Illuminating Ideas

Lamps

• Lamps can be used not only to light the room in which they are located, but also to emphasize the surrounding decoration. Use lamps which accent your room by the style of shade as well as the design and finish of the base. Lamps can be purchased in literally any shape, style or size to fit a room. Floor lamps are much taller than other lamps, making them useful for placing beside a reading chair. Table lamps are often used as the primary light in a room and can be tied into the electrical switch to turn on rather than having to turn the lamp on at the base. Accent lamps are much smaller and can be used as decoration or to highlight design features within the home.

Recessed Lighting

• Recessed lighting can be used with a variety of decorating styles. These lights are installed in the ceiling of the home and generally use either incandescent or halogen lighting. They can be utilized for accent lighting when using low-watt bulbs and placed near to a wall, or they may replace exposed light fixtures in the ceiling to focus light on one place, such as an entryway.

Track Lighting

• Track lighting is available in a variety of styles, providing a wide range of lighting solutions for areas such as the kitchen, where lighting by necessity must be customizable. Track lighting fixtures can be directed to specific places to provide work light or accent light, and install using just one switch and electrical box. You can direct one or two of the track lights onto your kitchen work stations, and have additional lights highlight decorative accents in the kitchen such as paintings.

Fluorescent Lighting

• Fluorescent lighting in the home helps to lower energy costs and provides bright light in areas such as the kitchen and bathroom as well as in the garage. New fluorescent light bulb technology allows homeowners to utilize fluorescent bulbs in standard light sockets without the need for an additional ballast as is necessary on some fluorescent light bulbs. Standard fluorescent lighting is available in tube form and in a wide variety of sizes. Fluorescent lighting is also divided into light spectrums. Warm-white bulbs are used in home applications while neutral-white and cool-white spectrums are often used in industrial and workplace settings.