Super Lite

2022

3 Ways to Maximize Your Space

3 Ways to Maximize Your Space

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Less is more with a small space, especially when you use what you have and buy intentionally. If you’re looking to use your space better or just go more minimalist, versatility is key. 

Not only is versatile design increasing in popularity (think tiny homes or vans converted to homes), it’s also better for the environment and your health. Researchers found those living a minimalist lifestyle experienced more positive emotions and a variety of “wellbeing benefits.” 

Investing in multi-use furniture, choosing more versatile lighting, and getting creative are 3 ways to use your space better so you can live with less and still feel like you have more.

1. Multipurpose Furniture

When you’re trying to create a more versatile space, the best place to start is furniture. Choose pieces that serve more than one purpose. Here are some ideas to create storage that will reduce clutter and the number of furniture pieces you’ll need.

Loft beds like this one give you double the space, allowing you to have a desk when you may not otherwise have room. You could also create a cozy setup like this!

If you have a larger bed, maximize your space using under-bed storage. Find a bed with drawers in the base or just use baskets (they serve the same purpose).

Benches are often underutilized pieces of furniture, but they shouldn’t be! They’re incredibly versatile and can go almost anywhere in your home. Have an unused wall or corner? Scour flea markets to find a bench. If it doesn’t have built-in storage, simply add a few baskets underneath for shoes, blankets, or other items.

This entryway setup creates a natural place for shoes and offers a place to sit while putting them on. Bonus: it’s small and would fit anywhere.

These wicker baskets act like an end-of-the-bed bench while also providing storage where you can tuck away extra pillows and blankets.

2. Choose Lighting that Creates Space

When you’re looking for other ways to make your home more versatile, upgrading your lighting is another quick and practical option. Changing up your lighting can save you space and make your room feel bigger. If you choose quality fixtures that last longer and use less energy, you’ll end up saving money in the long run, too.

Task lighting is essential in an office space. Ditch that desk lamp that’s taking valuable real estate on your work surface and find a flexible floor lamp that can be used as ambient lighting or as a reading lamp when you’re off the clock.

Instead of using a table lamp on your nightstand, consider hanging pendant lights above it instead! Visually, it creates space around your bed, making it look more open and airy. Plus, you’ll have more room for that stack of books you’re working on.

Small kitchen woes are no more with under-cabinet lighting. LED light strips are easy to stick on, and they’ll make your kitchen feel bigger and brighter. They also make your counter space more functional – nobody should be using a kitchen knife in the dark! 

Pro tip: Mirrors make your space look bigger! Place one near a window or a light fixture to reflect the light to create the illusion of a larger space.

3. Get Creative

Arguably the most important way to save space is to get creative! There are so many ways to use your space better, and there are lots of places to find inspiration. Look for wasted space in your home, and find design solutions that are versatile and solve multiple problems.

A common place to find wasted space is underneath the stairs. Getting it opened up and organized is a great way to get more bang for your buck. Drawers like these make use of every single square inch under the stairs! 

If drawers aren’t an option, find shallow shelving or hang hooks on the wall to create a space where you can throw all of those holiday decorations you only see for a month at a time. 

If your kitchen space is small and you’re short on storage options, put your empty corners and walls to work. This 3-tiered cart does double duty as a plant stand and extra kitchen storage. The wooden crates also double up – serving as both a decorative element and open shelving for larger kitchen items that would otherwise take up valuable cupboard space.

Another way to add visual interest while creating storage is hanging up floating shelves. Open shelves like these are a great place to put your favorite kitchen-wares on display where they can be easily found when it’s time for a mid-afternoon coffee break. 

Open shelving also works great in the bathroom. Use them to store bulky bath towels, or buy decorative baskets to hide away all of that countertop clutter when you’re not getting ready for the day.

Closet busting at the seams? Make your closet space work for you with organizing systems that save space, like these drawers and slide-out racks. 

Maximizing Your Space

This tiny home is a perfect example of these tips in action. The multi-use kitchen set can be folded away and used for extra guest seating. Natural light and interior lights combine to keep shadows at bay, making a small footprint feel open and airy. Creative storage options are tucked into every square inch. 

You don’t have to be making the most of a tiny apartment to take advantage of space-saving and space-creating design tips. Just remember – when you’re trying to maximize your space, everything you have counts. Make sure everything you have is intentional and serves at least one purpose – hopefully more!

To learn more about creative lighting solutions that will help you maximize your space, stop by Super Lite’s showroom! We’d love to chat and help you find what you need to get started.

