Category Archives: Indoor Lighting

In this post, we will go over three inspiring home lighting ideas to brighten up the winter season.

1. Nix The Florescent Lighting: If you have any florescent lighting in your home, kick it to the curb. Many people who suffer from pesky, mysterious headaches come to learn later on that it is often caused by florescent lighting. Not only can this type of lighting produce headaches, it gives off a harsh, cold feeling. Replace florescent lighting with something warm and inviting for each room in the house.
2. Utilize Accent Lighting: Accent lighting really is the cherry on top. After you have basic lighting in each room of your house, check out different accent lighting options. Accent lighting is used to do just that: accent lighting that already exists. Accent lighting also serves to create an added decorative feel. The accent lighting you choose can be artistic in form and really enhance the interior design in your home.
3. Explore Ceiling Fixture Options: For the general ambiance of your home, focus on primary lighting options that light up 75% of the room (the rest can be done by accent lighting). Ceiling fixtures make great primary light sources for larger rooms and foyers, whereas smaller rooms look better with floor lamps and extra accent lighting.

Looking for more lighting inspiration? Contact us today!

Rather than letting your family and friends stare at the same tired old lampshades in your living room, upgrade their look with a new lampshade.

Pick the Right Shape

The first thing you need to do when selecting a new lampshade is choose the right shape for your lamp. Look at the base of your lamp and study its general shape. If the base is round, a round shade will look best. If your lamp has a slender base, a square shade will lend a touch of elegance and sophistication.

Choose a Color

Lampshades come in many different colors and patterns. When selecting a lamp shade, look at the color of your lamp as well as the decor of the room. The shade should complement the colors in the rest of your decor. Also consider how much light you need the lamp to produce. Darker colored shades block more light than white or light-colored options.

Sizing Matters

When selecting a new lampshade, you’ll want to find one that fits your lamp. The lampshade should measure about one inch wider than the base of the lamp. For table lamps, pick a shade that is about 2/3 to 3/4 of the height of the lamp. This ensures that the shade diffuses light properly. Shades that are too small or too narrow will not create the right lighting effect and may leave part of the bulb visible.

Consider Location

If the lamp is in a high-traffic area, make sure the lampshade you choose won’t interfere with traffic. The last thing you want is for your guests to bump the shade and tip your lamp over.

The holidays are the perfect time to upgrade your home lighting with a new lampshade. Stop by our store or contact us today for more information about our wide selection of lampshades and fixtures. Take advantage of our lampshade sale until December 30 and get the look you want for less!

Many people today have an office in their home. An important feature in an office is proper lighting. You want lighting that is functional and stylish and lighting that complements your home’s decor. Here are a few suggestions to consider:

Overhead Lighting

The first type of lighting to consider is an overhead light for your daily needs, such as when you’re working on your computer or reading. You can choose a chandelier, a lighted ceiling fan, or even a flush or semi-flush mounted light in a variety of styles. An antique or two-tone finish is a distinctive look for any office. For an even more unique look, consider adding a ceiling medallion in a finish that matches your lighting and room decor.

Task Lighting

The second type of lighting to consider is a desk lamp. The additional light is useful when making notes or putting together a list. You might also need extra light to illuminate small print that you’re trying to read. Remember that desk lamps don’t have to look boring. Choose a Craftsman or Tiffany style to add a cozy feel to your office. If you want something more modern, try a lamp with a chrome finish or something in nickel. Both look nice and work well in an office setting.

Track Lighting

Another useful type of lighting is track lighting. These lights are perfect for specific areas in your office. You can illuminate your bookcases, so you can more easily find items on the shelves. You can highlight treasures displayed on other shelving in the room. Track lighting can also enhance any artwork or decorator items that you have hanging on your walls.

Various options exist for office lights. For more ideas, please contact us today. We’re known for unique, sophisticated, and quality lighting products. We’re sure to have something perfect for your home.

If you have a basement that doubles as a livable space in your home, ensuring that your lighting needs are met is important. If your basement is lacking windows, getting creative with your lighting options is a must. Here are three ideas when it comes to brightening up a dark basement with lighting.

1. Ambient and Low-Level Lighting

While it might seem as if bright ceiling lights are the best option to instantly brighten a dark basement, this might actually shrink your space and be too stark of a look. If you can mix up the types of lighting in your basement area, this can add depth and make darker rooms look more spacious. Try to have a mix of ceiling lights, lamps, and hanging lights to achieve a more diverse lighting set up throughout your basement.

2. Ensuring Corners are Well Lit

Basements are bound to have corners that are in the shadows, but with a little creativity, you can brighten up your entire space. These darker basement areas can be brought out with strategic lighting placements. This can be achieved with low-level lighting or lamps placed near mirrors to reflect even more light into dimmer areas of your basement.

3. Suiting the Needs of the Space

Depending what you are using your basement for can directly dictate what lighting options might be best. For a cozy den, low lighting can make your basement feel homey. If this space is used for a home gym, brighter lighting can energize your space. For home offices, having bright lighting near your work space will save your eyes.

Taking advantage of your basement and using this a functional area of your home can be a great use of space, but your lighting needs should be taken into consideration as well. Make sure your basement is well lit to help with your needs, to make this space more inviting, and feel more spacious. If you are thinking about updating lighting option in your home, contact us to help get you started.

The mention of night lights probably reminds you of your childhood, when a glowing giraffe or a bright Mickey Mouse plugged into your bedroom wall kept you company at night. Many parents still use night lights as a fun and comforting way to put children at ease after dark. But night lights are more than just storybook characters to place around your child’s bedroom. Today’s sophisticated and beautiful night lights can add an elegant touch throughout your home.

Here are three important considerations to keep in mind when shopping for night lights for your home.

Choose a style that suits your home. Today’s night lights come in a wide variety of shapes and designs. Whether your home is contemporary or traditional, modern or classic, there is a night light designed to fit perfectly with your decor. Some night lights have intricate stained glass covers, while others have airy, elegant designs. Ornamentation like tassels and fringe, metal accents, and hand painted scenes can all add a touch of flair to your nightlight.

Thoughtful placement is key. Night lights are an excellent choice for providing soft lighting in dark hallways so that family members and guests can walk around your home safely at night. They are also a great option to illuminate dark bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens and other rooms. They provide just enough light for you to cross a room – or to find a light switch.

Holiday themed night lights add a festive touch. Using holiday-themed night lights throughout your home is a quick and easy way to add a festive touch. You can even use matched sets of holiday night lights to add a unique but interesting light in every room.

Night lights are an elegant accessory that can complement your home’s design and decor. Don’t forget to add this important item to your list when shopping for new lights. Contact us today to learn more about these and other lighting options.

There’s no doubt about it – modern times have brought looking at monitors and screens throughout large portions of the day to most of us – for work and pleasure. Our parents used to say that we’d go blind watching TV in the dark – while, perhaps not exactly true, it is definitely hard on the eyes. The harsh lighting of computers and television screens is no doubt a strain on vision. However, proper lighting can reduce eye strain, and help retain good eye health.

The idea is simple – to diffuse the brightness of the screen. Bias lighting provides background lighting, or behind the screen lighting. You don’t want a spot light shining at you, but rather diffuse lighting that is easy on the eyes. There is bias lighting specifically designed for use with desktop computers. But, with most of us moving around on laptops, subtle lighting in the rooms that we often use, is also preferred.

Natural lighting is great, if diffused. You don’t need even more glare from the sun, or its reflection. Bias lighting raises ambient light levels in the viewing area without directly shining light toward the viewer’s face and eyes, or shining light from behind, past the viewer toward the screen, which can cause glare.

Soft wall lights are great and some forms of floor lighting can work well. A floor lamp or desk lamp that has a good shade will also work. You are looking for gentle backlighting for your TV or computer screen.

The other key is the degree of light of the bulbs you use. You don’t want something too warm, or too soft – but rather as close to the reference point of your screen. Generally, that point is about 6500 K (Kelvin Color Temperature Scale), which cool light and daylight bulbs try to simulate.

Whatever fixtures you choose, you want your ambient light to be low and without glare. Use the same bulbs in all fixtures, so the intensity is constant. Use blinds or drapes to reduce glare from your windows, as needed. Our Yale Lighting Concepts pros can offer great advice for lighting for different rooms throughout the house. Feel free to give us a call, or stop by our showrooms.