modern style. You can also choose flush-mounted lighting or flush-mounted wall sconces, which are minimal and do not compete with the overall design style of the room.

Types of Lighting

Most Modern style lighting will consist of LED lighting. It has become the standard for energy savings and only uses a fraction of the electricity that an incandescent or halogen low wattage bulb uses. The LED lighting gives off much less heat and is less costly to run overtime. You will pay more for the initial bulb, but they will last for years!

Style

If we follow the Modern design style, our lighting is going to be sleek with a lot of stainless steel and glass, which possibly has some wood to match the overall Modern style. Again, we want to make sure the lighting is white, cream, or clear to fall in line with the minimalist look.

What are your thoughts on Modern design? We would love to hear from you below in the comment section.

How to Correctly Use Accent Lighting

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There are three types of lighting to use in your home: ambient lighting, accent lighting, and task lighting. While all three are very important when designing your space, accent lighting has a special place among the three. Accent lighting is used to highlight focal points in the environment. It can be used more than once in a room and helps create the room’s ambiance. Knowing how to use accent lighting correctly is vital to enhance your rooms theme and overall aesthetics. Here are three rules of thumb to remember when applying accent lighting:

Accent Light Your Focal Points

Accent lighting’s primary purpose is to highlight points in the room. Your accent lights will attract attention, so make sure you are drawing it to the right areas. Giving a room more visual impact through accent lighting can allow your focal point to become a strong influence in the room. A solid, well-lit focal point is a key element to any interior design theme.

Apply Backlighting and Recessed Lighting

When lighting is recessed or backlit, it creates a level of a mystic-this ambiance is great for adding subtle yet practical accent lighting in your room. Backlight behind pictures, cabinets, entertainment stands, and television. Add recessed lights in your room on dimmers to help make the lighting adaptable throughout the space.

Less Is More

Going overboard on accent lighting can take away from the power they have to offer. While accent lighting is good, less is more. Know how to apply dimmers to help enhance the space. Your ambient lighting should be used to illuminate the room and to make a dramatic impact.

Incandescent Lighting

While fluorescent lighting is great for lasting longer, it is not ideal for accent lighting. The true, warm color incandescent light has to offer may be more beneficial for your room; however, this comes down to application. In some areas of the home, even LED can make powerful backlighting and help the design. Make sure you consider what lighting option is best for your home.

Use accent lighting in your home to enhance your space. The more you can nail this down, the more powerful your design will become. For more insight on interior design, make sure to subscribe.

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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