5 Easy Steps to Create a Modern Minimalist Interior

5 Easy Steps to Create a Modern Minimalist Interior

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With an intentional lack of furniture and decorations, minimalist design can sometimes come off as cold and uncomfortable. Over the past few years, as we’ve spent more time in our homes than ever before, the need for comfort in a home design has been made crystal clear.

Today’s modern minimalism prioritizes simplicity with a decluttered and uncomplicated aesthetic, while also emphasizing the need for comfort in a space. You’ll see more color and accessories than the minimalist interiors of the past had, but they’ll be thoughtfully chosen extras that provide warmth and life to the space without going overboard. 

Whether you’re interested in adopting a minimalist lifestyle or just love the simple yet dramatic design aesthetic, modern minimalism is an achievable aesthetic for just about anyone! 

To help you get started, we broke down the basics of modern minimalist interior design into a handful of easy steps you can use to confidently focus on the right essentials. 

1. Create an Open Floor Plan

Focus on creating as much connected open space as possible. Obviously, taking out walls is the easiest way to create an open floor plan. But if you’re not in a place where you can tear down walls, there are some simple and subtle tricks you can use to make adjoining spaces feel more connected. 

One way to connect spaces in your home is to use the same flooring and wall paint colors for the entire space. This will make rooms look like they belong together, even through a doorway. 

A unique accent, like this minimalist pendant light, grabs your attention through the doorway from across the way, which helps your brain perceive the two spaces as one.

Finally, play around with your furniture placement to maximize your space. In smaller spaces, this often means keeping large furniture close to the walls to keep open pathways throughout but don’t underestimate the power of a simple, low-profile, floating sofa used to define a space.

2. Choose a Small Color Palette

A classic hallmark of minimalist design is a neutral monochromatic color palette, typically in warm grey, white, or beige tones. Contrast is important – add dimension and balance with a mix of darker and lighter shades within your color palette.

If an all-neutral color palette just isn’t your thing, you can still get a modern minimalist look with color – you just need to stick to a small palette. Keep most of the colors you use very light, to increase the feeling of airiness and reflect light best. 

3. Functional Design is Key

It doesn’t matter how pretty a room is, if it’s inconvenient or difficult to use you’re not going to be happy with it. When you’re trying to adopt modern minimalism, understanding how to pare down to only the essentials can be hard. When you’re going through your room, ask yourself:

 “Does this serve a purpose?”   “Do I already have something that serves this purpose?”   “Is there a multipurpose option that will serve this purpose and others?” 

Just remember, there’s no hard and fast rule for what it means to be “functional” – and you don’t need to justify every item you love to keep it in your home. A funky decorative pillow that makes you smile when you see it is serving a purpose (and it’s making your couch more comfortable – so it’s multifunctional!) 

A huge part of functional design is organization. Decluttering for a modern minimalist space involves reducing “visual clutter” too! Things not actively being used should have a home where they can be tucked away until they’re needed. 

Opt for storage options that have doors that will hide the things you’re not using.  When styling open shelving, choose items that match your color palette, leave plenty of open space, and use boxes or baskets to organize and hide loose items.

Don’t be surprised if you get down to the basics and you aren’t in love with what you have left. You’ll likely need to start making smart trades here and there to end up with a set of basics that you love.

4. Add Light – Lots of It

Like most modern design aesthetics, modern minimalism focuses on filling the space with light. Where possible, introduce as much natural light as you can. The light colors on your walls and floors will reflect it – making your room feel open and airy. 

In addition to natural light, a modern minimalist space needs a well-thought-out interior lightscape. Make sure your general ambient light is bright without being harsh, and add extra lighting in dark corners and over workspaces. Hidden lights, like LED strips under a cabinet, are an inexpensive DIY trick with a big payoff! 

Because minimalism is all about doing less with more, it’s okay to be choosy about how you add light to your space – you don’t want to clutter up your home with a floor lamp in every dark spot! When you’re shopping for fixtures, stick to simple shapes that can double as design elements.

5. Finish it Off with Thoughtful Accents

Little pops of color and texture are what take a modern minimalist space from blah to wow. You can do this in a number of ways, but remember to keep it simple. Start with just one color or texture and see how it feels before committing to more. 

When possible, look for ways to upgrade your existing decor rather than adding extra items. Look for functional pieces that you need in your space, but feel a little lackluster, and find a more interesting alternative. Replace an old, overstuffed sofa with a simpler version in a deep color (as long as it’s in your color palette!) or give an old end table new life with a coat of paint.

Pro Tip: If you have a hard time committing to color, consider using houseplants! They introduce a vibrant green color and soft, organic textures, which can balance out a minimalist design quite nicely.

