Choosing the perfect light for your application is crucial.  You can't just put anything in that hole in the ceiling.  You want to make a statement about your home and yourself.  Think about this.  You have a nice living room with off-white walls, blue carpet, blue furniture with a like pine wood trim.  You wouldn't put a Mahogany Lighting fixture in the middle of that room now would you?  No you wouldn't.  You would fine a light/ceiling fan that would compliment that room.

Suggestions for Lighting per Room:

1. The Kitchen: On the Ceiling the Florescent Lighting is the best for General lighting.  However if you have cabinets then you will need some task lighting.  You can use Halogen for task/accent lighting if you put them on dimmers.  They are not that expensive and generally give the best appearance.

2. The Bathroom: A lot of people like to have the lighting over the sink.  This is a great idea; however, you loose a lot of light when you are in the bath tub taking a shower unless you have a clear curtain/door.  With the trends of today, many people now have the plastic shower curtain in the tub and a cloth shower curtain hiding the plastic, so you loose a lot of light.  I recommend that you either get a sun tunnel (Not that expensive and easier to install then a sun roof) or install a recessed "Can" Light.  They have them made especially for the shower.  Around $60.00 for everything.  Remember it has 3 parts you need.  The Can itself, Trim (Make sure it's for the Shower), and the Light bulb.

3. The Living room/Den: This is my favorite to talk about.  The living room is the place that 95% of America spends most of their time at night.  Either reading a book, painting, talking to friends, watching TV, or what ever.  General lights are not the best for this area unless you are cleaning.  Recessed lighting, spot lighting, lamps, nightlights, and many other things can create any mood you want in this room.  Think about this: You are watching TV and you have that big bright light on the ceiling on.  What is it doing to the TV?  Cast a nice big bright reflection on it.  Fun to watch a white dot on the Tube huh?  Not very.  Here is a suggestion for that.  Take that light kit off of that ceiling fan, buy a blank for the base of the fan and buy some lamps and can lights.  Yes you have to spend some money and some time in the attic.  Sorry, didn't say it was that easy.  If you want an easy fix then buy a lamp or two.  Putting one on TOP OF the TV will actually work wonders with your TV quality.  You are getting a General light that is not too bright or to dim and you are saving your eyes from the straining of the White Dot.  Now with lamps next to you; smart idea, they are your general lighting so you don't hit your knee on that coffee table and it's a great task light fro reading, writing, cross-stitching, or what ever.  Told you this was my favorite area to write about.

4. The Bedroom: This all determines how much time you spend in your bedroom.  You want something nice and inviting but you don’t' want to spend much in a room that you only sleep in also.  Like me I spend a lot of time in my room because I am a web-designer and my computer is in my room.  For me I have a ceiling fan with a light kit for general lighting and a lamp on my desk so when it gets dark out-side I have a little light right on my keyboard so I am not trying to type with no light.  However, during the day I have the blinds open for the natural light (which is good for you).  Unless your bedroom is big, all you really need is a ceiling fan with a light kit and a lamp.  That's generally all that is needed.  That's so you don’t' run into the dresser and you can read in your bed with out shadows.

5.The Closet: Who Cares?  Do you have a Closet like Madonna's?  It has its own Zip code!!!  Most people have a little walk in that they can't walk in ;-) I know you to well don't I.  I know because I can't walk into mine either don't worry it's American to have that.  The perfect lighting for this application is Fluorescent.  They are cooler running; don't use much energy so they can double as a night light for your little girl/boy.  Also it will show them the monster is under the bed and not in their closet.  Sorry, they will always believe it's some where.  You just prevented it in one place.

6. The Great Outdoors: Nothing is better then sitting outside in the late spring early summer grilling with some close buddies.  Don't forget the lights.  Many people use the age old Flood Light.  Great ideas However, SHADOW CITY!!  Welcome one and all.  Floods are great security, but not for outdoor living.  Mercury Vapor, NICE! These lights are brighter and do a lot more for you if you are the outdoors person that doesn't stop gardening/playing when the sun goes down.  Mercury Vapor will keep you in the game for a while.  Just make sure your neighbors have great blinds and curtains because these can get bright fast.  Now, you don't care about tasking at night but you have a very nice garden that you want to walk through with out falling into the pond.  That's easy and AFFORDABLE! Low voltage/solar Lighting is the way to go.  What's the difference?  Easy Solar uses solar energy to power the LED (Light Emitted Diode) and low voltage lighting (LVL) is just that.  A light that uses hardly any energy to keep it going.  Now where are their homes? Low voltage is great because you have a steady power and can expand up to the maximum on your power pack.  They get up their in wattage and they range in price from $20 to $200 depending on the Wattage.  You will use LVL in areas that do not get direct sunlight or not much Direct Sun Light.  Solar Lighting (SL) needs Solar Light AKA the Sun.  The Down Side to LVL is the wires that you have to bury.  A positive side: Red, green, orange, blue, white, purple, pink, and yellow.  Yes the color of the light that you can get.  Some LVL you can change the bulb to the color of your choice.  So whatever your fancy on that you can display it.  Now Solar Lighting (SL): They are self powered, which means the sun charges batteries (battery replacements are about $6 for a 4 pack.  Check with your local home improvement store for prices) and when the sun goes down they turn on.  Easy huh?  Just stick them in the ground and pull the battery tab out and you are good to go right?  Wrong!  Thing with solar is this; they have to be able to charge so they need a lot energy.  You have a spot that gets a lot of sun rays and it's where you want to place them then GREAT! It's easy.  Kewl thing about solar is NO WIRES!!!!!  They come in many different shapes and sizes.  You have ones that are staked into the ground, mount to your deck posts, & ones that are hanging poles.  They even have a Tiki Torch ;-) Very Nice simulation and no smelly smell.  Now with any landscape lighting, you need to put it in the right place and choose the right color of fixture & LIGHT.  Some SL have different color LEDS and you don’t' want to buy color bulbs for your LVL.  Some Retailers have a SL that has 3 flood lights that are wired to a central solar panel that put out a lot of light.  The floods have 3 LEDs when a regular SL has only one.  So if you want to light up that palm in your front yard, there you have it.  Cheap affordable and no hidden cost to run the lights of SL.

Ok, that's all that I have for you this time.  I will be writing a few more guides to buying lighting but more pen pointing to the rooms and outdoor living.  Please check back offend and good luck with your lighting.  If you have any question on how to do anything with lighting or decor please send me a message on here and I will be glad to write you back.

Thanks Again:
LOTRColumbia