Home improvement projects involve lighting by the way!
Lighting is one of those things that not many people think twice about when they consider their home improvement project, however, there are so many ways to improve how lights look and operate. Lights come in all shapes and sizes, they can add ambience to your evening, or brighten up your living room, and did you know, they also have a major impact on how you feel? Natural as well as artificial light has a massive influence on your mood, so here are some tips we recommend checking out so you can make sure you feel the best while at home.
Your home improvement lighting guide:
Choose a focal point for your lighting. More light is usually better, but sometimes, such as in a dining room, adding a chandelier can make a great focal point and bring focus around a central area. In smaller rooms, focal points to light up may be certain paintings or seating places. Consider the scale of the home improvement you are preparing to do. There should be enough light to see everything clearly, but not so much that it’s hard to keep your eyes open! The length + width of any room (feet) should equal the diameter of a chandelier (inches). For example, if you have a 10×10 foot room, your chandelier should be 20 inches in diameter.
- Choose a focal point for your lighting. More light is usually better, but sometimes, such as in a dining room, adding a chandelier can make a great focal point and bring focus around a central area. In smaller rooms, focal points to light up may be certain paintings or seating places.
- Consider the scale of the home improvement you are preparing to do. There should be enough light to see everything clearly, but not so much that it’s hard to keep your eyes open! The length + width of any room (feet) should equal the diameter of a chandelier (inches). For example, if you have a 10×10 foot room, your chandelier should be 20 inches in diameter.
- Consider layering your lighting for a more balanced effect. For the best balance, aim for 3 light sources (including natural light).
- Switch to LED light bulbs. LED’s are more efficient than incandescent bulbs so you’ll save energy as well as money. The LED’s are the ones that can be dimmed or tune the colours temperature of are best because they give you the most amount of options for your space. Coloured lighting is more than just a fun novelty. It can influence our state of mind, foster better health, and accentuate the design and architecture of homes.
- Upgrade to smart light bulbs. Many LED’s actually are smart bulbs, but what does that mean? Smart bulbs give you the option to control the lightbulb wireless from an app on your phone. Smart bulbs are great because they allow you to turn on/off all or any lights at any given time. Many smart bulbs are also multi-coloured, so you can adjust the colour as well as the brightness, all through a mobile app.
- Install dimmer switches. Although this is more expensive for installation, dimming a light by 25 percent can cut electricity costs by 20 percent, so it’s well worth the investment for the long run. Make sure you know the bulb type and wattage though so you ensure to choose the right type of dimmer.
- Add plug-in lights and lamps. If you don’t have a big budget or the space to add more internal lighting, you can always add some plug-in lights and lamps. Many plug-in modules can also be operated through a remote or mobile app so you can turn them on and off, dim them to different levels and often even change the colour settings.
- Add sensors. Why hit the switch when you don’t have to? Add a motion sensor to your patio, garage, or even inside your house, and illuminate the constant need for switching the lights on and off. These devices are really simple and easy to install on the ceiling or wall, and you can sometimes even find some that are built into the dimmer switch. Motion sensors are super ideal for areas where lights tend to be left on accidentally, such as in closets and powder rooms. Another type of sensor you can install is a light sensor which will activate when it senses that there isn’t enough natural light in the room. You also have the option on many of these sensors to override and bypass this feature to control the lights how you like.
- Use timers. Timers are great if you’re on a routine schedule and always have someone home at the same time every day. So for example, you can set a timer to turn on all the lights at 7 p.m. and off at 8 a.m. Timers can also be useful for any time you go away on a trip because they make your house seem occupied even when you aren’t around.
- Set up scenes. There are also keypads that you can install in place of switches which allow you to program a room the way you like, and save settings under different presets and it will remember your settings for the next time you want those settings.
- If all of these features sound appealing, you may want to go all in and invest in a complete smart lighting control system. With this system, you’ll be able to monitor and manage your home’s lights’ remotely, create scenes and schedules, automate them according to time and motion, sync their operation with other window shades, thermostats and other devices, control through voice commands, and more.
These 11 tips for your lighting in your next home improvement project, should serve as a guide to making wise choices that will bring to life your space as never before! While embarking on home improvement projects is costly, our team of experts can help guide you through each stage from start to finish!