Let in the light
Lighting "makes" a room. Without it, of course, tasks like reading and cooking cannot be accomplished. But lighting also changes the mood of a room and can alter the perceived size of that space. The type of lighting chosen and the way it is placed within the room work with the wall color, furniture, floor materials and other attributes like windows and doors to determine the character of a given space.
The way in which light reflects off of a room's walls defines the space. If you have a small, cramped room, for instance, choose lighting that illuminates light-colored walls. Centrally suspended lights, corner lamps and wall sconces create a visually larger space and help to brighten the room, as well.
Those who feel the need to soften their walls or highlight specific elements like paintings should choose track lighting. Recessed can lights, on the other hand, generally illuminate the floors, not the walls, with their vertical beams of light.
Keep in mind that lights need to fulfill a function. Otherwise, they are just a waste of energy.
For instance, chandeliers provide wonderful illumination to foyers and dining rooms. Task-specific lighting is necessary for desks, kitchen islands and other work areas where room illumination is secondary to functionality. Finally, wall sconces in a hallway add to its length and size while also providing light to an area where people are always on the move.
Once you progress beyond the type of illumination you are seeking, it is time to consider the artistic nature of the lighting fixtures you choose. Purchasing a lighting fixture for your home can be similar to purchasing a piece of artwork, according to Benson Littman, co-owner of Littman Bros. Lighting in Schaumburg. It ornaments your home by hanging from the ceiling or wall or by sitting on the floor or a table. It should not be chosen without due care.
"This past year, crystal lighting has been hitting its stride," Littman stated. "I would estimate that 25 percent of the fixtures in my showroom today feature crystal and it is not your grandparents' crystal. It is anything from ultra modern to more traditional; comes in all price points; and, in most cases, it is mixed with brushed nickel or oil-rubbed bronze. You can definitely buy good-looking crystal that doesn't cost a lot of money and customers are loving it."
In fact, many of these crystal fixtures are now displayed within a spherical orb made of bronze or nickel.
"Every manufacturer seems to be making these now. Last year they were putting shades around traditional chandeliers. This year they are surrounding them with one or two thin metal orbs," Littman explained. "There seems to be no end in sight for putting fixtures inside of a circle. The manufacturers are always trying to keep things fresh."
Another new trend is fixtures with much cleaner lines.
"A few years ago, things were very ornate with lots of curleques. Now 'less is more' and people are enjoying the retro looks of the '40s, '50s and '60s like the ribbed halophane glass," Littman said.
As far as metal preferences go, he said that brushed nickel and different shades of oil-rubbed bronze continue to be the most popular finishes, even though manufacturers have tried valiantly to introduce the public to other possibilities.
"Chrome is making a few inroads, but nickel has been extremely popular since the early 1990s and oil-rubbed bronze has been the other popular choice since the late 1990s," he stated.
"Wall sconces are a fabulous way to light up a room with soft lighting, especially in a hallway or dining room. But you have to think about it when you are building your home or doing a major rehab because otherwise, you have to cut into the drywall to bring in the electricity," Littman acknowledged.
The biggest changes he has seen in lighting lately, however, is in the bulbs. LED (light emitting diodes) are revolutionizing the lighting world. No longer do designers have to worry about designing fixtures that have space for bulbs. Now they can create artwork to hang from the ceiling that also happens to illuminate rooms using thin tubes of light.
Engineers are also making strides on creating LED lights that replicate the look of traditional incandescent bulbs. Even flame tip bulbs are now available using LEDs but they are only perfected using frosted glass to hide the futuristic look of the diodes, according to Littman.
"But the future of lighting is definitely LED. They are replacing incandescent and fluorescent and everything that came before. It is only a matter of time before all types of bulbs are replicated in LED. Unlike compact fluorescent bulbs, for instance, they can be dimmed and can be disposed of easily. They haven't yet replaced halogen bulbs with LEDs, but that is eventually coming, too, because LEDs give off a more natural light. In addition, halogen burns very hot and LEDs are cool to the touch," he explained.
The new lighting also saves so much on energy costs. Most consume only a 1/10th of the energy used by conventional lighting.
"Most of our fixtures can already accept LED, if the homeowner so chooses. Retro fit LEDs which screw into traditional sockets like a regular bulb are available now and the price is coming down," he said.
"Currently, LEDs are best for replacing flood lights and for installing in hard-to-reach foyer chandeliers. But when the price comes down a little more, people will be installing them everywhere because they will know that they can save so much on their energy bills and because they won't have to change the bulb for a decade at least," Littman stated.
Littman Bros., located at 845 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg, has been in business since 1979. For more information, call (847) 895-5155 or visit www.littmanbros.com.