By far, one of the most effective ways to accent a modern minimalist design is with an interesting light fixture. Your room will always need light, so it might as well be an integrated part of the design! 

A stunning ceiling light with a simple shape will stand out as a piece of art against a minimalist backdrop and elevate the entire design of the space. 

Pendant lamps are popular in modern minimalist design because they come in simple shapes with lots of finish options, so it’s easy to find something that will match your aesthetic. 

If replacing a ceiling fixture isn’t an option, you can get a similar impact with a carefully chosen floor lamp! Lamps are the MVP of accent lighting for a reason – they’re easy to move, replace, and rearrange, and come in a HUGE variety of styles. You can go for something small that blends in, but we also love the way a large, yet simple, lamp like this one makes a statement without taking over. 

That’s all there is to it! Just to recap, here are the 5 easy steps to create a modern minimalist interior: 

  1. Create an open floor plan – Tie separate spaces together with color and materials and rearrange furniture to maximize your space.
  2. Choose a small color palette – Neutrals are your friend, but it’s okay to add in a little bit of color to make your space feel like you.
  3. Remember functionality – Use multipurpose furniture, and organize, organize, organize. Store things that aren’t being used so that they’re not cluttering up your space.
  4. Add light – Having lots of natural and indoor lighting is what makes your space feel open and airy. Light up dark corners and workspaces.
  5. Finish it off with thoughtful accents – Don’t over-accessorize. Pops of color and texture give life to a space, but try to incorporate these add-ons with the functional elements of your space – like a colored sofa or an upgraded light fixture.

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Modern minimalist design can be a difficult concept to balance, but it’s very forgiving and so beautiful when done correctly. If you need help finding the right lighting for your modern minimalist home, our experts at Super Lite can help!

Your Bathroom Lighting May Be Ruining Your Look- Here’s How You Can Fix It

Your Bathroom Lighting May Be Ruining Your Look- Here’s How You Can Fix It

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Picture this: You wake up early on a workday (a feat to be proud of). You don’t necessarily have to, but you’ve got the time, so you decide to spend some of that extra time on your makeup. After one last quick check in the mirror, you head out the door, feeling yourself and the look that you’ve created. Then, on a bathroom break at the office, you take a peek in the mirror and are surprised to see that your face here looks nothing like it did at home. What happened? Sure, the lighting isn’t great at the office, but there’s no way it could do all of this… right?

If this sounds familiar to you, take heart. Your makeup skills are probably not to blame – it’s more likely that your makeup lighting at home isn’t right – and it’s messing with your look.

Unfortunately, most standard bathroom lighting types aren’t a great help for flawless makeup. You might need to tweak the lighting set up at home to get it working for you instead of against you. This article will compare some of the common pitfalls of builder-grade lighting, and tell you exactly what you need to look for to upgrade your makeup space. 

Remember, the purpose of makeup lighting is to show your face as true as possible, so you know how the look will translate outside of your home.

NO: Windowless Rooms

Hopefully, your home was built with windows in the bathroom to help balance the lighting. However, if your bathroom doesn’t have a window and it’s not in your budget to install one, we recommend you get ready for the day by your bedroom or office window. Not only will this improve your makeup accuracy, but it will add dimension to the styling of your bedroom.

YES: Natural Light

Expert makeup artists all agree that natural light from the sun is the best light for doing makeup. If you can do your makeup facing a bright window, this is the best choice. However, many people do their makeup early in the morning or don’t have a windowed area suitable for makeup.

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NO: Fluorescent and Colored Lighting

Fluorescent Light

Everyone knows that fluorescent light is the most unflattering possible. While many spend days under fluorescent light in the office, it is typically offset by some natural light coming through windows. Bathrooms are often windowless, completely isolating the makeup artist in the worst lighting possible.

Yellow Light

While warm, yellow light could be soothing for a home spa experience, it exaggerates flaws in the mirror. The yellow glow will bring out yellow and green tones in your skin, often making you appear sickly or washed out when you aren’t. This effect commonly results in putting too much makeup in the wrong places and then looking cakey once you step out onto the street.

Pink Light

Pink or rosy light has the opposite effect of fluorescent and yellow light― it hides flaws! This might feel good while applying makeup, but you may notice that you failed to cover certain areas as soon as you get to the office.

YES: Warm White Light

Warm white light is the best artificial light for doing makeup. It most closely mimics the effect of the sun, so what you see in the mirror will match what everyone else sees in the office or at dinner. Many experts recommend backlighting your mirror with LEDs to achieve this effect.

