Snow is melting, skies are clear and birds are chirping. Temperatures are rising, daylight lasts longer and the flowers are starting to bloom.

With all this new life in the air, it may be time to breathe new life into your home too! Spring cleaning goes a long way here, as do a few simple décor tips. Here are three of our favorite ways to freshen up a home in the spring!

1. Add a Houseplant

One of our favorite ways to freshen up a space is to add a houseplant. In fact, the benefits go way beyond just aesthetics. Indoor plants can help you work better by improving concentration, memory and productivity.

They are also excellent for cleaning the air. NASA conducted extensive research on the purification qualities of house plants, stating “Low levels of chemicals such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde can be removed from indoor environments by plant leaves alone.”

One last, and obvious, reason to bring in a house plant is that they help us breathe!  Inhaling brings oxygen into the body, and exhaling releases carbon dioxide. During photosynthesis, plants do the opposite. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, making plants and humans a dynamic duo.

2. Add a Splash of Color

Extra color livens and freshens your home, and there are plenty of ways to make this happen. You could paint an accent wall, introduce a new rug or switch out your textiles. We love seasonal toss pillows and blankets—what an affordable way to add personality and flair to your home! Layers of various colors and textures create a unique, fashion-forward design.

3. Update Your Lighting

With their fun shapes, sizes, and colors, light fixtures are like the jewelry of a home. Based on your unique style, there are countless affordable fixtures out there that can freshen up your home.

For example, this golden, floral fixture by Alyssa adds a quaint and airy atmosphere to any space. Or if you’re looking for more ways to add color, this Avery pendant is springy, fresh, and trendy. Check out that decorative bulb!

For an even simpler fix, add a lamp instead of switching a fixture! In addition to improving the quantity of light, lamps like this chunky, modern Naomi piece also bring a fun element of style.

Now is the time to spring into action and add some extra atmosphere to your home! With colorful décor, soothing houseplants, and fashionable new lighting fixtures, spring can be an outdoor and indoor affair. Desert Lighting is here to help make your projects easier, so visit our blog for ideas or call us with questions!

Though we love the dimension and beauty that stairs can add to any home, they’re a common area for falls and injuries. Luckily, a little extra lighting can prevent some of those stumbles by increasing visibility and security.  Every home is different, so we’ve broken it down into categories that apply to everyone.

1. Material

Are your steps made of wood, carpet, tile, or something else?  Carpeted stairs are comfortable, but they absorb a lot of light. Use fixtures with a high light output to achieve maximum results. 

Wood tends to be more reflective, so prepare yourself for a little reflected shine on the steps. The good news is that you can use fewer lights or lower lumens to light wooden stairs. 

Tile and similar materials, like marble, are the most reflective flooring materials out there. They reflect even more light than wood, so consider that as you plan the quantity and type of lights to install.  

2. General Lighting

It’s important to note that step lighting is secondary to overhead, general lighting.  The general lighting should be bright enough to light your stairs even without step lighting. Step lighting enhances the look of the stairs and adds an extra safety measure when other lights are off, but they’re not meant to provide the primary light for your stairs.  

With that in mind, if your stairs are lacking light, start by switching your overhead or wall bulbs. Choose one with a high lumen count, or choose a new fixture with multiple bulbs. The options are endless!

3. Location

The above tips apply especially to indoor lighting, but there are extra considerations for your porch, deck, or other outdoor stairs. Exterior stairs are often made of concrete, Kool decking or wood, so it’s best not to rely on reflective light for outside. 

Look for fixtures with high light output and weatherproof materials. For example, a brass cased fixture will hold up well in weather and withstand soccer balls, kicks, or other outside messes. You can also skip glass fixtures and use an all metal (typically die-cast aluminum) fixture to minimize damage to the fixture in this high-traffic area.

4. Installation

There are several different ways to install stair lighting. Some consumers prefer to have all fixtures on one side of the wall, while others enjoy a slim LED tape light underneath the lip of the riser, (you know, the vertical back of each step). In commercial settings, it’s common to place lights from the middle of the riser.

