2020

Clever Lighting Ideas for Your Too-Short Bathroom

by admin · Aug 25, 2020

Feeling cramped in your bathroom? Every home comes with its quirks, and bathroom size and layouts are often among them. However, a cramped bathroom doesn’t have to cramp your style! Less-than traditional bathroom spaces simply call for less-than traditional lighting and décor ideas. Below, you’ll find a list of 7 examples of lighting that can transform your vertically-challenged bathroom space. Enjoy!

1. LED Illuminated Mirror

We’ve got lots to say about these, but that’s a topic for another time. They defog, have varied lighting settings, add a dramatic flair, save tons of space, and attract a lot of attention (while drawing attention away from the size of the bathroom). They’re a great addition to any size bathroom space.

Pendants

2. Globe One-Light LED Pendant

Beautiful globe pendants like this add unique texture and variety to your space. Pendants provide a fresh alternative to sconces. Ideally pendants should hang on either side of a mirror and be spaced 30 to 36 inches apart. As with any other bathroom lighting, it’s important that pendants be damp or wet-location rated. This protects against damage to the fixture or electrical components.

3. Cylinder Pendant

The great thing about pendants in a bathroom is that they can hang lower than a vanity light could, making your ceilings look higher. The standard placement for a bathroom pendant is to have the bottom of the fixture at the center line of the mirror. While many pendants come with adjustable stem lengths, you can also opt for a pendant hung by chain, cord, or wire for optimal hanging flexibility. Pendants should be part of a layered lighting plan that includes general overhead lighting, accent lights, and even natural light.

4. Mango Wood 1 Light Pendant

Keep in mind that pendants function best as accent lighting, and may not provide adequate light for the whole space. In fact, it’s better if pendants are opaque or thickly shaded, since they’re at your eye level and a clear-glass fixture might mean you’re staring straight at a bright bulb. That said, pendants like this one add texture, light, and style while drawing your eye away from short ceilings.

Sconces

5. Winfield 2 Light Wall Sconce

Sconces have been around for many years, but their efficiency and style make them a fresh solution for any space. Sconces often flank the sides of the mirror, but you can mount them to fit your personal preference. They can even augment the existing lines of your bathroom, drawing your eye horizontally in a pleasing, stylish way.

6. Glenn 1 Light Wall Sconce

The recommended height to hang sconces between 64” to 68” from the finished floor. The idea is to illuminate the face, so the exact measurements will vary a little bit depending on whether the sconce is “top” or “bottom” heavy, and where it shines light. Leaving the top half of your bathroom with less light draws attention away from the overall height of the room, focusing instead on the central, lit portion of the space.

7. AXIS SCONCE

Don’t forget that sconces are similar to the pendants—they don’t usually provide enough light to serve as a primary light source. If you do favor your sconces, you may want to supplement with hidden recessed lighting overhead. Using them as accent or task lighting, in addition to a main fixture, will add style and round out your bathroom space without detracting from the brightness of the room.

We hope that you can use these tips, tricks, and products to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional space in your bathroom—no matter what the size! Best of luck from all of us at Desert Lighting.

EASY! 5 Clever Tips if You Have Bad Eyesight

by admin · Aug 18, 2020

Thanks to old age and plenty of other conditions, bad eyesight is far too common. Some of us here at Desert Lighting suffer from it, too! Surprisingly, home lighting has significant influence in improving (or worsening) one’s vision. So though your home lighting likely has great style, it may not be functional for struggling eyes.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to light for function and style. In fact, having the right home lighting can make details clearer and reduce the need for magnification. Improving home and office lighting can simplify everyday tasks and ease vision strain, so try applying a few of these easy tips!

1. Use Natural Light Whenever Possible

The first suggestion is to be in natural light at every possible opportunity. Sunlight provides a soothing, bright light that maximizes vision and improves mood. For flexible activities like crossword puzzles, reading, or even homework, place a chair in natural lighting and enjoy the benefits of the brightness.