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NO: Light From Above or Below

Kids love to make scary faces at sleepovers by shining a flashlight upwards from their chin. Overhead makeup light can create the same results (although not as dramatic). As the light shines down your face, it will naturally exaggerate certain features, like shadows under the brow, nose, and mouth. It can also catch more harshly on wrinkles. Once again, the results are too much makeup in the wrong places.

YES: “Face-forward” Light

“Face-forward” light shines directly towards your face rather than shining down on you. When your lighting is set up this way, it will reduce false shadows, making it easier to decide where to apply makeup. Many add LEDs around their mirror – it’s is an easy, inexpensive way to customize your makeup table and get the truest lighting for your look.

Pro Tip: If you’re renting and can’t replace your bathroom lights, a ring light is a solid option. They come in a wide range of prices and sizes, so it won’t be hard to find one that will fit both your counter and your budget. Position a smaller ring light around face height. Larger ring lights are designed for you to look through them, so the light shines on your face from all sides to eliminate shadows, as seen below:

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Kick that Crappy Lighting to the Curb

Replacing, or adding to, your bathroom lighting isn’t as difficult as it sounds. Swapping out an old fixture with a new one is a relatively simple project that won’t cost much to have done. It’s also very beginner DIY-friendly – most homeowners can do it on their own. (Just remember to turn off the breaker first!)

A simple lighting upgrade can totally transform your makeup experience, and give you the confidence to trust that what you see in the mirror at home will translate across to the rest of your day. Whether you have a full makeup studio or you’re sharing a small vanity with a partner, you’ll be surprised at how a small change can make such a big difference. 

If you want some help choosing the best lighting upgrade for your makeup area, stop by our showroom and take a look at the options we have available. You’ll be able to see for yourself how you look in different lighting, and our experts can help you find the right options to dress up your space. Stop by, or give Super Lite today for a free consultation! 

What to Expect When Visiting a Lighting Showroom

What to Expect When Visiting a Lighting Showroom

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Have you ever purchased something online only to have it arrive looking very different than you expected it to, or it just didn’t look as good in your space as you thought it would? Have you ever purchased an item at the store based off the image on its packaging only to be disappointed by the poor quality once you got it home and unwrapped?

There’s no substitute for being able to see, touch, and try out an item before making a purchase. This is true for any purchase, but it’s especially important when you’re buying things for your home! Your home needs to be somewhere you’re comfortable and can feel relaxed – and good lighting is absolutely essential to creating that environment! 

Don’t leave your lighting purchases up to chance. If you’ve never been to a lighting showroom before, here are a few things you can expect to happen on your next visit. 

Huge Selection of Quality Fixtures

When you shop online, it can be overwhelming and frustrating trying to sort through all of the options to find something you like, and it’s always a gamble as to whether it will look right once you get it. 

Lighting showrooms specialize in one thing: getting you the perfect light for your home. We have access to thousands of lighting options, and our lighting experts can help you sift through it all to find exactly what you need – without hours of frustrating internet searches. 

Showroom owners are choosy about what they’ll offer to customers, so you won’t have to worry about getting a dud. 

See Everything in Person

When buying light fixtures, you’re usually trying to set up an entire room with balanced needs. Unless you are a trained interior designer (and even if you are), it’s very difficult to gauge style, size, space, and balance just from a picture. 

Fixtures look really different when they’re off and on, and the way they cast light can change the feel of a space. It’s also hard to see small details and textures on finishes. Being able to see the light in person before buying can save you the headache of having to return a dark brown fixture you thought was black or a lantern that casts shadows you weren’t expecting. 

Personalized Expert Advice

Most DIY homeowners and interior designers know what it feels like to thoroughly research and still feel dissatisfied with the end result. It doesn’t matter how many how-to videos you watch – the person on the other end can’t give you personalized advice specific to your project. 

With something as crucial to your design as lighting, it’s a really good idea to check over design plans with an expert on the topic before you get started. 

When you stop in at our showroom, our lighting experts can teach you how to select the right bulbs for your needs, get the best light fixture for your money, and instruct you on proper installation, all as a regular part of your shopping experience. You won’t get that level of personalized expertise anywhere else!

Better Value for Your Money

Many believe that lighting showrooms charge “boutique” prices that are much higher than you’ll find online or at the hardware store. This simply isn’t true. When you visit a showroom, you’ll find that showrooms charge comparable prices to other fixture suppliers, and they have higher quality pieces.

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Let’s Recap

When it really gets down to it, if you’re shopping online or at a hardware store, you’re gambling on quality and not getting the best value for your money. 

The next time you’re shopping for lighting, make sure you include a lighting showroom in your process. When you shop at a showroom, you can see what you’re buying before you take it home. When you factor in the free expert advice, the higher quality fixtures, and the time saved, you’re actually paying less to get exactly what you need for your home. 

