Lighting for your Kitchen

The kitchen can be the center of family activity, so it’s quite probably your home’s busiest room.  Lighting for this room can depend on the size and complexity of the space.  The kitchen can be used for dining or a gathering place for family and friends, though it is primarily a work area.  Small kitchens might require only a central ceiling lighting fixture and some task lighting.  More elaborate kitchens will need a blend a general, task, and accent lighting.

Lighting the Center of the Ceiling: A Few Tips

General lighting can be achieved with a decorative chandelier or recessed lighting.  Recessed lighting is one of the most convenient options—once it’s installed, that is.  Chandeliers can be used in addition to other lighting in the space.  You’ll know what’s right for your kitchen.

Lighting Over the Range or Sink

You can use track lighting in this area of the kitchen.  You also have the option to use recessed lighting in these areas, too.  Again, you’ll know what looks and feels best in your own kitchen.

When you are looking to get the lighting right in your kitchen, look no further than Lighting Concepts.  We have everything you need to make your kitchen the place that everyone wants to be.

Lighting Tips for the New Year

You probably know that there are three different lighting effects in your home.  There’s ambient lighting which provides the overall lighting—this is provided mostly by the use of table lamps, wall lights, and down lights.  Then there’s task lighting, which is lighting for a specific purpose.  You can find task lighting over kitchen worktops, reading areas, for lighting stairs, etc.  Then you have accent lighting—this kind of lighting adds interest and glamour to a living space. 

Up lights and Down lights

These are the main tools you need to get your lighting plan right the first time.  Down lights are recessed partially or fully into the ceiling.  Up lights can be set into the floor, free standing lamps, or set into the wall.

What to avoid this year

Don’t think about an area as just a space.  Think about the kind of things you do there, and light it accordingly.  If you have an open plan, it’s a good idea to create walls of light and not to just uniformly have a row of lights because they fit symmetrically into the room.  You’re trying to create a living space—not an office.

With the right planning, and some lighting fixtures from Lighting Concepts, you can create a wonderful living space!

Holiday Decorating Ideas

If you’re having company for the holiday season, you should think of a few ways to decorate the table to create a fun atmosphere for everyone involved.  Holiday decorating goes beyond the Christmas tree—and nobody knows that more than we do here at Lighting Concepts!  We have a few tips to help you make the most beautiful holiday centerpieces.

Holiday Decorations
Holiday decorations make beautiful centerpieces for the Christmas season. You could also place a single Christmas ornament on top of a pedestal. You can have several pedestals of varying heights to add some visual interest. Look for battery operated Christmas lights to add some fun ambiance.
To add some more fun to the décor, get colored light bulbs to put in some of your everyday table lamps or ceiling lights!


Winter Foliage
Flowers are usually the standby for centerpieces—but what do you do in the wintertime? You can replicate the look of bare trees by using tall, curly willow branches as a centerpiece. The height will add a great dramatic effect. Use evergreen boughs at the base to add color and some fragrance.

Do you have any other fun holiday decorating ideas?

Design Q&A from Lighting Concepts

Dear Lighting Concepts,

I have a small apartment in the city, and I’m not sure how to decorate it.  What are the rules?  Should I get smaller furniture for a small room?  How do I make my little apartment look bigger?  I love all of the lighting solutions that you have in your store, but I need to get the apartment set up first.  Help me!

Thanks,

Sherilyn

Dear Sherilyn,

We feel your pain!  We have a lot of people com into Lighting Concepts with design questions.  And first of all, you need to forget about any rules you might have heard!  There are some decorating tricks that will help create the illusion of space, you need to first determine what you like.  The key to decorating a small space is to avoid overcrowding it.  (So don’t get one of our big chandeliers!  Go with some classic pendant lighting, for example.)

Choose some pieces that have versatility in function.  For instance, find cocktail tables with storage, have ottomans to double as extra seating, and select accent chairs that swivel so that they can have more than one orientation in the room.  Paint the walls in light, neutral tones.  Add tall mirrors and bookshelves to draw the eye up over the entire space.

Steer clear of clutter!  That will only make your place feel smaller.

We hope this helps!