Most people only think of ceiling fans for summer use, when in fact there are many benefits to using them in the winter.  In any given room there are layers of air with varying degrees of temperature; the warmest air  is near the ceiling.  In the winter months you should run your ceiling fan in a clockwise direction.  This pushes warm air up against the ceiling and then down the walls, gently recirulating warm air through the room without causing a chilling breeze.  This technique has been proven to lower home heating costs by as much as 10%.  Ceiling fans can bring numerous energy saving benefits to your home.  Most ceiling fans use only about as much power as a 100 watt light bulb.  When used properly, ceiling fans can save you money in utility bills in both the winter and summer months.

Most people only pick out lighting every 15-30 years. Lighting changes a lot in that time span, so there are some common mistakes people make that can be avoided.

• Under-sized lighting on the exterior of their home, especially next to large garage doors. When you pick out lights, you’re in a store or showroom that is smaller scale than the exterior of your garage is usually. To avoid this, bring in a picture of your home into a lighting showroom so someone can help you with appropriate scale. Just remember that they will always look larger in the store, than they will look on your house.
• Heights are important.  For fixtures you will be walking under, you’ll want to leave 7’ of clearance from the floor to the fixture.  Over tables, many people hang fixtures to high.  Fixtures should be hung a little above eye level. The general recommendation is 30” between the table and the bottom of the fixture.
• Wall Sconces and Lamps are underused. When building a home, don’t understimate the nice accent lighting that sconces can create. If you’re doing a remodel, see if you can wire in a couple sconces to flank a large window, or fireplace. Also, if you need extra lighting in a room, but don’t have the ability to hardwire anything, add some floor lamps or table lamps. They make many styles that can add quite a bit of lighting for a room, or just create a nice accent as well.
• Installing Only Recessed Lighting in a Bedroom. If its a bedroom in your house that will be used primarily for sleeping, only using recessed for general lighting will not be the best way to do that. When you are laying in bed, you will have spotlights to stare up at. These can be very uncomfortable for a place of rest. Its better to use a fan with a center light, or a semi-flush mount in the middle to provide more soft & diffused light along with the recess.  This gives you the option of having soft light or directional light in the room

The American Lighting Association provides an easy to ready chart outlining the new incandescent bulb requirements.  Check it out if you have questions! 

http://www.americanlightingassoc.com/About-ALA/Press-Releases/New-U-S–Energy-Efficiency-Legislation-for-Light-B.aspx

Like everything else, light fixtures both inside your house and outside do and will get dirty. Your fixtures can acquire anything from dust, cobwebs, dead bugs, to a build up of heat inside an enclosed fixture that creates a fog that will make a clear glass fixture look cloudy. With any or all of these conditions happening, you can take a few simple steps to make this part of your weekly, monthly, or seasonal cleaning routine and eliminate that dirty look and make your light fixtures sparkle.

1.  First things first, turn off power at switch and circuit breaker.
2.  Remove light bulbs, glass, globes, shields, grills, and shades to ease the cleaning of the hardware part of the fixture.
3.Clean this hardware, along with any other metal parts (shields, grills, etc) with a soft cloth that has been moistened with water and a mild detergent. Then dry with soft dry cloth.
(DO NOT use harsh cleaners on this metal hardware, a protective coating has been put on by the manufacturer to protect the finish and could be damaged by anything abrasive.)
4.Wash the glass and /or globes from the fixture by hand in warm soapy water. Dry with a soft cloth and attach back on to the light.
5.Put your light bulbs back into the dry fixture.
6.Turn your power back on and enjoy your sparkling lights!

Attention all metal finishes….Gold is BACK, and better than ever. It’s good news for anyone that is currently struggling with trying to update their brass hardware based home with new lighting. Gold is on the trend…Again! Not that shiny show-every-finger-print kind of gold…a NEW gold. The lighting world is filled with lovely brushed brass and soft painted gold options this year. Some manufacturers have even succeeded in incorporating sleek and more sophisticated modern designs with the new hue, and the result is nothing short of fantastic. If you desperately want to rid your space of the old brass and glass fixture blues, but need something that will still work with all of that gold hardware, this is your time! And to any of you who are tired of the stainless and silver days, I encourage you to give gold a chance…again.

