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Lighting Effects for the Home There are more benefits to room lighting than meets the eye by: Lisa Parelli-Monaghan
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ighting effects improve the look of a home. When you think about the activities that occur in each room, it’s easy to imagine why they benefit from distinct lighting arrangements. Gone are the days of simply turning on the light in the middle of the room. Today, lighting is placed all around the room for a variety of reasons and effects, not just to see more clearly. Lighting creates ambience and sets the mood for a room…let’s all agree…it is fun to play with and can go as far as your own imagination takes you.
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The obvious – lighting makes it easier to see everything in a room by utilizing both general and task lighting. General lighting is for the entire room or a particular section (i.e. downlights); task lighting is for a specific use in a smaller area (i.e kitchen 6
countertops or a desk). As an example, Pendent lighting is a popular task lighting source. It is a way to highlight a section of a room, such as an eating area while adding a decorative touch.
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Lighting can change the mood of an entire room -- or just a corner. By utilizing color and placement, lighting can reflect a specific personality or help set the tone of a special event or party in the home. In a home theater setting, LED lighting can be adjusted at the touch of a button to match the “mood” of the movie.
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Lighting can emotionally “brighten” a room. A well-lit room can make occupants feel better and more energetic. In fact, lighting therapy is known to help fight depression and physical ailments caused by emotional stress. As an example, Chandeliers www.CanyonCreekLife.com
create a bright light source from a central point in the ceiling. These fixtures also serve decorating needs in bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms, family rooms and foyers.
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Not only can lighting be used to highlight art, it can be art. LED tape behind a wall ornament makes it come alive and pulls it from the wall; colored lights overlapping at angles and directed to a section of wall creates an artsy feel; lighting can also be installed within an alcove and directed downward across an entire wall, changing colors to coincide with time of day. Lighting effects make it easy to appreciate other home décor effects in any room. If you aren’t sure what lighting arrangements will work in your home, hire a certified remodeler or designer to recommend lighting arrangements.
