Time to Reflect on Overall Lighting
A combination of many factors determine how you feel about people, places, and things. In general, the more information you have about something, the better able you are to make the right decisions. Selecting your outfit, choosing your friends, appointing the right candidate for a job opening, designing a floor plan, picking a paint color, ordering a meal. The list goes on and on. We go through these types of evaluations hundreds of times a day. It’s only when all of it comes together that you can feel comfortable and happy in your choices.
We’ve been talking about so many different types of lighting lately . . . undercabinet, stairs, string, track, outdoor, etc. The truth is they all matter in creating your spaces. And they have a few things in common that need to be considered: lumens, color temperature, flexibility, maintenance, and energy efficiency.
An important thing that often gets overlooked when designing a lighting plan in any type of application is whether the type of light is appropriate for the function that is to occur in that space. It’s not just about cosmetic appearance or whether the fixture matches the décor . . . it’s about pairing the appropriate amount (lumens) with the correct color temperature (warm or cool) of light. If you’re lighting a reading nook, to read comfortably without strain, you’ll probably feel most cozy between 1100–1600 lumens or the equivalent of 75–100 Watts, with a warmer, more golden color light (lower on the Kelvin scale, between 2000K–3000K). If you’re a bit younger than me (ahem), you can probably get away with a few fewer lumens! But when installing undercabinet task lighting in the kitchen, it needs to be bright enough to illuminate every detail (especially your fingertips!) so you can safely chop those veggies. Fixtures providing 3000–4000 lumens with a higher color temperature mimicking daylight (4500K) should be on your shopping list for that kitchen reno. It is so important to thoughtfully balance these two fundamental variables to achieve both your decorative desires and lighting purpose.
Flexibility is also important and often comes in the way of dimmers. While you need that bright, white light for food prep in the kitchen, lowering the light level after dinner creates a much different, more relaxed mood. Dimmers can provide different intensities of light from one fixture. Be sure to review the dimmer spec sheets for compatibility as some bulbs cannot be dimmed. Adding layers of light (ambient, task, and accent) also creates a more flexible space. For instance, employ a desk lamp (task) during the day to light your home workspace, but leave the lighting up to your ceiling fixture (ambient) and wall sconces (accent) in the evenings to restore that homey feeling.
Just like lumens and color temperature, maintenance and energy-efficiency go hand-in-hand. The more energy-efficient a bulb is, the lower the maintenance investment. Bulbs with LED technology offer higher lumen output per watt and a much longer life than traditional incandescent bulbs, providing that beautiful marriage of saving money and fewer bulb changes. To ensure low maintenance outdoor lighting, check that the fixtures and bulbs are approved for outdoor use.
With so many options available on 1000Bulbs.com, you’re sure to find countless combinations of products that will perfectly suit your needs. If you’re still stumped about your project, give one of our friendly lighting experts a call at 1-800-624-4488.
