Lighting News from the ALA

You don’t have to plan a lavish vacation to relax this summer. With the right lighting, your back yard can become your own private retreat, allowing you to enjoy a mini getaway without leaving your home. It’s easier – and less expensive – than you might imagine to transform your existing patio, deck or pool area into a space you’ll love. A new lighting scheme can turn your back yard into…Read More

Entrances, hallways and foyers all have a major commonality: These spaces are typically the focal point to the entrance of your home. Guests are greeted in these areas and you use the spaces as a means to get to other rooms throughout your home. While these spaces are one of the first you and your guests will see upon entering your home, they can be some of the harder spots in a house to light. Th…Read More

While topics like sweater weather and pumpkin spice might be dominating much of the conversation, over at the American Lighting Association we’re excited about the energy savings that come along with cooler weather! This week, we celebrated the fifth annual National Ceiling Fan Day (NCFD), which got us thinking about what excellent energy-saving resources fans can be. According to NCFD founder F…Read More

Lighting is one of the most impactful elements in home décor. When it’s time for an update, many homeowners find they can make the biggest impact by replacing all of their old, outdated lighting. That’s great advice for those who can simply replace all of their existing fixtures with new ones. But what if you don’t want to replace all of your fixtures and worry that bringing in one or two n…Read More

A longtime lighting staple of dining rooms and foyers, chandeliers are gaining popularity in unexpected places. This classic lighting piece can be found in kitchens, bedrooms, walk-in closets and even bathrooms. Not only are these eye-catching fixtures a great source of ambient light, they can also serve as a focal point around which you can build the design of an entire room. If you’re consider…Read More

Until recently, shopping for light bulbs involved primarily focusing on wattage. After 2012, when the Department of Energy set standards specifying how much energy light bulbs can use, things became slightly more complicated. Surprisingly, the tried-and-true wattage measurement we were all using to shop for light bulbs really wasn’t telling us about the most important aspect of the bulb – …Read More

Wall sconces are incredibly versatile lighting fixtures. While they are often used to add flare to a room, they can also serve very practical purposes. As a result, they are a great choice to add anywhere in your home. Where to hang wall sconces Where you hang your sconces depends on the lighting design you hope to create and the space in which you’re working, as they can be used for ambient lig…Read More

As we welcome longer days and warmer weather, now is the perfect time to start thinking about updating your outdoor space. Outdoor lighting serves a variety of purposes, from safety and security, to adding style and interest to your home or garden. While daylight saving time means more hours of sunlight in the evenings, it is still important to consider your outdoor lighting design, especially if …Read More

When developing a lighting plan for any room in your home, it is important to consider the three basic types of light – ambient, task and accent. The best lighting plans combine all three types to light an area according to function and style. Ambient Lighting Ambient lighting, or general lighting, provides an area with overall illumination. Ambient lighting radiates a comfortable level of brigh…Read More

With the options available today, choosing a light bulb has become slightly more complicated for the average homeowner. If you find yourself wondering what bulb you need, here are a few tips to consider. Know What’s Available There are three basic types of light bulbs available today: Halogen Incandescent CFL (Compact Fluorescent) LED (Light Emitting Diode) The halogen incandescent is very simil…Read More