June Market releases show a wide variety of refined naturals. Natural elements such as, burlap, twigs, linen, cork, stone, shell and driftwood are being incorporated into all types of lighting. These natural elements are a great way to add texture and warmth to your decor without having to be  too “rustic”.  Stone and iron chandeliers, mother of pearl lamps, or  twig mini-pendants are sure to enhance your style!

Lighting has a larger decorative value today than it did even a few short years ago, and consumers are now choosing lighting products as an important accessory to their overall home design.

Three Major Movements. Most of today’s design choices fall under one of three definite categories: casual elegance, with fixtures a bit more upscale in design that still create warm, relaxed and cozy environments; simplified traditional that removes the ornate by such methods as stripping down solid brass fixtures and applying an antique patina; and soft contemporary that is still clean, modern and simple, but no longer “cold.”

• Larger Fixtures: As the average size of homes in this country have increased, so have the design elements that go into them. Larger interior volumes need larger lights, and energy-efficient compact-fluorescent lamps (CFLs) often need larger fixtures than their incandescent predecessors.

• Layers of Light: Rooms need multiple sources of light to get the best balance of light in a room. Especially in areas such as kitchens and eating areas, a simple overhead light is only the beginning. Well-placed task and accent lighting is a must to brighten the perimeter and fill the background.

• Energy Efficiency: Consumers are looking to save energy when they can, and lighting is an obvious place to cut back consumption. Dimmer switches and whole-house control systems allow for mo re precise usage, conserve energy and extend lamp life. Low-voltage bulbs cont inue to grow in popularity and use, as CFLs and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) offer a higher quality, warmer light than just a short time ago. Also, many contractors are fitting recessed fixtures more tightly, which cuts down on conditioned-air loss through ceilings.

Think of approaching lighting design the same way you would approach buying a piece of art. There are enough lighting options out there to suit everyone’s taste.

Ceiling fans — a technology used by our grandparents — are an effective and relatively inexpensive way to feel more comfortable. Energy Starfan-light combinations use about the same amount of electricity as a light bulb and are about 50 percent more energy efficient than conventional fans. In addition, according to the ceiling fan industry, “Using a ceiling fan creates a wind chill effect that can make you feel up to 8 degrees cooler than the air around you.” However, fans cool people, not rooms, so turn them off when you leave a room or you’ll be wasting electricity.

Save money right now at Creative Lighting with our “buy one fan at regular price, get one clearance fan free” promotion going on for our Twitter followers.  All you have to do is click here to follow us on Twitter and print out the coupon when you bring it into the store.  Please contact us if you have any questions.