Light it up!
An electrician can be your best friend. Pay them well and they might spend the extra time to teach you some tricks of the trade.
A lot of builders place can, or recessed lights, around a room in the four corners, plop a ceiling fan with a light kit in the center and call it a day. How boring, considering the many opportunities that could have been considered.
The basic overhead lighting is important, but it can create too much, or too little light. And it doesn’t help to accentuate any special architectural or design feature as a variety of shadows are created around the room.
When I work with a client, especially with new construction, the electrical walk through is one of my favorite tasks. I have questions for my clients. Is there any special art that will be hanging on the wall? Maybe we need to place gallery lights to showcase the art.
Will there be any special architectural details on the wall such as a niche that needs some sort of directional light? Is there a fireplace that needs a wall washer can light to accent this area? Is there any special task that needs directional lighting to assist in the work to be done?
There are so many light options that can be installed from a wall or into or from a ceiling. Many times, they can also be decorative fixtures that become a focal piece as well.
Of course, lamp lighting, whether it is a table lamp or floor lamp can always be placed to help with certain tasks. (Make sure to place a floor outlet so that you don’t have lamp cords laying in a walking area).
I always discuss special decorative art for my clients. I think it has become clear that I love to add dimensional art as well as framed wall art. Dimensional art can really pop if it is lighted properly.
Take a look at this dimensional art that I installed. I had the contractor build a recessed niche to accommodate this oversized fiberglass art that resembles the slice of a large tree. However, this wasn’t enough and more effort needed to be considered.
In adding a piece of trim around the perimeter of the niche and having it overlay the opening by an inch, this allowed my electrician to add tape lighting on the backside of that overlay. Now, at the flip of a switch, this detail becomes even more dramatic.
Tape lighting can go a long way. It can be added under cabinets, under counters, along bookcases, really any place that needs a general glow of light. It has a more even balance of light. I like to lower crown molding in a trey ceiling and add tape lighting to create a glow on the ceiling.
Just a little extra thought and considering your options can make all the difference. I find too many times that someone has considered lighting options too late and unsightly wires are running wildly around a room. Considering your wiring needs from the beginning will make for a cleaner and more productive design.
