A great insider tip for 2014 lighting trends.

This is an informational video we made to go along with our last blog post on LED's. 

Check it out!

LED Tape Light

Here at Lighting Design we want to share some knowledge about LED tape lighting before you consider having it done in your home.

Most LED tape lighting is low voltage.  

What this means is you will have to purchase a transformer that goes in between your source of power and your LED tape. Another thing to keep in mind with your transformer is if you want your tape light to be dimmable or non-dimmable. This will be possible based on the transformer you purchase.

How LED tape light works.

You’ll have to have a connection coming from your transformer into the tape itself. From there, you’ll use the sticky side of the tape to adhere to whatever you’re connecting it to. If you’re doing a simple, straight run this is all you will have to do! If it’s a little more complex you may need to cut the tape. There are designated spots, marked with scissors, where you can cut the tape. You’ll then need to add the connector that’s applicable for your area. They have bending connectors, or lengths of wire that allow you to connect at various lengths, to go over microwaves, ranges, or anything else.

Random Facts.

Different wattages of strip tape only allow you to go certain distances before you have to start another run back at the transformer. Keep this in mind if you have one very long run you are trying to do. Make sure that you get a good estimate of how much wattage you will use off of your transformer. Generally you want to get a larger transformer that will only use 60-70% of its total use. 

Application.

LED tape is applicable in kitchens, book shelves, to highlight art work, anywhere you want to add dimension to a room.
So try to keep these things in mind before you decide to get LED tape light, and be sure to call or email us for any additional questions you might have on this product or any others.
www.lightingdesign.com

Dining Room Chandelier - Tips How to Hang

HEIGHT OF THE CHANDELIER
You want to make sure that the space from the top of your table to the bottom of the chandelier is around 30" if you have an 8' ceiling. For every foot higher your ceiling is, add 3" to the gap between your chandelier and table.

UP LIGHT AND DOWN LIGHT
There are a few differences between up light and down light, but maybe not in the way you would expect it. Whether you have an up light or a down light chandelier, you will still get the same amount of light from the fixture. It really depends on what effect you want to have it make on the room.

Up light gives a room a more dramatic look and adds height to the feel of the room.

Image from: http://bit.ly/Sx16UJ

Down light gives the room a more intimate, cozy feel.
                                     

Image from: http://bit.ly/1g5Iwbi

Vanity Lights

Before you purchase new vanity lights, here are some things to keep in mind.

First, you want to check and see if your electrical box is centered over your vanity. If it is, you've got a wider selection of vanity lights to choose from. If your vanity light is not centered over your sink/mirror, then you most likely want to pick out a light that has a large back plate. This allows you to slide the fixture over the electrical area to center it with the vanity.

Next, you want to know if you want your lights to point up or down. The majority of bathroom lights can be hung either way. Pointing the lights up in your bathroom will give you more of an ambiance feel and gives a more dramatic effect to the area, whereas pointing the lights down is more task oriented for doing make up or any other tasks you see yourself doing in front of the mirror.

Finally, you want to make sure your vanity light fits your style! Make the light unique and yours. Give it some personality that goes along with your bathroom.

You can check out our variety of bathroom lights here: http://bit.ly/1kwovgt

Fans

Spring is here We've got you covered with this video on some fan tips.
Check it out. Thanks, Em, for being a good sport.
Maybe acting is in your near future.

LED's, CFL's, and Halogen's

With so many bulb options, how do I know I'm getting the right bulb for my fixtures?

We run into this question all of the time with builders, electricians, and retail customers. So, why not blog about it?

LED's

LED's (light emitting diode) are in. They are incredibly energy efficient and the technology going into them has gotten so much better. When they first came out, the biggest complaint about LED bulbs was that they gave off a blueish hue. That is a problem no more! Manufacturers have remedied the issue to the point where if the bulb is not exposed, you will most likely not be able to tell the difference between the LED and a standard incandescent. LED bulbs are the most energy efficient, put out the least amount of heat, and cost the most money up front.

CFL's

CFL's (compact fluorescent) bulbs are tricky. They are exactly how they sound, a compact version of a fluorescent tube light. These bulbs are incredibly energy efficient as well. The biggest complaint about CFL bulbs is how slowly they turn completely on. This problem has been addressed by manufacturers, however it still exists. Has it gotten any better? Yes, but if you are looking for bulbs to put in areas that you quickly move in and out of (pantry, closets, basements, bathrooms etc) then I would suggest going with a different bulb. CFL's are a great option for cutting energy costs in your outdoor lights or any other light that stays on for an extended amount of time.

Halogen's

Halogen bulbs have been around for quite a while now. They work really well in lighting up small fixtures and are probably used the most in can lights and under cabinet lighting (although LED is posing a big threat). The biggest issue with halogen bulbs is how hot the bulbs can get. I'm not saying I've ever been burned by one...but man it hurts! The new "halogen incandescent" 53W is what you will see taking the place of the regular incandescent 60W bulb.



With all of these bulbs operating on different wattage, the management for light output is in lumens (lm).

When buying new bulbs be sure to check out the lumen output. This will help you get closest to your desired brightness.

We wish you all the best in your bulb buying!