When renovating or building a new home, finances are often a deciding factor when it comes to building options. Trying to get the biggest impact for every dollar spent is of upmost importance while also making the home uniquely yours. Adding lighting to your home can make a huge impact, but where will that impact make the most sense? There are a few things to take into consideration when adding an electrical and lighting plan to your home.
1. Focus On The Rooms You Use The Most
In every home there are specific rooms that are used the most. By applying your lighting budget in the rooms you use the most, you’ll be able to make the most use of them and garner the most enjoyment. The kitchen, great room and master bedroom are great places to start as they get frequent use. The formal living room usually doesn’t make the list, unless formal entertaining is your thing. One room you may not think about but is used daily- the master bathroom. Having quality lighting that doesn’t cast shadows is a great benefit, especially for applying makeup.
2. Consider How You Use Your Home
Sounds simple, but it’s important that you consider how you actually use your home rather than how you think you should be using your home. For example, if you love formal dinner parties, adding centerpiece lights to your dining room is a wonderful idea. However, if you are a busy family that rarely has time for formal dinners, these lights will never be used and at the end of the day this won’t be the best use of your financial resources. Fine art aficionado? Adding art lighting to your design brings those pieces to life. Home chefs will enjoy task lighting like pin holes or under kitchen cabinet lighting for their kitchen work spaces.
3. Consider Energy Efficiency and Modular Automation
When designing your home’s lighting and electrical plan it is now easier than ever to be energy efficent and add automation benefits. LED bulbs lower your electrical usage, and smart dimmers can allow you to control your lighting from anywhere. Systems such as Lutron’s Caseta line can be sycned to work with the Amazon Echo and be controlled by an app that will even remind you when you’ve left the house with the lights on. Occupancy sensors can be heaven-sent for families with kids that forget to turn off lights.
Where you decide to invest in new home lighting and electrical will help make your home uniquely yours. Well thought out additions will improve the use and function of your home and make it more enjoyable.