For a safety feature that doubles as an attractive touch, Gillespie likes to provide low-level lights through major paths in the home. For example, soft lights could line the walls from the entry to the bedrooms, or they could be placed underneath stair rails to create a gentle glow. Gillespie has also placed lights on motion sensors. “If you get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom, a little light will come on and help you find your way to the bathroom,” she explains. “You don’t have to fumble for a light switch, and it’s not going to shock you or your partner with a bright light.”
From that subtle hallway light to the vibrant pendants hanging in kitchens, a successful lighting plan is one that works for its users while making a strong design statement. “Lighting does so much more than illuminate a space,” Heide says. “The design of lighting communicates a lot of what one is trying to evoke in architectural and interior design. Lighting is a great way to further that aesthetic.”
Bright Ideas in Lighting
Lighting Specialists and interior designers share three of the biggest movements to recently emerge in residential lighting.
Eco-friendly choices It seems that you can't flip through a home magazine without reading about green design. The desire to live in an eco-friendly manner is extending to residential lighting. Homeowners are moving away from energy-hogging incandescent light bulbs to the more efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs. Unfortunately, the biggest enemy of fluorescent lighting is its dated reputation. "People think of fluorescent light as institutional and impersonal, but it's rapidly improving and becoming warmer in color," says Jodi Gillespie, an interior designer with Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd. Also making their way into homes: energy-efficient LEDs.
As we get older, we require more light in our daily tasks. In the kitchen, make the most of under-cabinet, recessed, and track lighting. Remember that lighting needs to be placed in a way that eliminates glare, another problem for the aging eye. For bathrooms, the American Lighting Association recommends dimmers because research indicates that very low-level regular light maximizes night vision. Automated lighting controls with motion sensors can also help us better navigate our homes, particularly at night.
Although outdoor lighting is not a new concept, homeowners are putting more thought into lighting these spaces thanks to the popularity of outdoor living. "The lighting for decks, patios, and landscapes can really set a mood outside," says Karen Soojian, senior interior designer for Gabberts. Lighting manufacturers are responding by producing stylish lamps, sconces, and chandeliers designed especially for the outdoors. |
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