Renovate your home with Lighting for Less

Great lighting inside and outside a home can enhance the overall appearance and value while making it safer. With the right strategy, you can refresh your home’s lighting for less than you think.
“Lighting can dramatically enhance a home’s appeal,” says Daniel Auer, a lighting expert with LightingShowplace.com. “Using the trends and secrets that professionals use can help you transform your home and illuminate features and areas that you want to draw attention to.”
Auer offers these tips and trend ideas for improving the lighting inside and outside your home and saving money:
1) Skip the stores and shop online.
Comparison shopping for home improvement items has never been easier thanks to the Internet. You can find the right items fast, without wasting expensive gas driving from store to store. With specialty Web sites like LightingShowplace.com, you can utilize a variety of tools to find just what you need for a great price.
The Web site allows you to shop by room, style and finish, brand name or price range with an inventory much larger than any brick and mortar store. If you need assistance, simply call the phone number for quick and personal service. By being able to quickly compare options, you’ll find the right lighting for any area of your home for less.
2) Warm and bright outdoors all year long.
Welcome people properly into your home by updating your outdoor lighting. Especially during the dark winter days, it’s important to light paths and front entrance ways so people know where to walk and can safely shuffle in from the cold.
Consider wall lanterns on either side of the front door along with a hanging fixture or ceiling mounted fixture above the door to create a well lit space to welcome guests and provide additional security. A post mounted light in the yard helps increase security and light additional area. Highlight a walkway with small and stylish path lighting to invite guests into your warm and comfortable home. All of these items can generally be coordinated to match for an overall design theme.
3) Great indoor lighting makes a glowing first impression.
First impressions count and good entrance lighting makes all the difference. Welcome people into your home with a spectacular hanging lantern, a multi-tiered chandelier or a large foyer fixture, which offers height and scale plus excellent general lighting. Look online for examples of how designers are using these in homes.
To top off the look, consider adding matching wall sconces, and a ceiling 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 dark corners and welcome dinner guests with lighting that looks great, but is also functional. Try a multi-pendant light over an island or mini pendants to strategically light counter space.
Under the cabinet lighting is also important for preparing foods in optimal lighting conditions. And don’t forget about the kitchen table where you’ll be enjoying those great meals. A medium sized chandelier or close to ceiling light is perfect for over a family’s kitchen 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 Star symbol. Energy Star is a government-backed program that helps protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Products with the Energy Star symbol meet strict energy efficient guidelines 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 less energy than traditional lighting which lowers environmental impact and your energy bills. So not only do you save money, you’re helping Mother Nature too.
6) A bright and cheery bathroom.
A properly lit bathroom helps to make sure you and your bathroom look their best while also ensuring your safety. A well lit bathroom 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 bathroom will have a fixture above the mirror. This fixture will provide overhead and general lighting. Wall sconces can also be considered, one sconce on either side of the mirror will help avoid shadows and fill in the rest of your face and neck properly. Most bathrooms will require additional flush mount ceiling lighting for the rest of the room.
“Whether you’re getting ready to sell your home or simply want a quick update, lighting is one of the easiest ways to transform a house,” says Auer. “And by shopping smart, it will be a dramatic change that doesn’t cost a lot.”
For more information visit www.LightingShowplace.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent