Best of … ambient lighting solutions
By Editorial Staff
Contributed by Lisa Pratto, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru
Every room needs light.
Light to work. Light to read. Light to see so that you don’t walk into a wall. Beyond their utilitarian purpose, lights can make a room pretty.
They can also create a mood, set the tone and establish ambience.
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When looking for ambient lighting solutions, try to think outside that junction box and get creative. It’s your home; let your personality that will shine through.
LED Lighting
Use dimmers
One of the simplest ways to create ambient lighting is by installing dimmers on your wall switches and lamps. That way, you can instantly create mood lighting with a simple slid or twist. If you’re happy with your existing fixtures, you can just add the dimmer. But for a double bonus, you can pair your dimmer with LED lighting, to save money with efficient LED while controlling the mood, too.
1000bulbs.com
Flexible rope lights
Ambient lighting solutions can show up in unexpected places as well. Rope lighting can be used to create diffused lighting source inexpensively. With the affordability and flexibility of rope lighting, you can be creative, funky and decorate with light for the event, the season or on a whim. Entertaining? Make your guests feel like stars when they look in your bathroom mirror.
Designed for you Lighting
Low step lighting
Likewise, if you are building a new home, consider installing footlights along long hallways and up a flight of stairs to help light the way at night. This may seem like a little luxury but it is cheap and easy to do during the construction phase. They can even be used effective on a TV room to re-create a classic movie theatre feel.
An item as miniscule as a light up doorbell can also be used to set the mood of a home. Believe it or not, they come in a variety of modern shapes, sizes and colors to let all your guests now what to expect before they even enter your home.
Home Furnishings Stores
Table Lamps
If you’re looking for simple ambient lighting solutions, you won’t have to look any further than the right table lamps. Table lamps, especially when fitted with incandescent bulbs (can’t stand the florescent look!), provide a soft glow instead of a harsh glare, thanks to their size and the filtering effect of the lamp shades. A high end furniture store has a beautiful collection of table lamps to coordinate with any decor.
Professional Lighting
Recessed Lighting
Thank goodness the 1970’s and 80’s are in the past, at least when it comes to lighting. Remember those long rows of horrid florescent bulbs “hidden” behind sheets of textured translucent plastic? Yeah, I know. The stuff of nightmares! They were especially fun when they started to go out… flicker, flicker, flicker. (Don’t even GO there if you have a hangover! Seriously!)
Thank goodness someone discovered that the same recessed lighting we saw in hotels and jewelry stores could work really well in home kitchens and family rooms! Professional lighting stores will have all the elements you need to create a recessed lighting solution in your new construction or remodel, bringing a softer ambient light to your space.
Lamps Stores & Catalogs
Up lights
Who says your lighting sources have to be in sight? Certainly not at a dedicated lamp store, where they have mastered the art of the hidden “up light.” These tiny can lights go behind sofas, tables, arm chairs and even potted plants to throw a soft glow on walls and ceilings. Or places some tiny ones on top of cabinets to highlight ceiling trim. Either way, the effect is a gentle illumination instead of an in-your-face glare.
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An item as miniscule as a light up doorbell can also be used to set the mood of a home. Believe it or not, they come in a variety of modern shapes, sizes and colors to let all your guests now what to expect before they even enter your home.