Welcome, homeowners, to a journey into the heart of home entertainment – your very own home theater. As technology continues to advance, the cinema experience is no longer confined to luxury homes and multi-screen theaters. In this blog, we will explore the vital role that lighting plays in transforming your home theater into a cinematic masterpiece. From setting the mood to enhancing safety and reducing eye strain, the right lighting can elevate your movie nights to unparalleled heights. If you’re ready to embark on this illuminating adventure, contact us at Illuminations for expert assistance tailored to your home theater lighting needs.

Creating the Cinematic Ambiance

Ambiance is the name of the game when it comes to home theater lighting. It’s easy to flip a switch and turn out the lights before turning on a movie, but all that does is give you a dark room. If you really want to set the scene for your cinematic experience, you’ll want to craft a few lighting moments into the space that set the tone without taking away from the main attraction.

Creating a Zone Map

Depending on the size and layout of your home theater, it’s worth taking a moment to draw out the space and determine how you use each area. If the entire room is seating, you may only have one zone to consider. But, if you have a seating area, snack area, and a staging area, you’ll want to consider the lighting needs of each area separately. 

General Lighting

General lighting, also called ambient lighting, is the term for the overall or general lighting in a space. The best ambient lighting gives a uniform amount of light across a room. If your theater room is equipped with a single light overhead, you may want to find ways to supplement the light with lamps or sconces to give more even light coverage for before and after the show. If you’re building or renovating, consider choosing a grid of recessed lights to get the best coverage. 

Indirect lighting around the room creates a cozy and immersive atmosphere, transporting you into the world of your favorite films. Rather than choosing fixtures that shine light straight down into the room, look for options that shine light up or out onto the walls, like track or cove lights. The light will reflect off the walls into the room without the same harsh glare as an overhead bulb.

One of the most important features of your theater room’s ambient light is dimmability. Choose dimmable fixtures and bulbs to help set the right mood. Opt for bulbs with warm color temperatures to create a cozy, relaxing atmosphere.

Task Lighting

Think of task lighting as “specific job” lighting. The purpose of task lighting is to make a certain job or action easier or safer to do. In a home theater, places that could benefit from task lighting include aisles, snack areas, and tech areas. 

Well-placed wall sconces, lamps, floor or stair lights, or recessed lights can help to make mid-movie snack or bathroom breaks safer, and avoid the struggle of fumbling with the projector controls in the dark. 

Accent Lighting

Accent lighting is all about drama. The purpose of accent lighting is to highlight architectural details or artwork, or to paint shapes or patterns with light and shadow onto the space. Accent lighting can also be artwork that lights up, like a neon “popcorn” sign over your snack corner.

Consider track lighting or LED art sconces to highlight movie posters and other artwork on the walls. Smart, color-changing bulbs are a fun and easy way to make your home theater lightscape fully customizable – whether it’s a spooky, deep red for horror movies or a playful, light pink for a weekend showing of the Barbie movie, color-changing bulbs will elevate the room to a whole new level. 

Enhancing Safety and Reducing Eye Strain

A home theater needs to do more than just look cool, it should also be a safe and comfortable space. In addition to creating a cinematic experience, you’ll want to consider how you move around the space, and take measures to avoid eye strain so that you can spend hours of worry-free time in your new space.

Bias Lighting

If you haven’t heard of bias lighting, get ready to level up. Bias lighting involves adding soft light behind a screen that emanates out and around the edges. This gentle glow minimizes the harsh contrast between a bright screen and a dark room, which makes it easier on the eyes. Bias lighting can be used on any screen or monitor (hello, work monitor upgrade), but it’s an especially effective way to make movie viewing more comfortable. 

One of the easiest ways to add bias lighting is with LED strip lights. Many can be simply stuck to the screen or monitor with 3M tape, making it an incredibly simple project with a huge pay-off. LED strip lights come in wired and wireless options, so it should be easy to find something that will work for your space. 

If you feel like getting really fancy, look into smart bias lighting. These systems can detect the colors being displayed on the screen, and mimic them around the screen, expanding the colors from your movie out into the space. 

