[ecis2016.org] We look at some lighting options that home owners can choose, to beautify and brighten up their homes, while saving costs at the same time
A well-lit house is a delight. As per Vastu Shastra, a house that welcomes natural light often stands to welcome prosperity too. However, city dwellers would know that a property with sufficient lighting may very well be a luxury today. With a large number of people migrating to urban areas, space comes at a premium. Often, home buyers end up compromising on some of the very basic and important requirements. They try to correct the ‘doshas’ of the house by following Vastu tips and tricks. But do you really need to compromise on how beautiful and presentable your property can look if you just played with the lighting?
You are reading: How to use lighting for the perfect décor and ensure cost savings
How does the lighting in your house affect you?
Maya and Abhilash Singh bought a plush resale property in Bangalore. Given the expenses that went into the property purchase, the Singhs decided to wait a little before they replaced the old fixtures and fittings in the property. Six to seven months later, they decided it was not wise to postpone important things such as the lighting and pipelines. “For one, my kids started complaining of the dim lighting in the room and we quickly added study lamps in the room. Next, at a party, we received a lot of ‘advice’ on how the lighting in the house was a dampener. We decided it was time to make some changes for the better,” says Maya.
Importance of lighting in your property
Lighting to enliven living spaces
Lights are not simply used to brighten up the space or see in the dark. They bring your living spaces to life. With numerous kinds of lighting options available in the market, home owners can present their homes in unique and different ways.
Lift your mood with lighting
For a property to exude positivity and lift your mood, it must have appropriate lighting. Wall lights that come with dimmers, for example, help you control the amount of light in the room. So, if you are looking to create a romantic atmosphere, just tune in a soft radiance and warm up the place a bit. If you are in a very sunny, hot, humid place, dim the lights a bit, turn on the AC and you have the perfect setting.
One of the most popular mood lighting forms is a dimmer switch, which allows you to decide upon your lights’ brightness and glow. “You can alter the mood by increasing or decreasing the brightness to cater to your different moods and emotions. Our dimmer switches, for example offer over 250 lighting levels. Combined with the Lutron App, you can also to control your lights and shades with your smartphones, while at home and away,” explains Ripu Daman Sharma, country manager – sales, India, Lutron Electronics.
Types of lighting, depending on the task
The perfect ambience needs the perfect lighting. Lighting in your home can be of various types. There is ambient lighting, which is your regular lighting that helps make the place visible. Next is the task light. If you want to read, play or work, this is the light you would want. The next type is accent light, which is used to highlight an object or an ornamental frame or any exceptional architectural feature that you wish to put the spotlight on.
Types of lighting fixtures available in the market
With the many kinds of lighting available in the market, you have a light for every occasion and every corner of your house. Table lamps, spotlights, floor lights, wall lights or even ceiling lights – there is something for every space.
Ceiling lights
As the name suggests, ceiling lights are the most prominent and dominant source of lights in any room. You can choose one of those very stylish dangling lights or opt for a chandelier or even the LED ceiling lights.
Source: Pexels
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Wall lights
With the right wall lights, you can lend some added depth to the ceiling lights. Wall lights ensure a relaxing atmosphere and are the best for your bedroom.
Souorce: Pexels
Source: Pexels
Read also : Elegant floor design ideas to make your home a welcoming space
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Floor lamps
Your floor lamp could very well become a statement piece. Most often seen in the living/sitting rooms, floor lamps not only enliven the space but also act as a décor element in the room. You get floor lamps in many designs. These can even be placed in your hallway.
Source: Pexels
Source: Pexels
Spotlights
Put the limelight on the choicest part of your room with spotlights. Spotlights are a favourite among those looking to decorate their homes with lights. Have a painting to flaunt? Turn on the spotlight. These are also ideal to get rid of a dim or glum atmosphere.
Source: Pexels
Source: Pinterest
Source: Pinterest
Table lamps
If you are looking to beautify your room and save on space, opt for table lamps? They take up minimal space and are a nice way to combine lighting and décor. These can be placed just about anywhere – your side table, study table, console table, etc.
Source: Pexels
Source: Pinterest
Source: Pinterest
How to choose the right light for your house?
You are spoiled for choices when it comes to lighting. Nevertheless, here are some simple tips to follow:
Smart lighting and the Internet of Things
Modern households prefer smart lighting and so do commercial spaces. With smart lighting, one of the greatest advantages is the power to control it from remote spaces. Technology has progressed to an extent that you may even connect the lighting with your GPS location! So, the moment you arrive home, the smart lights know it needs to be switched on. Further, leading brands like Jaquar offer easy-to-use, durable and fully functional lighting solutions.
Source: Pinterest
Sammeer Pakvasa, MD, Eleganz Interiors, says, “Smart lighting is your best option if you have zero tolerance for wasteful depletion of resources. Turn off the lights intelligently when they are not in use and this is possible even when you are away, thanks to sensors that detect presence. They also have the capability to dim the lights or adjust the brightness, depending on how much light is there in the room. This could be extremely useful when you are looking to conserve power and promote responsible energy usage.”
Lighting and sustainability
All leading brands are in the quest to come up with the best and sustainable lighting solutions. Therefore, you would notice soft cottons, wood fibres, metal and soft natural materials coming to the fore, especially in the case of standing lights and on scones. This kind of lighting lends a close-to-nature and thoughtful look to your overall décor, apart from having sustainable designs.
Source: Pinterest
LED lighting and cost effectiveness
In the long run, incandescent light bulbs do not complement modern-day homes and its décor. LED lights are energy-efficient and can be used attractively in your home. Research shows that LED lights consume 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent lighting. Additionally, they emit much less heat and are a great fit for under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen, as recessed downlights, holiday lights and much more.
Source: Pinterest
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Cost savings with Incandescent, CFL and LED lights
Let us try to answer this with a chart.
| Parameter | LED | CFL | Incandescent |
| Lifespan of the light (in hours) | 10,000 | 9,000 | 1,000 |
| Watts (equivalent 60 watts) | 10 | 14 | 60 |
| Cost per bulb in Rs | 183.40 | 176.06 | 91.7 |
| Daily cost* in Rs | 0.36 | 0.51 | 2.20 |
| Annual cost* in Rs | 134.24 | 187.80 | 804.75 |
| Cost for 50,000 hours @ $0.10 kWh in Rs | 3,668 | 5,132.20 | 22,008 |
| Bulbs needed for 50,000 hours | 5 | 5.5 | 50 |
| Total cost for 50,000 hours with bulb price in Rs | 4,585 | 6,103.55 | 26,593 |
* Assuming 5 hours a day @ $0.10 per kWh. | Source: Energy use calculator
* Dollar to rupee is Rs 73.36 as on March 2, 2021.
FAQs
What are LED bulbs?
A two-lead semiconductor light source, these are basically solid state lighting (SSL), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and are far more efficient and long lasting than other bulbs.
Should I switch from incandescent light bulbs to CFL?
Absolutely, if you are still using incandescent lighting, LED or CFL lighting is much better and helps you save energy, as well as increase the lifespan of your bulbs.
Can festive lights raise my electricity bill?
Yes, but it depends upon the usage and choice of lights. LED lights can bring down the costs.
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