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Closet Details: Lighting

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The details matter, especially when making home improvement upgrades. From picking a paint color to creating a certain ambience in a room, lighting can effect a large number of decisions. Be sure to pay close attention to lighting in your closet system. Here are some things to consider from the team at More Space Place.

Types of Lighting

Let’s start by going over the three key types of lighting that can come into play in your closet.

Accent

Exactly as it sounds, accent lighting is used to highlight certain pieces. It’s a great way to create a bit of drama in a space. Accent lighting works particularly well for large walk-in closets. Use it to highlight art if you’ve decided to hang any, or for any holy-grail items such as a purse or a pair of shoes. This works well for boutique-styled layouts.

Task

This type of lighting helps you get things done. Whether it’s applying your makeup or choosing an accessory, task lighting can be critical to helping you make decisions as you get ready each morning. Task lighting is most often used in a walk-in closet system, but can also work extremely well with a reach-in system.

Ambient

Think of ambient lighting as the umbrella for the other types of lighting in your space. It provides general illumination and can even overlap as task lighting. Ambient lighting is important for all kinds of closet designs.

Bulbs

Interested in creating a certain atmosphere? Try switching out your bulbs. Here’s what you need to consider. Light bulbs can offer warm or cool tones. Some even provide heat radiance.

Incandescent

This is the most common type of light bulb, and is most associated with electricity. It is also the least energy efficient as most of the energy produces heat rather than light. In fact, many home improvement stores are reducing the amount of incandescent lights they carry. They can be used in fixtures that create all three types of lighting.

CFL

Compact Fluorescent Lights are most easily identified as lights with a curly tube inside the bulb. These are more energy efficient although the one major complaint is that they tend to take a longer time to shine or warm up. They use to be quite common in fluorescent under-the-cabinet lights.

LED

These bulbs have been increasingly popular as they are extremely energy efficient and the price to purchase them decreases. They have been popular for accent and task lighting although they can be used for all three types of lighting. Choose this type of bulb in your closet so you can reduce the amount of time you have to replace your lights – some have been known to have a lifespan of 20 years!

Fixtures and Styles

Recessed

These are by some of the most common types of light fixtures, especially in newer homes. These lights can create all types of light and ambience in your home but are particularly good for general lighting and accent lighting.

Track Lights

With this fixture, the lights are aligned on a track, although you don’t have to settle for the plain white linear track anymore. There is a wide selection of styles and many use LED bulbs. These are great to help create accent or overall ambience to your space.

Under-the-cabinet

These are particularly useful for task lighting. They can help you select a piece of jewelry or compare certain accessories. They go perfect with a set of drawers that house your jewelry, cuff links, or other small items.

Chandeliers and Pendants

Give your closet an added design touch with a miniature chandelier or strategically placed pendants. They can give added drama while providing essential lighting.

Be sure to plan your closet design with the details in mind. Consult with one of our expert designers at More Space Place today to start creating and organizing your home today!

More Information/ Sources:
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/lighting-choices-save-you-money
Photo by Designatic, under Public Domain through Creative Commons License Zero (CC0 1.0)