Step lights come in many different shapes and sizes, so the placement will vary based on your unique needs and the style of the fixture. If you want down light, use a louvered fixture.  Solid panel lights shine out, which makes them very functional, but be careful—they aren’t as soft on your eyes. 

As for placement, there isn’t a right or wrong distance for spacing your step lights.  It’s typical to place a fixture on alternating steps, but lighting every step or every third step can be equally functional and fashionable. When using LED tape, however, it’s best practice to light the under side of each step.

With a little extra stair lighting, your staircase can be a pillar of style and class in your home, not to mention a safer place to walk. Add some architectural appeal by highlighting your stairs, and you’ll be stepping happily through your home. It’s an investment in your home and your safety, so feel free to contact Desert Lighting with any questions about how to get started on stair lighting!

We promise that we can show you a super-easy way to boost your productivity. Hang with us as we lay a little bit of background, but don’t worry. It’ll be worth it (an much easier than you think).

Sooo… have you ever heard of the Kelvin scale? Vaguely familiar? Blank? Well, not to worry…most of us retain don’t retain a lot from science classes, but believe it or not, it is an integral part of our daily experience. In fact, even a very basic understanding of the Kelvin scale, and applying it in your home lighting can improve your mood, productivity, and even long-term health. Yes! All from lighting. Read on for some applicable science and a few trivia-friendly facts from your friends here.

1. What It Is

Let’s start with the very basics. What is the Kelvin scale? Most used as a temperature measurement that ranges from absolute zero to the heat of the sun, Kelvin also measures the color temperature of light, both artificial and natural. Its applications are widespread, stretching from astrology to photography to biology.

There is plenty of in-depth science to explain how one scale can measure the temperature of celestial bodies and also classify light bulbs… But for now, let’s just keep it super simple to understand the basic concept. Just imagine an experiment where a metal is subjected to various levels of heat.

Depending on the Kelvin temperature (amount of heat that it absorbs), the metal glows in colors such as amber, yellow or blue. So, a certain temperature of heated metal = certain color of light emitted. So even though light bulbs don’t usually function at those exact temperatures, we use Kelvin because it’s an exact way to classify the color of light emitted by different light sources. Kelvin then is the color of light…and as it turns out…it matters a lot.

2. Why It Matters

Moving on from the background science… Why worry about the Kelvin and color of light? First, check out the scale itself. (The higher the number, the cooler/bluer the light. The lower the number, the warmer/redder the light.) Color temperatures of the Kelvin scale range from 1,000K-10,000K.

• 1000K-1900K is candle light hue
• 2000K-2900K is a warm, yellowish white.
• 3000K-4500K is a cool white.
• 4600K-6500K is comparable to daylight.
• Above 6500K the light has increasingly more blue tones.
• 10,000K is the color of the blue sky.

Imagine if your home was lit only by candles, or if it was constantly filled with bright daylight. Because our bodies are programmed to react to different light temperatures in different ways, it makes a huge difference in your mood, energy, daily tasks, ambiance, ability to concentrate, and even your sleep. This is not to say that any one type of light is better than another—simply that the color temperature impacts us…. the functionality and atmosphere of our homes and workplaces.

Different light bulbs emit different colors. Not all light bulbs are created equal. And the color of light emitted by your light bulbs is making its impact right now, though it may go unnoticed. Excessively cool tones, insufficient quantity of light, or excessive artificial light before sleep can impact mood, productivity, and even increase chances of disease. Fortunately, your new knowledge of the Kelvin scale can help you fine tune your home lighting.

3. How to Use It

Thanks to a little help from science, you can use the Kelvin scale to choose lighting that maximizes your health and productivity at home. Consider your daily activities and form a home lighting plan that suits your family’s needs—which rooms are meant for productivity, and which for relaxing?

In residential lighting, the most common color temperatures that people use and prefer are 2700K to 3000K. Why? Warmer colors create an atmosphere of coziness, calm, and comfort. Consider warm lighting for your bedrooms, family room, and other rooms for social gathering. For an office, garage, or workspace, cool lighting can create a more clean, precise atmosphere to facilitate productivity.