Pathway Lighting

We’ve mentioned this before, but pathway lighting is more than just a cool add-on, it’s a safety must for a home theater. Install floor-level lighting along pathways, stairs, or under seats to ensure safe movement in the dark

Subtle LED strips, recessed lights, rope lights, and wall sconces all offer a practical yet stylish solution to prevent tripping hazards. All of these will come in wired and wireless options, so you can choose whether you’d rather hire an electrician to install fixtures to a switch, or opt for rechargeable or battery-powered options that can be maintained here and there when needed.

Pro Tip: Pathway lighting is a great trip hazard reducer, but adding light won’t be a safety feature if it comes with loose cords running across the walkway. If you can’t avoid running a cord across a walkway, consider covering the path with a runner rug to minimize trip hazards in the dark.

Smart Lighting Controls

Smart lighting comes with a huge “wow” factor, and it makes setting the tone for your cinematic adventures as easy as a quick button tap on your phone. Don’t be intimidated by the set up – smart lighting is highly customizable, but it’s also easy to operate. You’ll be able to dim the lights, change the tone from cool to warm, or set bulbs to different colors to set the mood for whatever film is in the queue. 

Investing in smart lighting systems will also allow you to create pre-programmed scenes for different viewing experiences and set lights to timers or motion sensors. The options are pretty limitless, and odds are if you want to do it, there’s a smart lighting solution that can make it happen. Once you’re up and running, you’ll be able to create an impressive and unforgettable experience every time you use the space. (We won’t tell your friends how easy it was to do.) 

Ready to transform your home theater into a haven of cinematic bliss? As you embark on the journey to design your home theater, remember that lighting is the unsung hero that can truly elevate your cinematic experience. Our team at Illuminations is here to guide you through the process of selecting the perfect fixtures for your space. Contact us for a personalized consultation and visit our showroom to explore the latest trends in home theater lighting. By carefully selecting fixtures that enhance ambiance, ensure safety, and reduce eye strain, you’re not just illuminating a space – you’re creating a haven for unforgettable movie nights.

The only constant in life is change, and as we near the mid 2020s, it’s quite interesting to see the trends that have come and gone in the past 4 years. Subway tile? Bye! Shiplap? See ya! Signs with words? Live, Love, No Thanks!

Interior design technology and trends move at a rapid pace these days, and with influencers and celebrities lending their talents and tastes to those of established interior designers, we’re seeing a wider range of design styles in homes – and that’s ideal, right? Just like your fashion sense, interior design is personal… and there’s nothing as boring as a bunch of cookie cutter houses that look exactly the same, inside and out. 

Here are a few of our favorite interior design styles to covet (and copy!) in 2024. 

Modern minimalism

Homeowners and renters are not yet ready to let the modern minimalist trend go, and for good reason. It’s comfortable without being cluttered, and bright without being sterile. Wood tones and natural textures live in harmony with matte blacks and crisp white walls, and greenery abounds.

Pendant lights with woven, ceramic, or paper shades provide a warm glow AND a dose of casual, inviting style. And while you may not find many knick-knacks filling the corners of modern minimalist homes, a lush plant in a beautiful pot is always welcome.

Biophilic

Homes built and decorated with biophilic design in mind foster a connection between humans and nature, by incorporating natural textures, shapes, patterns, and light. Many studies have suggested that humans are healthier, happier, and more productive when surrounded by nature – so it’s no surprise why biophilic design is growing in popularity. 

Whether it’s a Brooklyn flat or a Montana ranch, you’ll find tons of greenery in every part of the biophilic home (shower plants, anyone?), large windows to let in the natural light and air, and plenty of natural materials like rattan, wood, and linen. One key of biophilic design? It should be holistic– so one room with plants isn’t going to cut it. Each room should have its share of nature, be it a rattan light shade and Boston fern on a bedside table, or a wall of plants and a giant skylight in the kitchen. 

