Flipping a switch can light up any home

NOELL WOLFGRAM EVANS

Regardless of the size of a home or where it is located, there are some common actions every homeowner takes. One of those is simply walking into a room and flipping a light switch. The only real thought that we generally put to this process is when the light doesn’t turn on and we have to try and remember if we have bulbs and where they are. But local lighting experts suggest that we should be giving more thought and attention to what is really one of the central features of a home.

Christopher G. Axelrod, owner of Christopher’s Chandelier Conservation, explains that updated lighting can help to modernize a home both from an energy efficiency standpoint and an aesthetic one.

“There is so much more available today in terms of lighting efficiency,” Axelrod says.
House of Lights president Mark Dymidowski, says, “Everything in lighting is energy efficient today, so changing out your older fixtures is going to save you money in the long term.”

New lights = new room

From a design and aesthetic standpoint, Axlerod says, “Room styles change and new lighting is a great way to keep rooms up-to-date.”

Dymidowski shared how those changing styles can quickly date your space.

“Twenty years ago, the trend for everything was polished brass,” he recalls. “Today, we’re seeing a lot more mixed metal finishes. Black and gold. Everything is black and gold. And if it’s not, it’s all clear glass which is back in a big way.”

The trends have changed not just in overall styles, but for specific spaces in the home as well. As an example, Dymidowski shares that a popular trend used to be to hang two large pendants over a kitchen island but that’s changed today to three mini-pendants.

Axelrod suggests a homeowner should personalize those changing trends and take them even farther.
“It can be cool as hell to add a small chandelier to a kitchen or room where there are recessed lights,” he says. “It’s not going to change the lighting of the room, but it’s a great way to make a statement.”
Other popular trends include fixtures with exposed bulbs and going big by making a lighting fixture a centerpiece.

Technology also continues to drive how we light our homes. Smart lighting encapsulates everything from smart phone apps that enable you to control lights from your phone to the use of whole room sensors that turn lights on and off depending on if someone is in the room. Smart lighting can be particularly helpful as a security tool. If you have to work late or are out of town, you can simulate activity in the home by turning lights on and off wherever you are. While timers can do this too, smart lighting takes away the regularity of an “always on at 7 p.m. timer” which can be less of a deterrent and more of a tip-off to potential thieves.

Brighten your bank account

Upgrades will not only brighten up a space, they could also brighten up your bank account.

“By giving your space a more modern look and feel, you’re also enhancing the overall value of the home,” Dymidowski says.

And you can see more immediate savings in your electric bill due to the energy efficiency of LED lights.
In addition to savings, LEDs provide homeowners with greater control over their lighting. Lighting options used to just be about brightness levels.

“Now,” Dymidowski points out, “you can choose warm (lighting) tones or cool tones or go with a bright white light.”

What’s the “right” light?

There is a level of deliberate thought that needs to go into upgrading light fixtures. While every home’s “right” light fixture plan is different, there is a common thread across them – the lights should compliment a room. Axelrod cautions though that you shouldn’t sacrifice personality when making your lighting choices. He quotes the late interior designer Billy Baldwain, “The difference between a good room and a great room is guts.” To illustrate this point he shared that he was called to a home several years ago to perform what he assumed would be a chandelier repair. Instead the homeowner has other plans. They wanted the chandelier to be painted pink.

“I loved it,” Axelrod exclaims. “When it comes to lighting, don’t restrict yourself. Have fun.”

Giving old memories a new life

Axelrod says sometimes getting new lights doesn’t mean “new” lights.

“I talk to people all the time, who have had a fixture like a chandelier in the basement,” he says. “It might have been a wedding gift for a grandparent or has some other family history, and they want to get it restored and make it part of the home again.”

“While we can, and do, that, and it’s incredible to see the reactions of a family when a chandelier is restored, there are also opportunities to take this chandelier and do something funky with it. Light fixtures are a great way to reflect the personality of the homeowner.”

Lighting, especially statement fixtures like a chandelier, can quickly set the tone when a person enters a room. Axelrod explained that “…lighting, and especially chandeliers, are great ways to really make a strong first impression. Especially for people who do a lot of entertaining. When people walk into a room one of the first things they do is look up at a chandelier. How it is maintained is an indicator of what to expect at the house.”

Outdoor Installations

When we think of lighting we often think indoor but there are opportunities outside as well. Security lights with automatic sensors can easily be placed in strategic places outside the home. The only caution with those is making sure their beams stay directed and don’t spread out into the neighbor’s windows.
Another nice outside addition can be ambient lighting. There are a number of options that can fit any space.
● If you have a larger outdoor patio you can install permanent lights that are tied into your existing electrical lines.
● For smaller spaces you might consider temporary seasonal, solar powered lighting.
● If you just have a small, free-standing pergola then you might want to look into hanging lights that can be plugged into an external outlet and connected to a timer.
What You Need To Know
If you are looking to change your lighting fixtures Dymidowski suggests gathering some measurements before heading out. “Knowing the ceiling height of a room is very important. Also if there’s any lighting that’s going to be over a table or an island knowing the width of that can be very helpful.”
While a lighting expert can walk you through the process and help you find your perfect fixtures, Dymidowski says that if you see something you love, bring a picture of that along as “It can be a helpful starting place.”

Noell Wolfgram Evans is a freelance journalist.