Lighting the Way
When planning lighting for your renovation project, always plan more than you think you’ll need. The project is going to last you for years to come and whether you’re Generation X, Y or Baby Boomer, you’re going to be aging during those years. That means possible declining eye sight. You’ll appreciate the benefits of good lighting when you can simply flick a switch and have bright lights turn on, rather than searching for more lighting sources. Your remodeling contractor can help you achieve the most beneficial lighting throughout your home.
According to a study by Hanley Wood’s Metrostudy unit, people age 55 and over were 40 percent of all remodeling projects in 2013. This group is expected to continue to play a large role in the remodeling industry in the next few years, so you can expect that contractors will have solutions for effective lighting at the ready. For example, always plan for task lighting – in kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms. Direct lighting on countertops and vanities will allow you to see your work space, making kitchen tasks like chopping and dicing, reading recipes and measuring ingredients much easier. In the bathroom, task lighting should be available over sinks and vanities as well as in showers. It will help you see what you’re doing and keep you safe from possible falls. Well-lit stairwells and hallways are also important.
Combined with natural daylight from strategically placed windows and doors, lighting can add to the overall mood of the home. Using dimmers on lights throughout the home can give you the best of all worlds. It allows full lighting capacity when necessary and it gives you the flexibility to use lower lighting. Today’s technology allows adjustments to be made with remote controls or even from a remote location. Smart technology turns the lights on and off using a computer or smart phone, so even when you’re not home, you can be in control of the lighting. Good lighting is not only smart for your eyes, it’s smart for your safety.
