Lighting Design Tips

Lighting plays a major role in the style and atmosphere of your home. Light fixtures can be relegated to the background, but, when thoughtfully selected, create the backdrop for the style of the room. Properly chosen and appropriately placed, light fixtures can define the look and function of a space.

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Create a Lighting Plan

 
 
 
Experts all agree that a properly lighted space begins with a good plan.

A good lighting plan will provide style and warmth, help with daily tasks, and highlight features of your home. Think in terms of lighting layers when choosing the light sources for a room.

There are three types of lighting to consider:

  • Ambient lighting provides soft, general illumination without glare to fill undefined areas of the room.
  • Task lighting adds a bright light to areas where visual activity takes place.
  • Accent lighting is used to focus attention on specific objects such as art, or architecture, to set the mood and add drama to a room.

Lastly, don't overlook the available natural light- windows, skylights, glass doors. Think about your lighting needs for both day and night.

Keep it in the Family

Lighting designers make it easy to create consistency and flow in your home. When selecting lighting, a great approach is to decide on a style and finish. Our lighting manufacturers offer many "families" of lighting which include chandeliers, wall sconces, bathroom lighting, pendants, ceiling fans and flush-mount lights; grouped by style, this approach allows you to easily express your own personal taste in décor while maintaining a coordinated, harmonious look throughout your home.

For instance, in the kitchen, try to match your light fixtures to cabinet hardware, hinges, plumbing fixtures and door handles. Not everything has to match perfectly, but try to keep them in the same finish family.


New Construction? Remodel?

Plan lighting into your project. If you have an open wall, that is the perfect time to run wiring for lighting. Think about how you will use the space and where switches will be most convenient. Some options you may want to consider – track lighting, ceiling fans, under cabinet lighting, recessed ceiling lighting, pendants … so many choices to illuminate your space!

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Smart Switches

Go beyond the On/Off switch. If you're installing a fan with a light, consider adding a switch that controls and dims the light and controls the fan speed.

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Ceiling Fans

Keep air circulating and shine some light at the same time. Ceiling fans are a great choice both inside and out.

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What Works Outdoors?

Bermuda and the Caribbean offer some of the most beautiful views in the world, but their climates are not kind to metal surfaces. For your outdoor lighting fixtures, consider a non-metallic piece for years of performance and durability.

We offer a variety of fixtures that are suitable for island climate. Our Lighting Design team can help you create a plan for your outdoor spaces and order all the necessary components- from the lighting fixtures to transformers, wiring and accessories.

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Size and Scale

Take a look at your space, ceiling height and overall feel of your space to determine how large or small your fixtures should be. There are so many choices- from large multi-tier chandeliers to simple, elegant pendants; sconces, flush mount ceiling lights, and more.

Recessed lighting is both minimalistic and functional, and a great way to light up a work space or add focus to a special feature.

Kichler Interior Lighting- Roswell

Bright Ideas for Choosing Bulbs

Once you have chosen your lighting, you will need some light bulbs. We offer a full selection of bulbs, and recommend the new energy-efficient options. With the use of traditional incandescent bulbs phasing out, it is possible to choose energy efficient bulbs that will provide similar light and warmth.

Halogen

Halogen bulbs function similarly to the old incandescent bulbs with a filament. They are the least expensive of the non-incandescent bulbs, with a similar energy profile.

CFL

CFL, or compact fluorescent light, bulbs use fluorescent gas that lights up when exposed to electricity. CFLs use about 70% less energy that incandescent bulbs, although they take a moment to warm up and reach full brightness. CFLs produce extremely bright light that spreads evenly, and they cost a little less than LED bulbs. CFLs cannot be used with a dimmer switch.

LED

LED- light-emitting diode- bulbs use a series of semiconductors as a light source, often with a diffuser to make the multiple dots of light generated by the individual diodes look softer. LED lights don't heat up at all, and can last up to five times longer than CFL light bulbs. They are available in adjustable colors, and some can be used with dimmer switches. LED bulbs are the most expensive up front, but offer the greatest value and energy-efficiency in the long run.
Understand the Terminology

Kelvin - a scale for the color of the light. The lower the number, the warmer the light. The Kelvin scale typically runs from 2,500K for the warmest color up to 6,000 for the coolest.

Wattage - a measure of how much energy a bulb uses. A lower wattage means that a bulb uses less electricity, but is not longer necessarily an indication of brightness with the newer CFL and LED bulbs. Now lumens are the gauge for brightness.

Lumens - measure the brightness of the bulb. For example, a typical living room may require about 1,500 - 3,000 lumens for lighting.

Your Lighting and Electrical Experts

In addition to light fixtures for residential use, Global Sales offers a full line of commercial lighting, as well as lighting and electrical supplies including wire, boxes, cover plates, switches, light bulbs, etc.

 

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