House Plan Lighting Dos and Don'ts

When you are building a new home, probably one of the last things you would think about is the lighting or planning for lighting. However, today, modern interior lighting trends dictate some forethought and planning. Why? Because lighting is one of the most important fundamentals of each and every modern interior design. This next year of 2015, the trends include retro, classic and contemporary lighting designs. It might not always seem like it, but lighting is one of the most important elements of a room. Make sure your room is lit appropriately by following these lighting do's and don'ts.

First of all, modern homes have several types of home wiring for lighting and power distribution. The regulations for wiring installation vary globally, and there are even national, regional, and municipal rules. Some allow the homeowner to install some or all of the wiring in a home, but more than not, a licensed electrician must install the wiring. Always consult with your builder or contractor first.

In new home construction, wiring for all electrical services can be easily installed before the walls are finished. In existing buildings, installation of a new system such as a security system, or home theatre, may require additional effort to install concealed wiring. Multiple unit dwellings such as condominiums and apartment houses may have additional installation complexity in distributing services within a house.

The most common services include: power points or wall outlets, light fixtures and switches, and of course all of the media (telephone, television, Internet, etc.) There are some high-end features today such as home theater
Lighting, security lighting, and eco or energy management. 

Typically for a new home’s electric power supply, cables are run overhead or underground into a distribution board in the home. A distribution board, or circuit breaker panel, is usually a metal box mounted on a wall of the home. In many new homes, the location of the electrical switchboard is on the outside of the external wall of the garage. Service connections will vary depending on the region and the service provider.

Never use contractor-grade track or recessed lighting in a traditional room. In addition, overhead lights may work well in small areas like entryways but they may not be appropriate for larger rooms. Always have several types of light sources and always use a mix of task, ambient, and accent lighting. 

Always use dimmers, and in fact, a dimmer should be added to every light in your new home. Adjusting light can add instant ambiance. Avoid anything too fluorescent. Clean, crisp white light always works better. Make sure to choose the ideal lamp shades for table lamps and floor lamps. Always use a combination of floor lamps, table lamps, wall sconces, and overhead fixtures. Just try to mix it up!  Be sure to use a mix of task, ambient, and accent lighting in every room. And, light bulbs are really important! 

When it comes to installing a chandelier, for this type of lighting is essential to get the measurements accurate, and always think out of the box - use chandeliers in an unexpected place such as the bathroom. Peaking of the bathroom, this room’s lighting requires very special considerations, which is not necessarily for other rooms in the house. 

As for other rooms focused on utilities such as the kitchen, laundry, or a home office use task lighting in these work areas. Never ignore the importance of task lighting in work areas such as the kitchen, home office, and bathroom.
Ur eyes require good lighting for tasks.

Think of the lighting in your new home as decorative accessories. for more useful ideas, please visit the blog.