Have a black thumb? No worries – biophilic design is about bringing nature to all of your senses, so lean in to what works best for you. Whether it’s a focus on using natural materials, finding ways to maximize natural light, or adding a small fountain to recreate the sound of a bubbling brook, there are lots of ways to connect to the natural world that don’t involve daily watering. 

Maximalism

On the other end of the spectrum from minimalist design is the fun, festive, interior design style of maximalism! Made popular by interior designers like Justina Blakeney, maximalism isn’t afraid to mix colors, patterns, textures and styles into one convivial home that brings joy and doesn’t take itself too seriously. To ensure things look magical but not messy – choose a common thread to weave throughout (like in the room above, mustard yellow!)

Your lighting options in a maximalist home are endless, with pendants, sconces, and lamps in every hue and texture you can dream up. Go for a gold dining pendant in the shape of an agave, or a glittery oversized capiz chandelier in the hall. Maximalism says “why not?!” to all things bold and beautiful. 

Brutalism

Vogue calls brutalism “a movement about honesty” and we can see why – in a brutalist home, there’s nothing to hide! Some might find brutalist interior design and architecture to be intimidating or, as the name says, brutal. But you’d be amazed how inviting and warm it can be! Brutalist homes embrace much of what makes minimalism shine, while utilizing industrial materials like concrete, and embracing hard lines and corners. In a brutalist home, furniture and decor are sparse, simple, and rugged – but a quick Google search shows how truly beautiful brutalism can be.

When it comes to lighting, ceramic, metal, and concrete fixtures reign supreme. Brutalist style chandeliers, sconces, and table lamps  are as impressive as they are functional, and when walls and floors serve as a blank slate, lighting has an opportunity to truly shine.  

——————————-

Curious about maximalism or biophilic design? Consider choosing lighting fixtures that allow you to sample the feel of these styles in your home without a complete overhaul. An airy woven reed pendant light or a bold metallic chandelier are minor (easily reversible!) additions that can make a big impact on a home.

No matter your personal tastes, it’s always exciting and fun to watch where interior design is headed, and to bring in elements of any (or all) that make your home feel more you.  Stop by a showroom today to check out lighting fixtures in every style you can imagine – and let a lighting expert help you find the perfect on-trend light for your home!

Lighting a commercial building isn’t a simple task. The needs of a business are often complex, and meeting those needs requires a solid understanding of how light works in a commercial space. Much like a business plan has several objectives, a commercial lighting plan typically has several objectives or goals.

Common Goals for Commercial Lighting

• Increased productivity, performance, and morale of workers
• Safety of employees and customers
• Comfort and ambiance
• Smooth transitions from space to space
• Cost savings on utility bills
• Branding and cohesiveness

To achieve all of your goals simultaneously, your best bet is to consult with a lighting expert with a thorough understanding of the best practices for commercial lighting in your area. But before you do, it’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the basics of commercial lighting.

Know How Much Light You Need

First, consider usage. Factory work zones will have very different lighting requirements from restaurant dining areas. Areas where detailed or dangerous work will be done need brighter light for accuracy and safety. Always remember to refer to your industry’s regulations regarding commercial lighting as a part of your planning.

Light recommendations for commercial spaces are given in foot-candles, which is a measure of the intensity of light. If you were to hang a single bulb in a room and measure foot-candles throughout the space, you’d find that the foot-candles are the highest directly under the bulb. You can even out light coverage and increase the overall intensity of the lighting by spreading several lights out across a space.

Light output for bulbs and fixtures is measured in lumens, with higher lumens correlating to more light. To determine how many lumens you need in a space, multiply the square footage by the foot-candle recommendation. For example, a 100sqft office, which needs 30-50 foot-candles, will require 3000-5000 lumens. Lumens are cumulative, meaning you can add the lumens for each fixture together to determine the overall lumens in a space. 

Commercial Foot-Candle* Recommendations

While these may vary a little depending on usage and safety requirements, these recommendations will get you to a good starting point that you can tweak if you want more or less light.

