Lighting
Let Lighting Shine the Way
No matter if you’re an experienced lighting installer, or a DIY weekend warrior, the right light fixture not only offers the ideal finishing touch to freshen up a space, but the light it gives off can change the mood and feel of a room or outdoor living space. Picking out the right lights for your home will depend upon your decorative motifs, the kind of light you want to give off, and they way you want the space to feel. The good news is lighting can be an inexpensive way to add some decorative flair to your home.
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So long as you take safety into account, there are undoubtedly several easy lighting projects you can do around your home. If you’ve never done any electrical work, it’s best to start out simple. Why not try installing a new light fixture in a bedroom or home office. These are usually “single pole” fixtures, meaning they only have one switch, usually located on the wall. Not only is this the easiest update you can make, but this can be a cheap lighting project as well. Many “big box” retailers offer over 100 fixtures for less than $50. My local store had nearly 30 fixtures under 30 dollars. So there’s plenty of selection for a small initial investment.
No discussion of home electrical products would be complete without mentioning safety. For every project you undertake, we recommend taking all necessary safety precautions. That means shutting off the power at the breaker, not just at the switch. And make sure that you have the breaker marked, so nobody comes along and turns it on while you’re working on exposed wires. Also, some lighting requires you to ascend a ladder. Make sure you’re using a proper ladder, and never try to balance heavy fixtures over your head alone. Remember: Safety first!
However, being up on a ladder and seeing the exposed junction box gives you an opportunity to assess the quality of the ceiling and if the previous light fixture is full of dead bugs, it might be a good time to contact professional
Once your new fixture is installed and working properly, then it’s a good time to consider what type of bulb you are going to use. More and more, people are turning to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) as a great long lasting lighting solution. These bulbs come in a multitude of sizes, and have come a long way in recreating the warmth of incandescent light while lasting much longer and running much more efficiently. Some CFLs are even dimmable or will work with three-way sockets. Make sure you check the packaging to find the right kind.
Finally, if you’re looking to do a large scale project, make sure to take lighting into consideration in your home improvement plan. The employee at the “big box” store who helps you find the right light will also be able to give you information on renting tools/equipment so you get the job done right the first time without making multiple trips to the store.
