We all know that lighting is one of the most important elements of any home remodeling project, but do we really understand all of the different options available? Let’s take a minute to weigh the pros and cons of several of the most popular lighting options for your home. You may be surprised at how easy it is to update your lighting without emptying your wallet.
Track Lighting is a form of general lighting, which provides general illumination for the entire room. Available in either black or white, its thin tracks provide unobtrusive and discrete lighting for more contemporary settings. Track lighting utilizes long-lasting halogen spots. One of the best uses for this type of lighting is to replace standard ceiling fixtures that use incandescent bulbs. If your existing track lighting still sports bulky looking cans, simply keep the tracks and replace the cans with modern-looking tiny halogen bulbs. The advantages of track lighting are that it is adjustable, and can be used to highlight art of various pieces of furniture. It works well with all design styles and in every room of the house. There really are no disadvantages to track lighting.
Recessed Lighting is another example of general lighting and is usually found in newer or recently remodeled homes. Because there is nothing hanging from the ceiling, recessed lighting gives the illusion of higher ceilings and more interior living space. Older homes may already have recessed lighting with big old floodlights, but it is easy to replace those with smaller halogen high hats. They are less conspicuous and use less energy than their big fat predecessors.
Cove Lighting is often found in older homes that have architectural moldings running around the perimeter of the room. Cove lighting can also be added to any home if the homeowner is willing to add the necessary moldings to hide the lights. As a form of indirect light, cove lighting is great for creating interest and atmosphere in a room, but it is not sufficient to provide enough light for the entire room.
Chandeliers can be a great addition to any room, giving it immediate interest and style. But unshaded chandeliers create a harsh light that can throw unflattering shadows into the room, so it is best to add simple clip-on shades. At only 4 inches in diameter, these little lamp shades can work well in either contemporary, traditional or country styles, depending upon the style your choose. You can use pleated, smooth, silk or parchment paper to compliment a variety of design styles.
Wall Sconces are great for adding extra light to dark corners of a room, a stairway or hallway. Like chandeliers, they can cast shadows if not properly shaded, so use the same clip-on shades from your chandelier to coordinate with your wall sconces.
Task Lighting is essential for reading or working in a room. It does not replace general lighting, but merely provides an additional source of light for certain tasks. Table lamps are the most common source of task lighting, as they can be moved from place to place depending on the need at the time. But a torchere, a standing floor lamp that casts light up, or a pharmacy lamp, which casts light down, can also be versatile for providing spot lighting.
All of these lamps work great in pairs, which provide not only light, but design balance in your decorating scheme. So if you own two lamps that are similar but not identical, just purchase two identical shades to place on each lamp. If one lamp is taller than the other, simply place a book or a painted wood block or a marble pedestal beneath the shorter one to raise it up and make both lamps appear to be a pair.
With a little creativity, you can repurpose your existing lighting and bring your home improvement project in on budget. Meaning your home, and not your wallet, will be a whole lot lighter.
The author writes for various websites on the topics of home improvement and decorating. She recently completed a bathroom remodel featuring a copper sink and loves the contemporary look of copper vessel sinks.
