Home Appliance + Lighting Blog

Shining light on a wall is something that has been done for a very long time. "Wall washing” as it is called, can enhance a room on so many levels. The general concept is to have light shine on the wall evenly to create a uniform distribution of the light.

Wall Washing vs. Accenting

Traditional “wall washing” has been used for years in commercial applications and has become more popular for residential installations as well. Wall washing can make a space look bigger. It can add interest by highlighting texture of the wall surface or brighten up wall colors or wall coverings. Wall washing is an even approach to lighting a wall vs. accent lighting such as shining a spotlight on a picture. Wall washing is about illumination whereas accenting is about highlighting an object.

Invariably, the decision will be track vs recessed lighting when lighting a kitchen. Track and Recessed lighting are two of the most common types of task lighting used for lighting up a space. In every application, task lighting is necessary if you want to achieve proper lighting. It's like the skeleton of the body, whereas the other elements of lighting design: decorative, accent and ambient provide the affects or personality of the room.

What makes a light OK to put in a shower? There are different types of lights that can be installed in a shower, or around water. There are DAMP location, and WET location fixtures. Both will have descriptions that will indicate in which application they can be installed.

“What is the best way to light a bathroom?” is a question we hear often.

Kitchens and baths are the two rooms actually needing proper illumination. Think about it. While watching TV, you actually shut off the lights. In the bedroom, you have a reading light (pre iPad and Kindle).

Probably the hardest decision in our industry is choosing recessed lights:

We are building a new microsite for recessed lighting because people are generally confused about its application. First, recessed lighting can be used for task (general) lighting, but it can also be used for accenting walls, art, etc.

Buying appliances and lighting is one decision. Choosing the right appliances to save money in operating costs later is another consideration. In most cases, the cost difference between energy saving and conventional is nominal. In every case, there is a significant return on investment.

In lighting layouts, kicthen and baths deserve the most planning because they are the most task oriented.  In most other rooms, you are either dimming the light to watch TV or sleep.  Hallways require light, for example, but walking down the hall requires basic light.