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Ready for your showroom experience? Check us out at Super Lite! 

A Guide to the Basic Types of Light and How to Use Them In Your Home

A Guide to the Basic Types of Light and How to Use Them In Your Home

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Light is all around us, controls what we do and how our body runs. Yet, most people haven’t given much thought to the kinds of light that surround them. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of both as we explain how to use light to your advantage.

Types of Light in Interior Design

When we talk about interior design, there are a lot of different words that get tossed around about lighting. It can get a little confusing, but the good news is, if you can get down these main types of light you’ll be 90% good to go! 

  • General/Ambient: This is the main source of light for a space. It fills the room with bright, balanced, even light. This usually comes from an overhead fixture centered in the room or an array of recessed lights.
  • Task: Task lighting is usually bright and used in combination with ambient light. It’s extra light that is strategically placed to add focused light to a workspace, like a kitchen counter or writing desk.
  • Accent: Accent light refers to light that is more about design than function. Spotlights, track lights, and strip LEDs can fall into this category. They often shine on artwork or architectural features like high ceilings or feature fireplaces. Although accent light does fill a function, the main value is decorative.
  • Mood: Mood lighting is generally soft, dim light. It encourages a calm or romantic atmosphere. Most often this is done with lamps, candles, or lights on dimmer switches.

When designing a lighting plan for your home, it’s important to create “layers” of light by including several types of lighting in each space. To see this in action, here’s a breakdown of the types of light found in this bedroom:

  • General/Ambient: Array of recessed lights along the ceiling
  • Task: Reading lamps on either side of the bed
  • Accent: LED light strip tucked around the edges of a coved ceiling, recessed lights shining on wall panel details, decorative sconces on wall centered around the dresser
  • Mood: Soft lights under closet doors, dimmer switches on several fixtures

This room is a great example of the way layered light adds to the design of a space without being overwhelming. Remember, you won’t usually be using all of these lights at the same time – but having options lets you customize the space for, however, you need to use it at the moment.

Other Types of Light

For most of your home projects, understanding the main types of lighting should be sufficient, but there are a few other lighting terms you may hear. Here are a few of the most popular terms: 

Diffused Light

Properties: Gentle, encourages relaxation

Best locations: Bedrooms, tub, Living Room, Dining Room

Diffused light is a natural companion to warm light. This term refers to light that is scattered and doesn’t cast a hard shadow. You can create this effect through reflected or covered lighting. We’ll focus on the latter here and touch more on reflected light in the next section.

Breaking up light makes it less harsh and more relaxed, cozy. Popular design elements are boho wicker chandeliers, modern plastic-covered lights, or paper lanterns. Both allow for plenty of light but filter the harshness of the bulb.

The opposite of diffused light is hard light. This light shines directly from the source and casts a hard shadow. This light is often found in workspaces like the kitchen or office. 

Reflected Light

Properties: Gentle, amplifies space

Best locations: Kitchen, Living Rooms, Bedrooms

This term has more to do with how light reacts in a design after it hits a surface in your home than with the source of the light. There are a few things that will affect how the light hits, and bounces off, the objects in your home. 

Color

Light colors reflect light, and dark colors absorb light. You can make a room feel big and spacious with just a coat of light-colored paint on the walls and ceiling. If you go dark on your walls, you’ll often need to add additional light sources to keep your room from feeling small.

Finish

Smooth, glossy finishes like wood floors or metallic furniture will reflect light and bounce it back out into the room. Interiors with lots of glossy surfaces can get away with fewer light sources. If your room feels a little too bright – try adding in some softer, textured surfaces like a fabric sofa, a rug, pillows and blankets, or textured wall art. 

Backlight

Properties: Highlights design, provides contrast, decreases eye strain

Best locations: Closets, Bookshelves, Cove ceilings, Wall panels, Kitchen cabinets, TVs and Computer Screens

Backlighting is the practice of lighting an object from behind. With a soft light source behind it, your bed, tv, art, or mirror will look like it’s glowing. In interior design, backlighting can also refer to the practice of lighting a wall, floor, or other surfaces with soft light (as seen above) to give the illusion of continuous, shadow-free illumination. 

As A Design Element

The key to successful backlighting is to tuck the light sources out of view and in reflective areas. In interior design, backlighting is usually found tucked into the recesses of architectural details like cove ceilings or wall panels, or around cabinets, bookshelves, and closets.

Behind Screens

Another common use for backlighting has a little less to do with design and more to do with function. Running a strip of LED lights along the back of a TV screen or computer monitor creates a soft glow around the edges of the screen, which reduces the strain on your eyes. Light used in this context is also often called bias lighting.

