What would have become of man without lighting? Wall lighting illuminated the night and profoundly changed human existence. Wall lighting creates a comfortable living space whether it's for decoration or ambiance. It helps create magic and fantasy, for otherwise there would just be a dark shadowed space.
It has been rumored that in BC people would take a rock and cover the rock with moss. They would then soak the rock with animal fat and ignite. For control, wicks were later introduced...
From history we are aware that in the 1700's most homes or plantations used either candle fixtures or candelabras. They also carried candle sticks and candle lanterns. Then in the early 1800's oil lanterns were used. Most of these fixtures were made from tin, iron or wood. These lanterns were all hand made and some looked like the lighting fixtures we have today. Around 1860 kerosene oil and gas lighted many of these fixtures.
Then in 1879 the greatest invention of all came to be. This was the year that Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. This helped mold cultures for the Art Deco Era. Gas/electric combination lighting was used. Electric lighting was less expensive and less dangerous then gas. These fixtures were abundant in people's homes and were usually hung by a chain.
Electricity kept dropping in price until 1960. The equipment that generated the electricity began to climb and rise. This pushed up the utility bills and the average person started to struggle. People started to turn off their lights, they installed dimmers, timers, and sensors.
More and more people are starting to change to compact florescent lights. The downside is the color has less intense quality and a slower start up time. The latest is the LED. It is quick to start and the quality is exceptional.
Interior lighting refers to all lights within a building that is not exposed to the elements. Exterior lighting is the reverse. This lighting is outdoors and is exposed to the elements.
There are traditional, modern, and decorative style wall lights. You can have lighting fixtures from your wall, floor, table and ceiling.
There are also many different kinds of wall fixtures. There are adjustable, hanging, lanterns, torch, lamp, vanity lights, and wall sconces.
Wall mounted lighting fixtures extend from the wall between 4 and 10 inches. An adjustable fixture has an up light or down light with a swing arm The body of a hanging fixture hangs from a stem that is extended outwards from a wall. A wall lamp is any fixture that has a shade and is a similar style to a table lamp. The lights around or above a mirror are known as vanity lights. The wall sconce is a wall mounted fixture that only has one light.
You can find all these styles and types to fit any budget. There are many places to find all the unique and different varieties. Please make certain whatever you choose reflects your personality and the overall theme of your home.
Wall Lighting With Switch
Each room that you decorate has a certain style or theme that you created by the type of flooring, furniture, window treatments, art on the walls, table tops and shelving. Whether you knew it at the time you started to put the room together or it fell into place over time. You gave the room a personality and with that personality you have expressed the type of surroundings that make you feel comfortable.
So when it comes to wall lighting you will want to create an atmosphere that is both up tempo at times and laid back and relaxing at the flip of a switch. Don't worry, I will show you exactly what you have to do to accomplish both of these atmospheres with the same wall lighting fixtures. It really isn't as difficult as it sounds. Just follow my suggestion and you are well on your way to wall lighting success.
Let me first start out with each and every room you are about to grace with wall lighting. The room and what you have in the room will determine what style of wall lighting will most likely add an artful touch to the room. As I go on, you will get a good idea of what will and what will not fit into the décor of the room.
I will begin with your floors. Take a look around each room in your home that you wish to install wall lighting. What is the color of the floor? Do you have hardwood floors, wall to wall carpeting or area rugs?
Next take a look at your furniture. What style of furniture do you have? Is your furniture Jacobean, Early American, William and Mary, Queen Anne, Colonial, Georgian, Pennsylvania Dutch, Chippendale, Robert Adam, Hepplewhite, Federal, Sheraton, Duncan Phyfe, American Empire, Shaker, Victorian, Arts and Craft (Also referred to as Mission), Art Nouveau, or Scandinavian Contemporary?
If you are not quite sure what style your furniture actually is, believe me, you are not alone. To make things easier to calculate, all you really need to know is what your furniture looks like. Take a piece of paper and a pen. Write down the type of wood that is in the room along with the color of the wood. Does your wood furniture have any metal accents? If the room is furnished with a lot of chrome, put that in your notes. Is glass a major part of the room décor? Does your wall art and decorations center over a single theme? Write all this information down so you can make an educated decision on the type of wall lighting would go well.
Your final decision on what style of wall lighting to choose should be a combination of 2 to 3 of the elements you have written down in your notes. Your wall lighting should be constructed with some of the elements of the furniture in the room. This could be wood, metal, glass, plastic and fabric (Some wall lighting has lamp shades).
Just so you know, this also goes for hallways. Try to match any furniture that may be in the hallway and the wood accents that may be part of the hallway. Also in hallways you may want to include wall lighting that would match the color of the metal and style of doorknobs of the rooms you enter through the hallway.
Always make sure your wall lighting will fulfill your needs. Know whether you are planning on lighting up the room or putting the finishing touch on some sort of wall art by giving it just the right amount of light. Remember, by installing a dimmer switch to your wall lights you can have the lighting atmosphere of your choice at any time.
I have some words of advice. If you are planning on installing wall lighting on a wall that does not already have the power wires in place, always seek the help of a professional electrician. There are licensed professional contractors who are available to help you get the job done correctly. Also, if you are planning on adding lighting to some sort of wall art, be careful and use lighting that will not damage or fade your art. There are special bulbs to insert into your wall lighting fixture that won't damage your wall art.
Now you have a good idea of the research involved in finding the perfect wall lighting for any room. This is a quick and easy way to bring out the professional interior decorator in you.
Both Barbara Tobiasz & Joe Tobiasz are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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