2. Switch to LED Bulbs

Aside from sunlight, the next best lighting option is LED bulbs. They provide bright light, last for hours, and come in a variety of cooler tones than incandescents. LED lights last thousands of hours so you won’t need to worry about replacing them after they’re purchased.

3. Increase the Number of Lights

Another simple way to boost your lighting is to increase the quantity of lights in the home. Lamps are a great way to start, since they require no structural changes. Remember, when putting lamps in a room, maintain consistent light throughout the space to avoid having dark spots. Also note that lamps with exposed bulbs will increase the glare, so avoid those when possible.

4. Use Lamp and Lighting Timers

Prevent any stumbling around in the dark by putting your lamps and task lighting on a timer. These automatic timers can turn on lights in the times they’re needed the most, lighting key areas. They prevent extra difficulties because without unexpected dark hallways or rooms, the eyes don’t have to adjust from lit rooms to dark spaces.

5. Maximize Task Lighting

Consider your frequent tasks. We’ve been around lighting long enough to know that there’s always some type of lighting that can make those tasks easier! There are adjustable lamps that illuminate your specific task, like a gooseneck lamp. Hanging fixtures can also be pointed at desks, chairs, or other areas. You might even need less magnification because of the better illumination!

Keep in mind, these tips may not work for every eye condition, but they’ve helped us! You can always contact us, or a vision specialist, to determine what type of lighting will be most beneficial for your unique circumstances.

Ceiling Fans in the Winter: Why and How

by admin · Aug 12, 2020

It’s a common misconception that fans always bring down the temperature. However, there’s a little more to it than that. When I was a kid, our home didn’t have central air or heat, so in the winter we’d build a fire in our wood heater, open the bedroom doors, and slowly let the heat spread into those areas.

One cold night, I was sitting in the living room trying to get warm when my mom turned on the ceiling fan. I quickly objected because, like many others, I thought that fans were supposed to cool you off, not warm you up! To my surprise, however, our fan brought down the nice, warm air from our 11 foot ceilings and warmed me up in no time.

So how can you make this work in the winter? Fans are remarkable. They use the ‘wind chill’ effect to change body temperature, even though they don’t change the ambient temperature of the room. Hot air rises, so a fan can push that warm air down from the ceiling (where it isn’t benefitting anyone!) and bring it down to your level instead.

Interestingly enough, a fan should spin counter-clockwise in the summer and clockwise in the winter. If you’re unsure how yours is spinning, stand directly underneath it and turn it on. If you need to change it, turn the fan back off and look for your fan’s direction switch.

Fans are an energy efficient way to create a comfortable temperature at home—even in the winter! They can literally be run all year round, (assuming they are spinning the correct direction). Feel free to call Desert Lighting with questions.

6 Simple Hacks for Perfect Kitchen Pendants

by admin · Jul 21, 2020

The kitchen is not only one of the most functional rooms in the home, but it’s also a central place to express your style! Kitchen lighting should combine excellent functionality with equal flair, and there’s no better way to do that than with pendant lighting. Here’s an in-depth guide of 6 vital principles to help you choose and hang the perfect pendant light in your kitchen.

1. Quantity

Odd numbers make for natural design groupings, so aim for odd groupings of lights when you hang pendants. Consider each kitchen area separately, creating one group over the kitchen island, another over the sink, and a new one in other unique areas of your kitchen. You’re the boss here—so break the rule here if you think two lights are better than three.

2. Scale

Hang something too big, and it will encroach on needed space. Hang a fixture that’s too small, and it won’t provide enough functional light or stylistic pizzazz. The edge of a pendant fixture should hang 6” from the outside edge of the island, with appropriate space between pendants.

Tall ceilings can handle a larger pendant, so if you’ve got vaulted ceilings, consider choosing a fixture with extra height and bulk to capitalize on the grandeur of your ceiling. If you’re debating between several good options, bigger is better!

