• Login
    • Register

Central Oregon BuzzCentral Oregon Buzz

Thesa Chambers, Principal Broker

Contact Us Today At (541) 771-7064
thesa@centraloregonbuzz.com

70 SW Century Dr #110 Bend, OR 97702

  • Menu
  • Home
  • Search
  • Buyers
    • Buyer’s Info
  • Sellers
    • Seller’s Info
    • Sold & Active Listings
  • Communities
    • La Pine
    • Three Rivers South
    • Bend
  • Resort Communities
    • Caldera Springs
    • Sunriver
  • My Listings
  • Blog
  • About
    • Connect with Thesa
    • Connect with me.

How to Choose Lights for Your New Home

How to Choose Lights for Your New HomeIt’s not just about wattage anymore. Light fixtures and light bulbs come in myriad types, sizes and colors. Do you want LED? Should you use “soft” bulbs? And what is the difference between watts and lumens? With the phase-out of the traditional incandescent bulb, the lighting choices you grew up with are not the same as what will be available in the future.

When making choices for your new home, consider the light’s expected usage, the use of the room and the availability of replacement bulbs.

How Light Works

Artificial light affects how color appears on your walls and ceilings. That is why paint colors that seemed so perfect at the paint store can look all wrong on your walls. Some popular bulbs for home use will change how color appears, and how a room “feels” when the lights are on.

  • Incandescent bulbs. The bulbs we grew up with typically have a warm cast and brighten up colors in the warmer spectrums (reds, oranges, yellows) and dampen colors in the cool spectrum. However, as of this year (2014) most incandescent bulbs will be phased out for general use. Although there are exceptions for specialty bulbs, including some sizes of the very popular designer Edison bulb, when your bulb goes, you’ll need to replace it with some form of fluorescent or halogen bulb. Or, you’ll need a new light fixture altogether.
  • Standard fluorescent bulbs. The long tubes used in schools, retail stores and offices emit cooler colors that enhance greens, blues and purples while subduing reds, oranges and yellows. These bulbs often “hum” in the background. Better for work areas (kitchen, garage), standard fluorescents offer an economical lighting source.
  • CFLs. Compact fluorescents are the obvious choice to replace incandescent bulbs. With bayonets that fit most light fixtures, CFLs are available in a variety of sizes, shapes and wattages. They also have a Kelvin rating which determines the color spectrum of the bulb. The lower the Kelvin number, the warmer the colors. A “full spectrum bulb” is designed to mimic daylight.
  • LEDs. Light-emitting diodes emit a warmer light. Often the “bulb” has a reflective cone that augments the light. LED light enhances most paint colors and gives natural lighting that works well for bathrooms and dressing areas.
  • Halogen. Because of their whiter, brighter light and longevity theater stages use halogen lights for high performance applications. In the home, halogens reduce eyestrain as reading lights, offer safety and security to your outdoors and highlight your artwork. They burn hotter than other lights, though, so don’t belong in areas where the bulb can’t be shielded. Some older halogen fixtures—especially torchiere lamps—posed a fire hazard from the hot-burning bulb, so check to make sure your halogen fixtures have protective shields.

Replacing Fixtures

When replacing light fixtures, consult a lighting designer to solve lighting challenges and create the most economical arrangement of your lighting profile.

We can help you determine the best lighting upgrades for the sale of your home. Give us a call to set up an appointment for a home review today.

Compliments of Virtual Results

Posted in: General

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Post navigation

« Selling Your Central Oregon Home
Vacation Homes & Second Homes »

About Thesa

As your real estate agent, I understand the value of providing the best possible service to every buyer and seller. Listening carefully to fully identify not only your desires but also your needs. Then work diligently to ensure that both are accommodated to the best of my ability. We will stay abreast on changing market conditions, trends, developments and research all factors that could affect the purchase or sale of your property.  My success and your happiness greatly depend upon the quality of the relationship we achieve.  Through personal redefinition of the professional standards set by most agents, I hope set myself apart from the rest and become the first person that you think of for all of your real estate needs.

Search Homes

  • Basic Search
  • Search By Address
  • Search By MLS#
  • Map Search
  • Create an Account
  • Log Into Your Account
  • Connect with Thesa
  • Request a Home Value

Contact Thesa

Thesa Chambers, Principal Broker West + Main Homes
thesa@centraloregonbuzz.com
(541) 771-7064
© 2023 · Equity Framework
The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the MLS. Listing broker has attempted to offer accurate data, but is not guaranteed accurate. All information presented is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Listings Sitemap · Log in