Light Temperature

The temperature of light refers to its energy and wavelength. Higher energy light can appear blue and is called cool. Lower energy light appears yellow or red and is called warm. The temperature of the bulbs you put in your light fixtures can actually impact how you feel while you’re in the space, and can even affect your sleeping patterns.  

Traditional incandescent bulbs only gave off warm light, so there was little variety in the light temperature of interior light fixtures. But LED technology has created light bulbs that can give off any wavelength from cool to warm, and some bulbs can change color with the click of a button on a remote. 

Homeowners now have a much wider range of color temperatures to choose from – so it’s important to understand how these light temperatures affect you when you’re lighting your home.

Cool Light

Properties: Alertness, attention, working brain

Best Locations: Office, Kitchen, Vanity, Bathroom Mirror

Blue light is receiving a lot of negative attention these days, but it’s not all bad. Blue light is a very important part of both our daily cycle and our workday.

The biggest source of blue light is the sun. The blue spectrum of light activates our attentive brain, which helps to keep us alert.

Since blue light is excellent for concentration, it is perfect for work areas. The kitchen, home offices, homework areas, and around mirrors are perfect locations. It’s often used for general lighting and task lighting. Cool lights allow the whole family to focus up and get great work done. 

Because cool light keeps your brain alert, it’s best to turn off all blue light sources 2 hours before bed. That includes your phone screens and TVs – if you’re not getting great sleep at night, try changing your relationship with blue light. It can make a big difference! 

Warm Light

Properties: Relaxation, sleep, resting brain

Best Locations: Bedrooms, Living Room, Dining Room, Bathtub

This light has a longer wavelength, travels more slowly, and outputs less energy.  Warm light signals our brains to relax and encourages rest and sleep. 

Fire, such as from a candle or fireplace, is a natural source of red light. Sitting around a fire at night to feel cozy or romantic isn’t an arbitrary human idea – it’s biology!

Warm light sources are perfect for bedrooms, tub areas, living rooms, or dining areas. Ending your day in warm light will help your body to relax and get ready for excellent, restorative sleep.

Natural/Neutral Light

Properties: In between warm and cool light, bright but not harsh

Best locations: Substitute for cool light for sensitive eyes

There is a third bulb temperature marketed today. Natural or neutral bulbs give off light in between cool and warm. These bulbs may be particularly useful for those with light sensitivity problems. These bulbs are bright enough to fill ambient lighting needs to work in without feeling harsh. 

Ask the Pros

It can feel intimidating to design the light of your home. The lighting pros at LitLiving are available to help you combine your aesthetic, room needs, and budget as they connect you with the best lighting showrooms around.

 

 

Top Tips to Keep Your Home and Family Safe

Top Tips to Keep Your Home and Family Safe

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Household accidents cost time, money, and suffering. From burns to falls, break-ins to credit fraud, it can feel overwhelming to protect your home and family. 

In this article, we’ll cover some top tips to keep your home and family safe. In this article, we’ll cover some top tips to prevent household accidents. The good news is that you’re probably already doing most of these – and many of the fixes are low-maintenance and low-cost.

Fire Safety 

Parents often think of the stove or oven when they think of fire hazards (we’ve all heard the Thanksgiving turkey mishap stories!), but forgetting to maintain fire prevention measures in the home is just as dangerous.

Fire Extinguishers & Smoke Alarms

Since people rarely need to put out a fire in their home, many homeowners forget where their fire extinguisher is, and it ends up buried in the back of a closet or cupboard. Fire extinguishers need to be replaced about every 12 years, and often need recharging as soon as six years. Be sure that your extinguishers are ready to go and that your family knows where it is and how to use them. 

Smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years. Keep batteries on hand and replace them once a year. It’s best to test them once a month – it’s a great opportunity to do a family fire drill! Set up a meeting place and practice getting out of the house quickly so that kids will know what to do in case of an emergency. 

Candles

Candles are fun for mood lighting, but they are also a fire hazard. Never leave a candle unattended! For safer mood lighting, consider switching to softer light bulbs and dimmer switches. Color-changing LED bulbs are a fun option – some can be controlled by an app that lets you customize the lighting in your room with just the touch of a button.

Old Wiring

Electrical wiring is encased with a plastic or silicone coating to prevent fires, but that coating wears off over time. Electric codes also change over time, so many older homes may already have outdated and unsafe wiring. If your circuit breakers trip regularly, your lights flicker, or you hear a buzzing sound by your outlets, you should have your wiring professionally checked. Need a recommendation for a good electrician in the area? Give us a call!

