So many times a person enters a room, flips a switch, and goes about their business never paying attention to the modern marvel of electrical lighting. What once was not even a thought, but an absolute anomaly has now become an art medium combining form and function. And in today’s home marketplace, with so many different lighting options, it can become almost daunting to find the right lighting for your custom home.
Most homeowners this side of Transylvania want as much natural light as possible. That is a given. But there are times when light fixtures are necessary and therefore need to create a cohesive space while also adding design panache. Fixtures need to also be functional and practical. No one wants to read their favorite book to the hum of a fluorescent ballast, nor do they want to cut vegetables with a 20-watt warm sconce. In short, choosing the right lighting for your custom home at River Landing is very important. The following tips may offer some insight for your consideration:
INCORPORATE YOUR LIGHTING INTO THE OVERALL DESIGN OF THE ROOM
When building a custom home you will want to approach lighting from a design perspective. Of course you want it to be functional and suited for the task within the room. But it doesn’t have to be the one and only light in the room. Add additional lighting options that give ambiance to the space and allow it to be multi-use. For example, in the living room, you may want an overhead light with a ceiling fan that allows for a healthy glow while circulating air. Purchasing a traditional ceiling fan with globe light may truly throw off the flow of the room. Instead, choose something that matches the decor of the room. Think about color, texture, blade size, light fixture type, light fixture size, etc. If you find you need more lighting in the room, considering adding lamps or sconces or even task lighting in areas.
UNDERSTAND YOUR LIGHTING
Before choosing a light, you need to determine the use of the light. Do you want to install it to brighten up your room? Or do you want lighting that shows refinement and sophistication? Maybe you want a light that fits historically with your design (think modern farmhouse design house with a salvage wood/bronzed chandelier)? Understanding the purpose of your lighting fixture allows you to make a smart decision. You don’t want to crowd your room with lighting fixtures. Instead, you want to have the minimum number of fixtures that offer the maximum effect.
CONSIDER LED
Because of the aforementioned crowding, LED lighting may be just right for your custom home. LED light technology is advancing rapidly, and such lighting allows you to enjoy varying atmosphere and tones according to your mood. The lights transition from bright to dim with a slide of the control and even change colors on command! You can change them from bright to dull effectively.
CONSIDER CEILING HEIGHT
Perhaps one of the most overlooked concepts behind choosing lights for your home is having a working knowledge of room size and dimension. Knowing your ceiling height is important for selecting hanging light fixtures. A large number of lights (i.e. chandeliers, pendants, etc) come with adjustable cables or rods, but others don’t. You certainly don’t want your light to hang too high or too low. As a rule of thumb, the bottom of a light should hang about 12 to 20 inches below a standard 8-foot ceiling. For each additional foot of ceiling height, add 3 inches.
Choosing the perfect lighting for your custom home at River Landing is not an easy task. It requires an understanding of the room, an understanding of the light needed, understanding the light possibilities, and then choosing the right design aesthetic. Once you succeed in choosing the right light though, your home will become a destination and not just a place to go to sleep in each night. It will carry its own personality and mood. You will all at once be able to impress your guests and have a well-lit, high-performance, custom home!
