Choosing the right lighting for your home

 

So you’re looking for a new lighting fixture as a new edition to your new home, or to possibly update a room. Whatever the reason may be for the new edition, there are certain tricks and tips that may help aide you in your search for the right product. Let’s get right to it!

When decorating a room, most people focus more so on the furniture and color palettes of a room however, lighting plays a key role in completing the design elements of a room.

 

There are various styles,themes,colors, sizes and shapes of lighting fixtures available, it’s all just according to what you are looking for in particular.

There are chandeliers, mini chandeliers, flush mounts, semi-flush mounts, pendants, mini-pendants, wall sconces, wall lighting, floor lamps, table lamps and ceiling fans.

Courtesy of MyKnobs.com
Courtesy of MyKnobs.com

 

What’s great about chandeliers, is there ability to really dress a room up. Because of their grandiose appearance, chandeliers usually tend to be placed in dining rooms or foyers. Sometimes, even master bedrooms depending on the size and dimensions of the room. If you still want that “wow” factor of a chandelier but, you don’t necessarily have the space needed to avoid it seeming over-crowded, there are mini chandeliers available. Mini chandeliers make a cute addition to any room, especially bathrooms and bedrooms.

Chandeliers- Courtesy of Myknobs.com
Chandeliers– Courtesy of Myknobs.com

 

Pendants, are also another type of lighting that seems to be gaining a lot of traction in the lighting business. They are typically low-hanging fixtures, meant to draw attention in the room. They are great for the kitchen and also, seem to be a hot item in many food establishments all over the States.

If you want to avoid any sort of hanging light fixture all together, then maybe consider your options with either a floor lamp or, even a table lamp. Wall sconces are also a great way to add lighting, but to also add a design element to a bathroom or hallway.

Traditional, transitional, contemporary or modern?

Courtesy of MyKnobs.com
Courtesy of MyKnobs.com

 

Not everyone may know the difference between these style choices but, it’s definitely important to become familiar with them. Say for instance, you would like to go with a more traditional style lighting fixture. In order to get that look and feel, you would go with more of an ornamental design. Typically, with materials such as brass and crystal.

Transitional is more of a hybrid cross between both traditional and contemporary themed designs. Generally, transitional fixtures are comprised of more simple materials such as iron.

Modern themed fixtures usually have less detail and more of a clean, smoother shape to each fixture. Modern, refers to present-day design elements however, modern may also incorporate a more “futuristic” look. Modern light fixtures can be comprised of steel, chrome and glass.

Contemporary lighting fixtures can be both modern and traditional in style. Contemporary typically incorporates new styles from the present day.

10 Myths about Chandeliers

ChandeliersChandeliers are more often than not thought of as a luxury, reserved for the wealthy and used only in large homes and upscale venues. However, these are misconceptions that we will unravel along with other false ideas in the following ten myths about chandeliers.

1. Chandeliers are too expensive. Chandeliers today are available in a wide variety of styles, shapes and sizes, including the popular mini-chandelier. There is certainly one for every taste and budget.

2. Chandeliers are antiquated. The concept of chandeliers certainly came from times long past, when hanging candles from a frame attached to the ceiling provided an excellent means of illumination as well as reducing the fire hazard of candlesticks that could be knocked over. However, nowadays chandeliers range in material and design from every prominent style period and region throughout history. Traditional, crystal and Tuscan chandeliers add class in any setting, whereas modern, contemporary and eclectic varieties will appeal to most every other taste.

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Replacing Chandeliers

Do it yourself projects can either be complicated or incredibly easy.  Some prefer to call in a contractor to do the work instead of risking mucking up the job.  Replacing chandeliers seems like a project that is better left to the contractor but the truth is that anyone with a small amount of DIY experience can do it quite easily.  There are a few steps to replacing chandeliers that can make the process go smoothly.

  • How Much Does the New Chandelier Weigh? – This is an important aspect of replacing a chandelier.  If the new chandelier is heavier than the old one, then you have to replace the junction box which holds the hardware and is used to mount the unit.  Make sure you replace this if the new chandelier is heavier.  A chandelier that is too heavy can eventually fall and rip out all of the wires and can create quite a mess for you.
  • Electricity – Make sure to turn off the electricity at the breaker or fuse box for the room the chandelier is located in.  You do not want to have any on as you work with the chandelier wires, you could become seriously electrocuted.

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Inexpensive Upgrades to Help Sell Your Home

inexpensive upgradesSelling your home can be difficult today because of the drop in sales in the housing market.  Homes are not being sold for the same price that they were purchased as housing costs are plummeting with the market.  There are some inexpensive upgrades that can be made to the home that can help it sell much quicker and for a better price than the market shows.  The following are some inexpensive tips to upgrading your home to help you sell it.

  1. Go Green – You can make your home more desirable by putting in some green and ecologically friendly aspects.  Switch out your existing lighting with low energy LED lighting or other more economical light types.  You can also plant some shade trees that offer a cooler home.  Install a downspout with a barrel to collect rainwater for watering the garden.  Low flow toilets and shower heads can also make the home more green and help it to sell much quicker.
  2. Kitchen Bring your kitchen up to date by changing some small parts of it.  The pulls and hinges on the cabinets and drawers can be changed out to something more modern that adds a nicer touch to it.  Replace the old sink hardware with new and see how quickly the look of the kitchen is updated.  If you have some DIY skills, you can always change the paint or the stain color of the cabinets to make them look fresher.
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