*Foot-Candles is an Imperial measurement. Lux is the Metric equivalent. To convert from Foot-Candles to Lux, multiply the foot-candles by 10.764. 1 foot-candle = 10.764 lux. 

Pay Attention to Durability 

The fixtures you choose need to be appropriate for the conditions in which they’ll be installed. Weather and humidity should be considered for outdoor spaces like patio dining, and indoor spaces like showers and laundry. In areas where a fixture could come into unwanted contact, such as gyms and classrooms, choosing fixtures with strong coverings that protect the bulbs is a must. Also, consider the amount of time the lights will be used each day – not all fixtures are designed to be on 24/7/365.

Use Consistent Light Temperature

The temperature, or color, of light (measured in Kelvins) significantly affects how a room, and the people in it, will feel. At lower Kelvins, light appears warm and yellow. Light at high Kelvins appears cool and blue. The temperature of the light you use needs to be consistent to avoid awkward and clashing transitions. A warm yellow bulb in a sea of bright white will look out of place. 

Natural light changes color throughout the day, from warm dawn to cool midday and warm dusk. Because of this our brains are wired to respond to light temperature, which is important to consider in a commercial setting. Cool light makes people feel more alert, awake, and focused – great for labs and workspaces. Warm light makes people feel relaxed and at ease – the perfect choice for creating a mood in a restaurant dining room. Warm light is also much easier on the eyes at night, which is something to consider for outdoor lighting (if you’ve ever driven past an electronic billboard at night and been blinded by the whites and blues, you’ll know what we mean!)

Determine the Type of Light

Light Layering is an important lighting design concept that references the need for light to come from several sources to make a space more comfortable and functional. Layering light is a universal trick, but it’s especially important for commercial spaces. 

The Basics

• General / Ambient Lighting – the overall light in a space, usually provided by overhead lighting.
• Task Lighting – additional lighting for areas where work is done, such as a desk lamp or a pendant hung over a countertop.
• Accent Lighting – decorative lighting focused on a particular area or object, often used to highlight architectural features, artwork, exhibits, etc.
• Direct Lighting – Light that shines directly from a fixture to an object or space. This type of lighting is perfect for illuminating important areas, but can cause headaches for employees that must work underneath them
• Indirect Lighting – Light that is diffused or reflected into a space. Indirect lighting generally lights larger areas with a softer (but not necessarily dimmer) light that is easy on the eyes.

An effective lighting plan should include a combination of the above types of light, coordinated to get the right light to the right places. This will “layer” light across the space. 

Other Things to Consider

• Natural Light – natural light is a mood and energy booster, so it’s important to include it whenever possible. It can also be counted as a light source, which means you can sometimes get away with using fewer lights during daylight hours.
• CRI – Short for the Color Rendering Index, CRI is a measure of a light’s ability to reveal the colors of objects. CRI is measured from 0 to 100 – lights with a CRI of 100 will show colors in their truest form, and lights with a CRI of 0 will make all colors look the same. In retail especially, it’s very important to have lighting with a high CRI to attract customers to displays and make products look their best. High-quality LEDs are typically the best option if CRI is important to your business. Aim for a CRI of 90-100.
• Bulb Type – The most popular bulbs for commercial use are LED – they’re energy-efficient, can be dimmable, and come in a wide range of color options. Fluorescent or CFL bulbs are also popular, but they’re not usually dimmable, and they often have a noticeable flicker that can give some people migraines. Halogen is another option commonly used in commercial lighting. An important thing to note is that halogen bulbs produce a lot of heat, and can be a fire hazard if the fixtures are installed near flammable materials. 
• Glare and Reflection: Light will bounce off reflective surfaces. You can use this to your advantage, and use mirrors or gloss finishes to help reflect light around a space. It can also be an issue if the light bounces in unintended directions, like into employees’ eyes as they work or through a window into traffic.

