Designer Lighting: Tips to Solve Your Lighting Design Challenges

Feb. 21, 2012 - PRLog -- The best service an interior designer can provide their clients is to visit their home in the evening.  This was made very apparent to Carol Ellis, Interior Designer and Lighting Designer with Ellis Design Group, LLC in Eugene, Oregon, when she went to one of her clients’ homes in the evening and found them literally spending their evenings in the dark!

“I see this often,” says Carol, “as homeowners are unaware of the lighting requirements and lighting solutions to properly light a home after the sun sets.  And in new homes builders often cut the lighting budget to cut the cost of their homes for sale.”   Architectural lighting can be a fun and unique way to set the mood in your home according to Carol, and a properly lit home includes general lighting, accent lighting, ambient lighting, and task lighting.  

General lighting, the light to see by, lights the volume of the space and is usually installed during construction in the form of recessed can lighting or ceiling lights.  In a larger home ceiling lights are usually ineffective, as they do not provide enough general lighting to see by and when this is the case it causes glare.  So Carol recommends recessed can lighting placed strategically throughout your home.  If you are building a new home it is best to have the general lighting installed during construction, as it can be expensive after the fact.  If you do have an existing home without enough general lighting, can lighting is available in the form of remodel cans which significantly reduces the cost and the need for drywall repair after installation.  “I am frequently hired by architects, builders, remodeling contractors and clients as the lighting designer, to do the lighting design, and the switching and electrical plans for the home.” says Carol, “I understand and recognize the lighting requirements and needs the clients will have once they move into the home, with respect to the lighting and design, including furniture, art, accessory and lamp placement.”  

The accent lighting is also installed into the home as architectural lighting in the form of a spot light to light art and accessories.  This is installed in the form of a directional spot light, either recessed into the structure or applied onto the structure for a more decorative lighting or contemporary lighting installation.  Other areas of accent lighting include lights in niches and wall units for lighting accessories, and under cabinet lighting to light your decorative backsplash and counter accessories.  Accent lighting can be installed into the home after construction and Carol has several unique lighting and design options she turns to when needed.  

Ambient lighting is created throughout the home in many ways.  One way says Carol, is to include hall lights or wall sconces strategically placed to add interest to a room or hallway.  Carol also likes to use rope lighting above upper cabinets and on top of wall units to light accessories and create a fabulous ambient light grazing up the wall.  She also uses hidden interior lights below plants for a romantic glow and white twinkle lights on an interior tree to create an interesting and unique environment for her clients to enjoy in the evenings.  “I also recommend dimmer switches to control the light brightness on recessed can lighting, dining fixtures, hall lighting and bath lighting as they make fabulous ambient lights,” says Carol, “and I enjoy candles placed strategically throughout the home and a log or gas fire, to create an active ambient light.”  

Task lighting is the light used for reading and performing close up tasks.  Task lighting as architectural lighting, is in the form of under cabinet lighting such as LED strip lighting, over the kitchen sink in the form of recessed can lighting or decorative pendants, over the dining or breakfast table in the form of a dining pendant and over the bathroom sink in the form of a bath light.  Floor lamps next to a chair and table lighting next to the sofa or bed in areas where tasks and reading are performed are another form of task lighting.  And for your office lighting use desk lights for task lighting.  

“The ceiling lights, wall lights, floor lamps and table light accents act as decorative embellishments within the home and should reflect her clients taste,” says Carol, “and it is these lighting design elements coordinated with the rest of the architectural lighting that really make a home come alive.”  Carol enjoys assisting clients in both the interior designer and lighting designer service and offers several lighting options within the home, so that her clients can have many dynamic lighting scenarios to choose from.  Carol Ellis enjoys experimenting with lighting to creatively change the mood of her own home so she knows what works.    

If you are spending your evenings in the dark after the sun sets, or are tired of your boring residential lighting without personality, Carol Ellis, Interior Designer and Lighting Designer with Ellis Design Group, LLC in Eugene, Oregon, offers an “Interior Lighting Design Consultation Package” where she will review your lighting issues with you after the sun sets.  Together she will discuss your lighting issues and opportunities and work out a plan with you to turn your boring lighting into a creative and unique embellishment for your enjoyment and relaxation in the evenings.

Contact Carol Ellis, Interior Designer with Ellis Design Group, LLC in Eugene, Oregon by calling 541-556-7620 or visit their website at http://www.ellisdesigngroupllc.com.

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"We assist homeowners to create fabulous interior and exterior living and entertaining environments that reflect their personality in the style and color choices for their home!" Contact Carol Ellis, Interior Designer and Lighting Designer with Ellis Design Group, LLC in Eugene, Oregon, to talk about proven INNOVATIVE INTERIOR DESIGN SOLUTIONS: 541-556-7620.