At Creative Lighting we continually work to offer you the best- a great selection of products available when you need them, at the lowest possible price by experienced lighting consultants.

 We know that at times, you have a tight deadline – your electrician calls to tells you he’ll be there this afternoon, or you want to finish that nagging project this weekend.  An advantage to shopping with Creative Lighting is that now you don’t have to drive all over town to find that fixture that you need today, you can see what’s in stock online at www.creative-lighting.com before you leave your home.  We offer the advantage of online shopping with all of the the convenience of a local showroom.

 Browse our wide selection of lighting on our website  – the items that are available for same-day pick-up are clearly marked with our  icon:  

Then stop by the showroom to “kick the tires,” and take the items you love home with you the same day, OR give us a call to place your order.  We can have it ready for pick up ASAP!

In our showroom, you’ll find a large selection of unique lighting, ceiling fans, and mirrors, as well as, our ”In Stock Today” items on display.  While you’re here, visit our bargain room area to save even more on clearance items or select special order items not offered on our website.  Our experienced staff will help answer your questions and provide ideas and inspiration to ensure you get the most from your lighitng project. 

 Shop now for:

In Stock Today trestle lights  or In Stock Today mini-pendants  that you might use over your kitchen island. 

In Stock Today vanity lights to complete your bathroom remodeling project.  

In Stock Today table lamps to add a new punch to your décor.

Or, check it all out at www.creative-lighitng.com.

There are three types of lighting that are used in a home: Ambient, Task, and Accent lighting.  All are important to create a  happily lit  home.

Ambient lighting provides overall lighting for a space, or general lighting.  It is intended to light the whole space, and minimize glare & shadow.  Usually, this is seen as a main ceiling light in a bedroom, or a chandelier in a dining room. Recessed lighitng is also being utilized to  light up rooms like kitchens and lower level family rooms.

Task lighting is exactly that – it specifically lights up the area where a task is done.  For instance, utilizing undercabinet lighting over your kitchen counters, an adjustable desk lamp to light up paperwork, or track lighting to spotlight a craft table.

Accent lighting is a great way to draw attention to focal points in a room.  It also is used to create drama and intruige.  This can be achieved by using a small adjustable recessed to spotlight art, or track lighting in front of a fireplace to spotlight some stonework. 

Ambient Lighting - chandelier

Task Lighting

Accent Lighting

Before you venture out to buy lighting, it helps to take a few minutes to prepare.  This will help you and your lighting consultant select lighting that will meet your style, function and size requirements.

Before shopping consider the following:

1. What do you use your room for?  For example, is your dining room used only for formal dinners, or is the table used for homework, paying bills, etc?  The use of the room plays a role in the type of lighting you’d want.

2. What are your ceiling heights?  A foyer with an 9′ ceiling can use many fixtures which would be too tall for an 8′ ceiling.  In the dining room, taller ceilings open up many design possibilities.

3. Styles.  Have you seen anything you like?  Are you trying to match a style in the space?  Whether it’s a picture from a magazine or a website, bringing in ideas that you like will help us help you find exactly the right light.

4. Special Installations.  Are there any impediments to what you want to light?  For example, before you can put a light in a bedroom make sure that you have a junction box.  If you have sloped ceilings, or drop ceilings, they can also affect your choice in lighting.

5. Colors.  What colors are you utilizing in the room? Dark colors will require more lighting than lighter colors.  Also, using warm tones (browns and yellows)  may requires one type of lighting, while cool colors (blues and grays) require a different type.

For additional considerations before shopping: CLICK HERE

Retailers and home fashion experts say consumers are looking for ways to express personality in their homes this fall, with something that shows an artisan’s touch and adds a little sparkle. Also, as the days get shorter and the nights longer you may find that general lighting just isn’t enough for your hallway, foyer or bathroom. You don’t have to stumble around in an area that lacks the proper amount of lighting. When you’re ready to fill your living space with the right amount of light, consider a wall sconce. These classic fixtures can be both decorative and task oriented and are a perfect accent piece that double as functional art.

Many wall sconces can also complement main lighting sources, like chandeliers and ceiling fixtures, and a good number of them are also reversible and can be mounted for up or down lighting.

There are few places wall sconces cannot be mounted. We could reasonably put these versatile little gems into three different categories:

• Indoors conventional: Bathroom and hallway fixtures provide a small amount of light for accenting already existing fixtures. Foyer fixtures offer an exemplary complement to ceiling fixtures, like chandeliers or pendants.