3. Light Output

Some finishes, like chrome or polished nickel, are reflective and seem to ‘disappear’ when the lights come on. Other finishes are bold, providing high contrast against kitchen cabinetry. Most fixtures come in multiple finishes, so decide if you prefer architectural and bold, or a light floating feel.

Even better? You don’t have to match the finish of the fixture to your kitchen hardware. Consider the colors in your kitchen—appliances, flooring, décor, accent pieces. If your kitchen has gold knobs and a dark hardwood floor, those tones easily justify a gold, bronze, black, or even two-tone fixture! Don’t limit yourself here.

5. Style

The kitchen island is a great place to define the style of your home, so be daring! If you’re decorating your forever home, hang a pendant you really love. If you plan to resell, consider hanging a trendy, popular fixture that will appeal to the largest group of buyers later.

Whatever you hang, avoid an awkward look by hanging your light at the correct height. The bottom of the fixture should sit 30-36” from the top of the counter to best emphasize the beauty of your pendant and preserve needed space.

6. Function

Light output is one element of a pendant’s functionality, but the styling and shape of the light also have significant impact. Open and airy fixtures lighten the look of the kitchen, creating negative space and emphasizing kitchen openness. They spread light more generally throughout the kitchen.

Opaque, metal fixtures create solid, positive space that fills in gaps and draws the eye. This solidness directs the light downward and brightens usable counter space making solid fixtures better task lighting than glass ones. Both options are good, but some will be better for your needs than others.

With such a wide array of pendants to choose from, you’re sure to find one that works for you! Compare your top favorites for their functionality and flair, and don’t hesitate to reach out to Desert Lighting with any questions.

How LED Technology Will Forever Change the World

by admin · Jul 14, 2020

During my time in the lighting industry, I’ve received countless questions about LED lights. What are they? How are they different from traditional light sources? How do they work? Why are they more expensive? And the list goes on…

This guide will teach you the ins and outs of LED lighting and how to use this innovative technology to your benefit. We’ll cover the very basics and some more advanced concepts, so buckle up and get ready to see how LED lighting could transform your home lighting!

1. Yes- They Use Electricity

Electricity is created by the flow of electrons from a positive end of a power source (such as a battery), through a conductor (usually copper wire), through the item that is being powered (in this case a lightbulb), and then back to the negative end of the power source. This is called an electrical circuit, because the electrons ultimately end up in the same place they started.

This method of transferring power applies to household appliances, cell phones, modern cars, and LED lights. With any of these devices, functionality depends on an unbroken circuit, and usually, a switch to control it.

2. They’re Not Like Incandescent Bulbs

Our idea of light bulbs stems mainly from the traditional incandescent bulb. Let’s imagine one like this image, which is a medium base, A-style lamp. The light bulb threads into a phenolic lamp socket, more commonly referred to simply as the “light bulb socket”. As the bulb is placed inside the socket, the lamp holder connection makes contact with the leads inside the socket. Turn the power on, and an electrical current flows through that connection to the tungsten filament, heating the metal and causing it to release energy in the form of light.

This heat energy inside the pressurized globe of the bulb creates the light that shines from incandescent bulbs. Most of them require roughly 40-100 watts to produce light, but this obviously depends on the brightness of the bulb. LED’s function quite differently, so let’s take a look at how an LED will react to the same electrical current.

3. They’re Built to Create More Light

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. The science here is a little dense… But I’ll do my best to cover the basics. A light emitting diode is made by pressing three layers of semiconductor material together. These materials vary in composition depending on the application, but often include zinc and nitrogen (as opposed to tungsten carbide in incandescent bulbs).

When an electron enters the diode, it is charged with more energy than it originally had. This is called electronic excitement. While it is still inside the diode it passes through the diode’s layers and releases this excess energy in the form of light!

4. They Come in Infinite Shapes, Sizes, and Colors

Because of the way they are made, diodes come in practically any shape and size. They can be stretched out to look like a filament inside of a traditional glass light bulb or formed into a small square. Quantity of light also varies, and many LEDs use multiple diodes to produce even more light. It’s amazing technology—even in these various shapes and sizes, most LEDs also contain a transformer, or voltage regulator, inside the bulb or fixture to regulate their energy usage.

