Renovate Your Home With Lighting For Less

Tag : Lighting
DPSI (ARA) - Great lighting inside and outside a home can enhancethe overall appearance and value while making it safer. With theright strategy, you can refresh your home's lighting for less thanyou think.

"Lighting can dramatically enhance a home's appeal," says DanielAuer, a lighting expert with LightingShowplace.com. "Using thetrends and secrets that professionals use can help you transformyour home and illuminate features and areas that you want to drawattention to."

Auer offers these tips and trend ideas for improving the lightinginside and outside your home and saving money:

1) Skip the stores and shop online.
Comparison shopping for home improvement items has never beeneasier thanks to the Internet. You can find the right items fast,without wasting expensive gas driving from store to store. Withspecialty Web sites like LightingShowplace.com, you can utilize avariety of tools to find just what you need for a great price.

The Web site allows you to shop by room, style and finish, brandname or price range with an inventory much larger than any brickand mortar store. If you need assistance, simply call the phonenumber for quick and personal service. By being able to quicklycompare options, you'll find the right lighting for any area ofyour home for less.

2) Warm and bright outdoors all year long.
Welcome people properly into your home by updating your outdoorlighting. Especially during the dark winter days, it's important tolight paths and front entrance ways so people know where to walkand can safely shuffle in from the cold.

Consider wall lanterns on either side of the front door along witha hanging fixture or ceiling mounted fixture above the door tocreate a well lit space to welcome guests and provide additionalsecurity. A post mounted light in the yard helps increase securityand light additional area. Highlight a walkway with small andstylish path lighting to invite guests into your warm andcomfortable home. All of these items can generally be coordinatedto match for an overall design theme.

3) Great indoor lighting makes a glowing first impression.
First impressions count and good entrance lighting makes all thedifference. Welcome people into your home with a spectacularhanging lantern, a multi-tiered chandelier or a large foyerfixture, which offers height and scale plus excellent generallighting. Look online for examples of how designers are using thesein homes.

To top off the look, consider adding matching wall sconces, and aceiling fixture for safety in stairways, halls and entryways.Nothing says welcome better than a warmly lit home.

4) The heart of the home.
Proper lighting can refresh and renew any kitchen. Clean up darkcorners and welcome dinner guests with lighting that looks great,but is also functional. Try a multi-pendant light over an island ormini pendants to strategically light counter space.

Under the cabinet lighting is also important for preparing foods inoptimal lighting conditions. And don't forget about the kitchentable where you'll be enjoying those great meals. A medium sizedchandelier or close to ceiling light is perfect for over a family'skitchen table. Add a dimmer switch so you can adjust as needed.

5) Save money with energy efficiency.
When shopping, look for lighting options with the Energy Starsymbol. Energy Star is a government-backed program that helpsprotect the environment through superior energy efficiency.Products with the Energy Star symbol meet strict energy efficientguidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)and the Department of Energy (DOE).

Energy Star qualified fixtures and bulbs use up to two thirds lessenergy than traditional lighting which lowers environmental impactand your energy bills. So not only do you save money, you'rehelping Mother Nature too.

6) A bright and cheery bathroom.
A properly lit bathroom helps to make sure you and your bathroomlook their best while also ensuring your safety. A well litbathroom has the added benefit of perfectly applied makeup,flawless hair and more while adding style to decor.

Good lighting is soft, unshadowed and even. An ideally lit bathroomwill have a fixture above the mirror. This fixture will provideoverhead and general lighting. Wall sconces can also be considered,one sconce on either side of the mirror will help avoid shadows andfill in the rest of your face and neck properly. Most bathroomswill require additional flush mount ceiling lighting for the restof the room.

"Whether you're getting ready to sell your home or simply want aquick update, lighting is one of the easiest ways to transform ahouse," says Auer. "And by shopping smart, it will be a dramaticchange that doesn't cost a lot."

For more information visit www.LightingShowplace.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent