The Language of Light

What do aiming angles, bud lights and pendants all have in common? No, they're not drinks or a type of jewelry, but terms associated with light fixtures. No more is buying lights for the rooms in your home a simple matter of picking out the light fixture you like and selecting a package of light bulbs to go with it. Because of the advancements in lighting design it can be overwhelming to decide on lighting for your home. In fact, you may feel that a dictionary is a must. Fortunately, a good light store will have personal and decorators on hand to help you make an informed decision. Of course, if you have a basic knowledge before going to the store, it will help. So, if purchasing lighting is in your future, take a few minutes to become familiar with these terms associated with lights.

• Accents are used to emphasize and dramatize.
• Aiming Angle refers to the direction of the light
• Ambient Lighting sets the mood of the room by accounting for the brightness or darkness of a room.
• Architecturals are built-in lighting, like recessed downlights, coves and valences.
• Bud Lights are tiny incandescent or halogen lamps mounted on a strip to produce a lighted string that can follow a shape.
• Compact Downlights are tiny recessed incandescent fixtures
• Cornice illumination is typically built into a soffit or behind a fascia at the intersection of the ceiling and wall.
• Cove Lighting is built into a shelf or ledge at the upper part of the wall.
• Cross Lighting is used to spotlight an object from two directions it is often used for accenting sculpture and trees.
• Decorative Lamps use incandescent bulbs without a shade or diffuser.
• Directional Lighting focuses on an object or surface from a single direction.
• Downlights are sometimes called recessed lighting, and directs light down. It is great for spotlighting decorative features in a room.
• Enclosed Downlights are recessed lights and are most commonly used in kitchens and bath areas.
• Grazing Lights are directional lights which are set at an angle, to accentuate texture.
• Pendant sometimes called a stem, these aresuspended from the ceiling on cable, chain or stem.
• Sconces are wall brackets that resemble a candelabrum. They are decorative light sources and are ideal for creating ambiance.
• Torchiere these are indirect floor lamp that sends the majority of the light upward. They are great for accenting architectural features, plants or artwork.
• Valance this is generally installed over a window or along a wall so that light is distributed up and down.

Once you have a working understanding of the types of lighting available, going shopping for new lights will not be difficult. You can go into the store with confidence and make a wise and informed decision. Yes, you may still need to ask for help, but you will at least understand the lingo. Don't stay in the dark, come into the light.

For more information on lighting and to view online promotions, contact The Light House, Inc. of Hockessin, DE! Article independently authored by Janet M. Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of The Light House. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit Peerless Web Solutions.

Lighting Fixtures...

Home Decor and Remodels Can Have Personality Without Sacrificing Cost or Quality

For the past 20 years the real estate market has experienced extensive growth until the market declined in the last few years. With this explosive growth also came an explosion of home décor, styling and lighting, which the average home owner could afford. Prior to this time most of the average buildings constructed showed little flair or imagination, with few exceptions, such as hotels, government buildings and wealthy estates.

The average home owner does not need to sacrifice with the home décor and lighting. The available choices of lighting range from the mass produced and cheaply made aluminum fixtures found in the big brick-and-mortar home improvement stores to custom crafted lighting imported from Europe. The latter will not be found in any hardware store, but in specialty lighting boutiques.

Most lighting fixtures will not break the bank, nor should it be necessary to skimp on quality. Specialty lighting houses will, of course, have the best and widest selection of styles. There are well over a hundred different manufacturers of lighting fixtures and lamps in the United States alone. Most lighting stores can not compete with the home improvement behemoths for square footage so will make up for that by having the need to sometimes cram as much as possible into a smaller space. For this reason alone these specialty houses rely on a myriad of catalogs. Many times the customer will be permitted to "check out" these catalogs as there is not a way to leaf through them all in a few minutes.

Surprisingly most of the lighting shops are quite good at minimizing the wait time for a light fixture order. Quite often the average shipping time can be as little as 3 days or so. For custom designed order a realistic time frame may be up to 6 to 8 weeks or more.

The customer should be prepared for the majority, if not all lighting stores, to normally require a deposit for any special order. The purpose for this down payment is to cover the minimal expenses which the store will incur in the event of an order cancellation. Many specialty boutiques may also assess a restocking fee in the event of an order cancellation as well.

When shopping for lighting fixtures, a prior special order cancellation may be available at a significant discount in order to move stagnant inventory. Should the customer decide to purchase a number of fixtures then price negotiating may also be an avenue for savings for the customer. The saying, "the more you buy, the more you save" can be applied to this situation.

Visit The Light House, Inc. in Hockessin, DE to view online promotions going on now! Article independently authored by Dan Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of The Light House. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit Peerless Web Solutions.

How to Use Lighting to Change a Room's Ambiance

If you are looking for a way to change the mood of your home's rooms, or perhaps just one of the rooms, then one of the easiest, and often most economical ways is by changing the lighting. For many years decorators and designers have recognized that the right lighting and decorating items can add-or take away from- the ambiance of a space. If you are looking for a way to create a certain mood for the rooms of your home, the suggestions below can take your room(s) from being merely a place to come home to being a place you go to for inspiration, relaxation, romance and fun.

Inspirational Lighting

If you are trying to create a mood that inspires the creative genius within, then consider these lighting upgrades:

• Layer the lighting so that there is plenty of light for all the activities to be enjoyed.
• Lighting for reading, writing, and other hobbies should be set up so that the light shines directly on to the work, but not into the reader's eyes.
• Crisp, white light is energizing and is great for task lighting; warm colors like yellow, orange and red stimulate concentration and creativity while reducing tiredness.
• Use bright ambient lights for task lighting; multi-bulb fixtures to make a room brighter and recessed lighting for countertop light.

Relaxation & Welcoming Lighting

Whether it's just you and the family or when you are entertaining guests, you want everyone to feel relaxed. By making sure that lighting provides an ambiance of peaceful welcoming there are several lighting choices to be included.

• Along the outside walkway, be sure it is well-lit so that the entrance path is clearly lit making people comfortable.
• Inside, layer the lighting choices, using more than one source so that silhouettes are not overpowered.
• Consider ambient lights, recessed lights or track lighting to prevent shadows. These will also draw the eye to the central glow.
• If the room has a fireplace, consider using torchieres or wall sconces to create a warm glow; a working fireplace also adds both physical and emotional warmth.
• An all white décor gives a calming effect and makes a space feel larger than it is.
• Decorative items such as mirrors and frosted glass can add to the lighting choices and have a relaxing affect.

Romance Lighting

To create a quiet romantic getaway, here are few decorating tips:

• Make the ceiling look lower by placing wall sconces lower and using lamps and fixtures with closed tops.
• Dimmer switches are a great way to adjust the lighting to suit any mood
• Don't use overhead lighting as it can cause a harsh glare
• Use multiple lamps with dark shades or warm colors.

Dramatic Lighting

To give a room life and encourage interaction, use the lighting suggestions:

• Use up-lights to spotlight large plats and down-lights on art objects.
• Wall mounted sconces, wall washers or tall floor lamps will focus on architectural detail.

For additional information on the topic of lighting visit The Light House. Article independently authored by Janet M. Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of The Light House. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit Peerless Web Solutions.

Using Wall Sconce Lighting to Enhance Your Home's Appearance

Wall sconce lighting can be used throughout the home's interior and exterior. There are no definite rules for where and when to use sconce lighting, but there are a few considerations to be aware of when installing stylized lighting of this nature. Overlooking basic details can prove to be time consuming and expensive.

Most placements of wall sconces can traditionally found on the exterior at one or both sides of the front door and to the sides of the garage door opening. The home owner should be aware of the measurements of the available space for which the sconce will be installed. For example having a space between the edge of the front door and a nearby corner wall, which spans only 24 inches wide, will severely limit the size of the lighting fixture able to be mounted. Conversely, having a plantation house with large columns will require larger sconces and quite possibly a hanging light fixture centered in front of the main entry doors.

Sizing of the sconce lighting can be a challenge for many home owners. Available sizes on the market can range from about 8 inches tall to well over 2 feet. Of course common sense would indicate that a 2 foot tall sconce would not be appropriate for a bathroom or any area of a basic residential abode. It is important to have measurements in hand of nearby windows, door openings, height of the ceiling and so on when visiting a lighting shop.

A rough hand drawn sketch or outline of the shape of the room is also a good thing to have so that the sales associate at the lighting boutique may be able to make recommendations which will complement the size of the area in question. For those individuals who are artistically challenged, a photograph can work admirably well in lieu of a drawing. Should the home owner have an interior decorator working on the décor, this particular worry should not come into play. It is important to be sure of the style and size of the lighting fixtures, especially if the items are to be custom made or special ordered. Many shops will require a non-refundable deposit when ordering special orders or a restocking fee when returning an item.

There are many finishes, styles and materials from which a sconce can be crafted. Those that can be found in the large brick and mortar home improvement centers will have a severely limited variety from which to choose. An excellent alternative for not settling for a hum-drum lower quality lighting fixture will be to visit a store which specializes in lighting and home décor. Many of these specialty houses can be found online, however due to the almost endless variety of styles, sizes and finishes available, it is quite impossible to shop for these items. A visit to the lighting supply store will be I order.

For additional information on the topic of lighting for the interior and exterior visit The Light House. Article independently authored by Daniel Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of The Light House. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit Peerless Web Solutions.