Lighting, Electrical, & Low Volt Ideation Guide
At Aterra Designs, our goal is to provide you with an informative and exciting home buying experience.
Your lighting and electrical designer will explore your preferred design style, learn how you want each space in your home to function, and share modern lighting design trends.
To help you prepare, our Ideation Guide outlines current trends in the lighting industry. We are excited to help you bring your unique vision to light.
You will work with one of our experienced home lighting designers who will explore your personal aesthetic, learn how you want the rooms in your new home to function, and share modern lighting design trends.
They will also explain your included electrical items as well as options for things like the location of switches, ceiling fan prewires, additional recessed cans, and more.
Electrical wiring is hard to add once a home is built. Things like adding additional downlights in the kitchen become very time consuming and expensive.
Rather than cutting holes into your wall to retro-fit cables, it is best to plan ahead and make your home ready for any future needs now.
Wall Sconces (Shown in all photos above)
Wall-mounted fixtures balance overhead lighting and can add style to any décor.
Ambient Lighting
Provides general lighting for each space and improves the sense of warmth and depth.
Toe-Kick Lighting
Used as a low level of illumination for safety and to add depth to a room.
Pathway Illumination Lights can be used down the hallway for both safety and style.
Reading Lights
Two individually adjustable fixtures to pinpoint light directly onto your lap for reading.
Art Lighting
Adjustable lighting unit used to illuminate art in the perfect light.
Layering
Combines multiple lighting techniques to create definition and versatility.
Accent Lighting (Shown in both photos above)
Highlight accent pieces by focusing light directly onto them.
Grazing
Accentuate textured walls and make them the focal point of the room.
Uplighting (Shown in all four photos above)
Position your lights at or near the base of the wall in order to cast light upwards and create a beautiful lighting effect.
Back Lighting
Create a glowing effect around the subject and provide task lighting.
Wall Washing
Creates a smooth "wash" effect which makes the room as a whole look more spacious and evenly illuminates the entire wall.
Task Lighting
Bright lighting, free of distracting glare or shadows, to help perform various tasks.
Indirect Lighting
Distributes light evenly across the room by bouncing light off the ceiling or walls.
Included electrical items vary per builder and community. When you meet with us to select your lighting and electrical, we will review your base standard plan and explain everything included.
Items in black will be features included in your home.
Items in blue will be structural options you selected previously.
Add Task Lighting: 3 pendant pre-wires over the kitchen island Junction box needed for future pendant installation
Add Ambient Lighting: 4 recessed cans in the great room
Add Surround Sound:
5.1 Package consists of 5 in-ceiling audio pre-wires
Do you sell decorative fixtures? Although you will not select accent fixtures or chandeliers directly through us, we can provide wires and junction boxes needed for the future installation of fixtures.
Do you do landscape lighting?
We do not do landscape lighting but we do offer electrical for items attached to the exterior of your home.
Can I make changes after my appointment?
Yes, you will be able to schedule a review appointment with your designer to look over your order and make any adjustments you need.
We will work to complete your order 72 hours after your appointment. You will receive an email with your order as soon as it is complete.
How do you collect payment?
Payments are not made directly to Aterra Designs. All payments are handled electronically through your builder at the end of your home buying process.
We look forward to being part of your design team in the near future.