5. They Last a Long Time

One of LED’s many benefits is their long life. They last much longer than traditional bulbs because they don’t produce nearly as much heat as their more traditional counterparts. With LED lights, you can practically say goodbye to burnt out bulbs! This explains why their upfront cost is slightly more than older bulbs—with LEDs, you won’t be purchasing new ones very often, and the money you spend on the bulb is quickly recuperated in saved energy costs.

6. That’s Right—They Save You Money

As mentioned, the process of electronic excitement uses far less energy than heating the filament in a traditional bulb. In fact, an LED light bulb uses as little as 14% of the energy burned by an incandescent bulb! This means that by changing home light bulbs to LEDs, the average American will save over $1,000 in a 5-year span. If you have other types of lights in your home, such as halogen bulbs, you can save even more than that!

7. LEDs Maximize Existing Fixtures

Another overlooked benefit of LED bulbs is their ability to effectively exceed the maximum wattage of light fixtures. Sounds crazy, but it’s something you’ve probably thought about before! When a room in your home feels dingy or underlit, it’s probably not because the fixture is old or inadequate. More than likely, the bulbs simply aren’t providing enough light for the room.

Typical light fixtures can power a 60 watt incandescent bulb, but because LED bulbs are so much more efficient, that same fixture could power a 100 watt equivalent LED bulb! This provides much more light than the fixture could normally provide, and allows the flexibility to choose from various light colors. Not only will LEDs save you on your utility bill, but they can also save you from buying new fixtures.

8. The Sky Is the Limit!

Now that you’re an expert on LED lighting, start imagining the infinite ways they could light up your home! Because they are so small, they hide easily under kitchen cabinets or alongside a staircase to light up the steps. They could add a dramatic flair to a theatre room or simply update the recessed lighting in your home, providing a more consistent brightness. My favorite LED distributor, Alloy LED, provide a wide range of products for almost any lighting project, and they might spark some ideas for your home. And as always, we’re here for any of your lighting needs! Stay lit, my friends!

Dark Sky Lighting: Mysteries Revealed

by admin · Jul 7, 2020

When was the last time you really saw the beautiful night sky? Was it in your backyard last night or your last camping trip? Too often, the breathtaking night sky is just a summer memory, overshadowed by street lamps and light pollution.

That’s where Dark Sky lighting comes in. Dark Sky outdoor lighting is designed to point the light towards the ground and not up into the sky, where it can contribute to light pollution. In fact, a growing number of communities are now introducing dark sky ordinances that require dark sky outdoor lighting with specific types of reflectors, shields, cut-off angles, and bulbs.

Seem drastic? You’d be surprised how far-reaching the effects of overly bright outdoor lights can be. Not only do they add to light pollution and make it difficult to enjoy the stars, but they also disrupt the natural cycle of nocturnal animals. Excessively bright lights can also cause “sky glow”, an unnatural, manmade illumination of the sky that resembles smog.

Luckily, Dark Sky lighting is becoming increasingly common, and there are plenty of ways to transform your outdoor lighting to meet these new guidelines. Start from scratch with stylish, efficient new fixtures, or try some of the tips below.

Consider adding a motion sensor on your outdoor lights. It’ll turn on the light when needed and turn it off automatically when it’s not.
Instead of a new fixture, try a new bulb. Decreasing the lumens of outdoor bulbs makes for better night lighting, since it illuminates the area only as needed.
Consider shading your outdoor fixtures, blocking light from entering the sky unnecessarily. You can also point your fixtures at the ground to increase the accuracy of the light.
Avoid using light that crosses property lines. This can detract from property values and irritate neighbors, so try to be considerate by angling lights away from neighbors’ fences and windows.

