6 Helpful Tips for New Homeowners

17 Sep 2018

Moving into a new home can be an exciting time for the entire family. Lighting is one of those things where a little forethought can pay off big dividends in the long run. It's your new home, don't you want to SEE it?

Keep reading for some great lighting tips for new homeowners.

#1 Have a Plan

For a new home, you want to create a lighting plan. This can be as simple as something you've drawn on a napkin, or as complex as a full workup done by lighting professionals. You can have your architect draw it up, or hire a lighting consultant to do the job for you.

#2 Hire a Professional Consultant

A lighting plan looks something like an architectural blueprint. In fact, you can use the actual blueprints of the house to start your plan. A professional's lighting plan will look like a blueprint minus any architectural details [like doors and wall weights].

Usually, small circles are drawn to show the center of lighting stations. Imagine that as you walk through the room, your eye is drawn towards the circles. Design the room so that the flow of lighting suits the way you conceive the room working.

Having a professional draw up plans is just one of those things new homeowners need to buy. It will pay for itself in the long run.

#3 Decide What You Want To Light

When you enter the room, what do you actually see first, and what do you want to see first? This is a crucial question when you design lighting because it gives you a place to start. Forget the lighting for a second, what object, space, or architectural aspect draws the eye.

Once you've determined exactly WHAT catches the eye, you need to decide if you want to accentuate that thing or hide it. Obviously, if you want to highlight the feature, it should be lighted! If it's something you want to hide, consider putting a light track or a lighting feature on the opposite side of the room.

#4 Architecturally Integrated Lighting

First-time homeowners have the opportunity to build light fixtures into the architecture of the structure itself. There are three general types of architecturally integrated lights, coves, soffits, and valances.

#5 Cove and Soffit Lighting

A cove shines light upward and may use the ceiling as a reflector to send light across the room. Coves work bet in rooms with either very high or very low ceilings.

Soffits, also known as cornices are the opposite of a cove. Soffits shine light only in the downward direction. The shine source is usually visible and can produce dramatic effects. Use soffits on a feature you want to accentuate.

#6 Valance lighting

Valances are a combination of both a cove and a soffit in that they send light in both directions, up and down.'

Get More Tips for New Homeowners

Thinking ahead about lighting is one of the top tips for new homeowners around. You'll only get to do the wiring from scratch once, so you should do it right! Starting with a plan, design your home lighting and you'll generate years of happiness for all.

Check out our blog for more great homeowner tips on how to light your home.