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Childproofing 

Homes are filled with hazards for curious little ones― washing machines, driers, water heaters, and even daily toy messes can lead to serious injury. Here are a few simple ways to keep kids safe!

Appliances 

Appliances are everywhere, and kids love to help grownups with laundry and cooking. Make sure the washer and dryer are in their own enclosed space and that the doors are sturdy. Help your children know that the laundry room isn’t a place to play or hide. In the kitchen, simple tools like burner locks ensure that little chefs don’t start cooking on their own. There are also locks to ensure that oven doors can’t open either.

Toy Clutter

Tripping over toys is another leading cause of falls― bumped heads, sprained ankles, and avoidable tears. Keep walkways clean by confining toys to bedrooms or toy rooms. Encourage cleanliness by installing low shelves or get kid-friendly storage containers!

Lamps and Sockets

Most parents know that electrical sockets need to be covered – it’s childproofing 101. But what is there to do with the outlets in use? Most homes use lamps in one form or another. They’re great for adding a little extra light in a dark corner and for giving soft light in calm spaces, like a child’s bedroom. To childproof a floor lamp, place it behind a large piece of furniture so that it can’t be pulled over. For table lamps, make sure it’s out of reach up high and that the cord is inaccessible. 

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Prevent Trips and Falls

Falls are the leading cause of injury worldwide in adults over 60 years old. Although falls are most serious for the elderly, all ages are at risk of injury from falls. Every homeowner should review common fall zones to protect family and guests.

Banisters

Make sure that all stairways have a banister for support. A sturdy banister can be the difference between a simple slip and a broken leg. Ensure that all banisters are secure and won’t pull away from the wall when yanked on.

Stair Lights

Simple stair lights help you see where you’re going, even when the overhead lights are off. Installing them can be a large or small project – it just depends on your budget and willingness to DIY. LED strip lights and motion-sensing stick-on battery lights are easy beginner projects that will make your stairway safer. You can also hire a contractor to hardwire lights to a switch if you don’t want to worry about replacing batteries. 

Loose Carpets or Rugs

Loose flooring is another common tripper― whether it’s your kindergartener running at full speed or your partner with a tall load of laundry, rugs should not get in the way. If you notice your carpet is pulling up at the edges, contact a professional to help reinstall it or find a DIY method. Only use rugs with flat edges and avoid ones that curl upwards.

Safeguard Personal Information

From hackers to natural disasters, it’s essential to keep personal information safe. Here’s some basics:

Computer Safety

Be sure to keep security software updated, so you have the best protection possible. Update your passwords regularly and avoid using the same password for multiple accounts. It’s also a good idea to keep computers out of sight when you’re out of the house― you never know who’s checking for valuables when you’re away.

Credit Monitoring

Hackers are everywhere. The 2017 Equifax Data Breach showed how important it is to monitor our credit reports. Many monitoring services are easy to use. Some lock your social security number so that no one but you can use it. Safely store or destroy documents with bank account information or social security numbers.

Prevent Fire or Water Damage

Birth certificates, titles, and passports are important documents – and you don’t want to be without them in an emergency. The best practice is to store these documents where they’ll be safe from fire or water damage. Small home safes are an excellent option for most. For high-value items, getting a security box at your bank may be necessary for peace of mind. Whatever your preference, make sure you’re housing your documents safely.

Intruder Prevention

Did you know that 34% of burglars simply walk in through an unlocked front door? Or that most break-ins occur between 10 am and 3 pm when houses are usually empty? A few simple tools and habits will keep you well prepared against burglary.

Lock Your Doors and Windows

It’s always a good habit to keep your doors and ground-level windows locked. Most robberies are the result of opportunity, not a criminal master plan. A simple fix here would be to upgrade your deadbolt or add a second lock up higher on the door. 

Security Alarms

Security alarms and smart doorbells have become much more popular in middle-class homes. There is a wide range of security systems and providers. Many security systems pair with apps so you can alarm or monitor your home from anywhere. Finally, most security providers will give you signs with the security systems. Posting that you have a security system may be one of the most effective deterrents to theft.

Motion-activated Lights

Keep the exterior of your home well-lit to discourage nighttime crime. If you use video surveillance, it’s important to make sure you don’t have blind spots in your lighting. No matter what, it’s a good idea to have lights on your property’s front, sides, and backyard, especially near the entrances. Motion-activated lights are a great option for most people – they conserve power (which lowers your electricity bill), and they’ll often scare away potential intruders when the light turns on.

Outdoor Safety

Summer nights are a fun time to be together as a family. A few tips and tricks will create quality memories without emergency room visits.