Make your nights clearer and your lights smarter by investing in Dark Sky lighting. Not only does it protect the environment, it boosts your efficiency and saves you money. Not a bad deal, right? So give it a try and go enjoy those stars.

6 Crazy Ways Lighting Affects Your Health

by admin · Jun 30, 2020

Bright, natural lighting can contribute to alertness and increased energy in the mornings, or any time of day. Of course, it does the same at night, so it is best to avoid bright, overhead lights when it’s time to rest. Darkness and warm dim lights, especially at eye level, mimic the natural rhythm of the sun and notify your brain that it is time to slow down, so they’re a great tool to use in the evening hours.

2. Excessive Blue Light Can Lead to Sleep Deprivation and Stress

All lights have a color rating that ranks them on how much warmth (reddish, yellowish lights) or coolness (blue or white lights) they emit. Our bodies respond differently to each, but blue lights are especially worth mentioning. While exposure to blue light can provide a much-needed energy boost during the day, it also makes it much harder to sleep at night. Exposure to blue light from smartphones, laptops, and even low-quality bulbs in the hours before bedtime suppresses the bodies’ production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin, which can make it harder for us to drift off to sleep.

Though it’s difficult to achieve a consistent sleep schedule, sleep-deprivation has a whole host of emotional and physiological side effects, from impaired judgment and heightened stress to higher blood pressure. To avoid this and protect precious sleep, consider using indirect or accent lighting at night, or perhaps installing a dimmer to make your main light adjustable. Whenever possible, limit screen-time before bed to reduce your exposure to blue light for a better night of sleep.

3. Warm Lights Enhance Relaxation and Mood Regulation

Just like blue light from screens can keep you awake; warm lighting can aid relaxation and emotional regulation. In one study, participants experiencing anxious feelings calmed down more quickly in rooms with warm, cozy lights, as opposed to rooms with bright, blueish lights.

The principle applies equally in your home, which is why residential spaces most often use bulbs between 2700k and 3000k. Lights in this Kelvin range (the ranking of light color) are warm and relaxing, well-suited for your everyday environment. Lighting your spaces with lamps, dimmable lights, and layers of lights can enhance this even more, allowing you to control the quantity of light as well as its calming color.

4. Poor Lighting Worsens Depression, Vitamin D Deficiencies, and Migraines

We’ve all heard that poor lighting could cause eye damage, especially when reading, but what other effects can poor lighting have on us in our homes? Inadequate light can irritate existing conditions such as depression and vitamin D deficiencies, while proper lighting is known to improve mood and energy levels.

Surprisingly enough, insufficient light is not the only health-related lighting hazard. Overly bright, harsh light can be similarly detrimental to mood and productivity since it often triggers headaches and migraines.

5. Glare Causes Poor Eyesight and More

As stated above, many are already aware of the danger that dim lights have for our eyesight. What most underestimate, however, is the similar risks posed by reflected light and light glare. Blazing overhead lights, badly positioned spotlights, or reflected lights from screen can increase irritability, drowsiness, headaches, and double vision.

This obviously varies based on eye conditions, exact lighting configurations, and more. However, next time you flip that switch, it would not hurt to ask how that lighting makes you feel, and if different lighting might be more helpful for productivity and positivity.

6. Natural Light Increases Work Productivity

Research on office lighting and employee productivity provides great insight into personal and professional productivity. Natural light, and lots of it, helps to create the happiest, most productive work environment, while dim lighting can decrease work productivity. Working in a room with dim lights can cause eye strain, headaches, and drowsiness, all of which interfere with typical tasks.

Life has plenty of complexities, and a house full of perfect light bulbs obviously cannot solve all of them. What proper lighting can do, however, is eliminate visual stresses from your environment and send the right signals to your brain, helping it do what is best for you.

Lighting done right increases energy and productivity, not to mention relaxation and mood regulation, while bad lighting can interfere with sleep and worsen depression and migraines. For any questions about how to light your home and maximize health through lighting, call our experts at Desert Lighting. We are committed to your well-being and we are confident we can help.

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