• Indoors unconventional: The American Lighting Association suggests placing sconces on each side of the fireplace to draw attention to that area and provide general lighting. This is a way to use wall scones to create a focal point in your room.

• Outdoors: While beautifying your property, outdoor wall sconces placed at the front and back porch or by the garage will also make your home’s exterior safer and more secure. In addition, basking in the glow of outdoor wall sconces allows you to enjoy the times you spend outdoors.

Whether you’re planning to install wall sconces along a hallway or in a bathroom or foyer, they should be hung roughly 60 inches from the floor, and spaced no less than six feet apart from each other.

One way in which wall sconces are unique from all other lighting fixtures is in their architectural styles. Corner sconces provide accent light and can showcase a cherished piece of furniture or art. Lighted shelf fixtures offer a small ledge to accommodate a knick-knack, picture frame or any other decorative touch.

Swing arm fixtures are great since the light source itself can be moved to cast light anywhere the swing arm will reach. Wall washers flood a specific area with a soothing array of light, perfect for complementing other fixtures in the room.

Because wall sconces come in so many different styles and can be used for so many different lighting situations the possibilities are virtually endless. The best thing to do is to work with a lighting professional and find the design and lighting solution that speaks to you.

Pendants are an attractive way to illuminate a home, if used properly. The American Lighting Association provides the following tips for selecting pendants for optimal design and functionality. Pendants must be placed at the proper height and in the appropriate quantity for the space being illuminated. The type of pendant to use depends on whether it’s the primary or secondary light source in the room.

When it comes to selecting which type of pendant you need, style isn’t the only criteria. The first decision should be whether the pendants will be the primary source of light. If an adequate layer of general illumination is already in the room, pendants can be selected purely for aesthetic purposes. If they will be the only light in the area, the placement and selection must be more deliberate. The two most common pendant lighting mistakes homeowners make are not placing them at the proper height and not installing enough.

The best advice is to visit your local lighting showroom for guidance. Sitting down with a trained lighting professional who can asses your needs will help to result in the best outcome for your lighting project. That being said, here are some guidelines to follow when selecting pendant lighting for your home:

What height should pendants be mounted at?

Our relationship to most pendants occurs when we are standing up. Therefore, each should be mounted so that the bottom of the shade is approximately 66 inches above the floor. At that height, it is possible to look across the room below the pendants while they are low enough to create a dramatic focal point. If the shade is not very deep and there is seating at the kitchen island or peninsula, it might be necessary to install the pendants a few inches lower, say 60 inches above the floor. This is because shallow shades allow us to easily see the bulb inside when we are looking across the room and can cause glare.

How many pendants do I need?

The general recommendation is for one pendant to be placed at every two feet of counter space. For instance, a six-foot island would require three pendants to adequately cover the area. In that example, one pendant would be mounted in the center and the other two would be placed roughly 20 inches on either side.

The size of the pendants can also impact the spacing. If thin, narrow pendants are selected, you might prefer the addition of one or two extra fixtures than you would have if a wider diameter was chosen. Odd quantities of pendants over a counter or island give a more balanced look than an even number. Always keep with the rule of thumb of suspending the middle fixture at the center-point with the others equidistant from the center. Spacing from 12 to 24 inches will depend on the size of each pendant.

Does it matter what the pendant is made of?

Actually, no. It’s all a matter of personal taste. Glass is currently the most common material used for pendants, followed by spun metal. White or off-white colored shades will complement any decorative or interior design theme. Glass styles are offered in a broad spectrum ranging from a neutral color palette that blends into the surroundings to the more vibrant, color-rich pendants that steal attention.

If the pendant will be providing the general lighting for the space, it is important to select a shade that is translucent but not so dark that it prevents light from emanating horizontally. Another important consideration is that the bulb outline should not be readily visible – especially if it’s a compact fluorescent. Today, we are seeing a split in preferences. Bronze is on one side and silver is on the other. While the rule is not hard and fast, bronzes are typically used in more traditional or transitional spaces, while chromes and nickels are perfect for contemporary settings. For the foreseeable future, both metal families will be popular, but there will be a growing demand for the shiny finishes instead of matte.