Outdoor Lighting

Proper outdoor lighting will make your yard safer, no matter the time of day. Whether it’s a powerful light on the driveway for evening basketball games or soft lights on the back patio for an outdoor dinner, consider the ways you use your yard and choose lights that will make it the safest for you and your family to enjoy.

Pool

The CDC states that there are an average of 33 drowning incidents per day in the United States. To keep your home’s pool safe, maintain a sturdy fence around the pool area if you have young children or pets. Always have a buddy whenever someone is in the pool, and always have life vests on hand. Keep pool maintenance chemicals in a safe location.

Landscaping

Maintaining a yard is a lot of work, and it comes with a lot of tools. Keep play areas and walkways clear by trimming back bushes and trees, and consider lighting well-used walkways (like the path to your front door or to your backyard shed) to make them safe after dark. Store yard tools somewhere safe when not in use, and make sure chemicals like gasoline and pesticides are either up high or behind a lock. 

Expert Help

We understand that making your home safe is of the utmost importance. The lighting in your home should play a central role in both safety and comfort! For help choosing lighting that will make your home and family safer, stop by our showroom or give us a call to speak to our lighting experts!

3 Things You Need to Know About Recessed Lighting

3 Things You Need to Know About Recessed Lighting

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Recessed lights can radically change the way your home looks and feels. Done right, they can bathe your space in soft light, highlight special features, and help you set the right mood. Done wrong, they turn your ceiling into a polka-dotted nightmare of harsh spotlights and awkward shadows. So, how do you get it right? 

We’ve put together three of our top expert recessed lighting tips based on our years of experience in the lighting industry to help you get it just right! 

Installation Know-How

If you’re building or remodeling, now’s the best time to be thinking about recessed lights. Recessed lights are easiest to install during construction. With the walls opened up, it’s not a big deal for an electrician to run the necessary wires and mount the lights. 

If your home is already finished and you’re really not ready to tear out the ceiling, don’t despair! The recessed lighting industry makes a whole line of specialty lights designed for non-intrusive updates. Look for lights that say retro-fit in the product description – this means they can be more easily installed in an existing ceiling. Canless recessed lights are ultra-thin (the same thickness as your ceiling’s drywall), which makes installing them the most DIY-friendly option for homeowners.

Placement is Paramount

One of the most common mistakes homeowners make when installing recessed lights is poor placement. Your recessed lights should wash your walls, not just the floor, with light. If your walls aren’t properly lit, your room will feel dim and dull no matter how your lights are installed. 

 

Wall washing spreads soft light evenly across a wall, and it will make your room feel bigger and more open. For example: the recessed lights in the image below (see upper left) cast soft light across the entire wall, which makes the room feel larger and brighter.

A close cousin, wall grazing (as seen below), occurs when recessed lights are placed close to the wall and the cone of light casts harsh lines of light and shadow. This is typically done to accent a design feature, not to provide ambient lighting for a room.

Wall washing is usually the goal in residential applications – it’s a good idea to talk to a lighting expert before you get ready to install to make sure you get them at the right distance from the wall.

A grid of soft white lights will give off a comfortable, all-over light, which is perfect for large rooms, but it’s not one-size-fits-all for every space in your home. Areas where you work, like your kitchen, should have more focused task lighting over countertops and work surfaces. 

Quick Tip: Space recessed lights away from ceiling fan blades or you’ll end up with a subtle strobing effect when both are on. Also, avoid placing bright lights directly over a seating area so that your guests won’t feel like they’re under a spotlight.

 

Zones and Dimmer Switches

Your lighting plan will be most effective if you can create zones based on how you use your space. Large spaces and multi-purpose rooms have different lighting needs throughout the space. If you strategically wire these areas independently, they can work together to give you more control over the way your room works for you. 

For example, a living room may have a row of wall-washing lights around the perimeter, a central grid of ambient lights, and a couple of spotlight lights to highlight a feature fireplace or some artwork. If each of these zones can be adjusted independently, you can transition a bright morning workspace to a cozy evening entertaining space with ease. 

Wherever possible, install each zone with a dimmer switch. Being able to adjust the intensity of light in your space is an essential part of creating the right mood. An added benefit of dimmable lights is that they last longer when not used at full power, so you can extend the life of your bulbs and entertain houseguests at the same time!

Installing recessed lighting is no small task, but it doesn’t have to be a big pain in the neck. Whether you’re a D.I.Y.er needing a few pointers, or if M.O.D.I.F.Y. is more your speed (Make Others Do It For You), we can help you find exactly what you need to get it done. Give us a call or stop by our showroom today!