As for the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry ad hobby rooms where you need most productive so it’s a good choice to mimic natural light around noon with warmer light around 3000-4000K.

Here is an easy rule to follow:

In areas where you need higher degrees of concentration and productivity, you need a higher Kelvin (up to 3500-4000k), where you need lower levels of concentration and productivity, use a lower Kelvin (1500k – 3000k).

Need advice? Feel free to discuss your ideas with one of our lighting experts. We’re here to help you build a home atmosphere that’s best for you.

Do you or a loved one feel especially gloomy in winter? Perhaps
you’ve been excessively tired, had little energy, or found yourself overeating
consistently. If so, you may be experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD),
a mood disorder that causes depression-like symptoms during winter months.
Common SAD
risk factors include:

• Living far from the equator
• Having clinical depression
• Family history of depression or mood disorders
• Younger age
• Being female (They’re 4 times more likely to experience
  SAD than males.)

There are plenty of reasons that SAD has become increasingly
common. Electronic light is convenient, but can lead to altered circadian
rhythms (our internal body clock), which controls sleep-wake behavior and
hormone secretion. Increased globalization, technology dependence, and
shift-work can further disrupt the natural 24-hour cycle that best facilitates
emotional wellness.

Even those with strong mental health can experience SAD, but here are some suggestions that can help. 

1. Boost Your Vitamin D

SAD often correlates with vitamin D deficiency, and addressing this need can help alleviate depressive symptoms. There are a variety of ways to supplement your vitamin D, most of which center on your diet. Some options include fatty fish, egg yolks, mushrooms, or a medical supplement. Additionally, simply spending time outside triggers your body to produce more vitamin D.

2. Get Some Exercise

Conveniently, exercise is a great reason to get outside for
that extra vitamin D. In addition, SAD correlates with lower levels of
serotonin, and exercise helps increase it. Any kind of exercise can help,
whether it’s home-based, outdoor, or at the gym. There are plenty of ways
to start exercising, so find a way that works for you and don’t give up!

3. Engage Your Brain

Keeping an active mind is another way to avoid negativity during
the winter months. Doing sudoku, solving crossword puzzles, or reading good
books can keep depressive thoughts at bay. In addition, gratitude exercises
such as journaling can rewire your brain to think more positively.

Mindfulness is another mental tactic that discourages SAD.
Though its definitions vary, the essence of mindfulness is focusing all
thoughts on the present with an open mind and accepting heart. Recognizing
thoughts, feelings, and reactions to your environment can shed light on
emotional darkness. 

4. Use Warm Lighting

Lighting your home with bright, warm lights can provide research-based
light therapy that combats SAD. Creating a sort of false summer inside your
home gives your brain a refuge from the gloomy winter months. Working at Lit
Living, we get these benefits by default, but your home can be just as bright
as our showroom! It’s doable and cost-effective—browse our catalog to see just how many
options are out there.

To get the full emotional boost from your home lighting,
you’ll need a certain quantity of warm light. In the bedroom, plan 35-45 lumens
per square foot. The living room needs 20-30 lumens/sq. foot and the kitchen
70-80 lumens/sq. foot. Just multiply the length and width of the room, count up
the total lumens of your fixtures (lamps included), then divide lumens by
square footage.

Example: Your living room is 12’
x 14’, which totals 168 sq. ft. You have one ceiling fan with 4 bulbs, and each
bulb has 1100 lumens. That’s a total of 4400 lumens, so divide it by 168 sq. ft
to determine that your room is lit at 26 lumens/ sq. ft. Looking great!

Keep in mind that high kelvin ratings are less effective for improving mood, so aim for 3500-5000k. Full spectrum bulbs are a good way to achieve this, along with any other bulb that mimics natural light.

You Can Combat SAD

Though you may not be able to avoid all the winter blues,
there are plenty of things you can control. Simple things like your home’s
lighting, some daily exercise, and a few minutes outside can help boost your
mood. Best of luck from Desert Lighting— may winter be a beautiful season.

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. 

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.