Energy Efficiency and Savings

Keeping the lights on costs money, but there are plenty of ways to save. Lights with dusk/dawn sensors keep lights off during the day and turn them on when it gets dark without you having to flip a switch. Lights with motion sensors are a great option for places with regular (but not constant) use, like exam rooms and restrooms, because they’ll only use power when the room is occupied. Smart lights can be programmed to turn off and on at a certain time of day. Many can be controlled remotely with an app, which makes them an attractive option for those long days when you can’t remember if you flipped the switch on the way out of the office.

As you shop for lighting, you may notice that some options have a blue Energy Star logo on the packaging. Energy Star is a U.S. government-backed organization that certifies fixtures and appliances that use less energy. The Energy Star certification makes it easy to identify options that will use less power, which will translate to a lower utility bill.

Always Consider Safety

The safety of customers and employees in a commercial environment is always one of the most important things to consider. Always check your industry’s laws and guidelines regarding safety requirements to be sure you’re in compliance. Some of the things you’ll want to use lighting to protect against include: accidents and falls, fire hazards, discomfort, crime, employee productivity, and emergencies.

Indoors, you’ll need to be sure that your exit signs and directional signage are in highly visible locations. Choose lighting that is both adequate for the work to be performed and comfortable for those that work in it. Poor lighting won’t just decrease productivity and make accidents more likely; it can also hurt morale and lower employee satisfaction. It’s also important to keep stairwells well-lit to prevent falls and deter crime in less visible areas. Replace old wiring and faulty fixtures to avoid fire hazards. 

Outdoors, be sure to light all areas regularly used from dusk to dawn, including walkways, paths, and parking areas. Ensure any trip hazards, such as stairs or a raised sidewalk, are well-lit to avoid accidents. Install adequate lighting around exterior entrances to keep employees safe while dealing with door locks. Motion sensor lights can also be a helpful crime deterrent near doors, windows, or important outdoor features. Always be sure that all outdoor fixtures and bulbs are rated for outdoor use.

Aesthetics Matter

After slogging through all of the requirements, recommendations, and acronyms, it can be easy to forget that aesthetics matter too – and they have a huge impact on your business! Lighting that looks good makes your business comfortable and memorable. Once you’ve met the safety requirements, it’s time to bring some life and character to your space.

Make Your Building Shine

When choosing lighting, pay attention to the style of the building. Match the finishes and styles of your fixtures to the building’s architecture as much as possible so they don’t feel out of place with the rest of the building. Use accent lighting to highlight beautiful features, like an original brick wall or a water fountain. 

Lighting and Branding

You can also use lighting to emphasize your branding! Don’t be afraid to go bold or playful with a statement lighting piece in your brand’s colors in the foyer. High CRI lighting around signage and branded decor like furniture or murals will keep your brand colors in sharp focus. Use accent lighting to spotlight things that matter to your brand, like a memorabilia collection, company history display, community outreach projects, employee recognition, etc. To really kick it up a notch, consider installing color-changing lights around the exterior of your building that can be lit up for holidays or with your brand colors for special occasions. 

You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

The most important thing to remember with your commercial lighting needs is that you don’t have to do it alone. As a business owner, you understand the need to rely on subject matter experts for specialized tasks. You wouldn’t want your accountant to design your logo, and you shouldn’t rely on just anyone to get your lighting right. At Illuminations, we specialize in making homes and businesses shine – and we’re passionate about getting it right. For your next commercial lighting project, let us handle the heavy lifting. Check out our website, or give us a call and schedule a consultation. 

As experts in the lighting industry, we often get asked by homeowners how to choose light fixtures that will look great in their home today and continue to look stylish and relevant for years to come. After all, a light fixture is not just a functional element in a room, but it’s also an important design element that can set the tone and style of a space. In this blog post, we’ll provide you with some tips and advice on how to choose timeless light fixtures that will stand the test of time.

1. Consider Your Home’s Style

One of the most important things to consider when choosing light fixtures is the style of your home. If you have a classic, traditional home, then a chandelier with crystal accents or a beautifully detailed pendant light may be the perfect choice. On the other hand, if you have a modern home with clean lines and an uncluttered look, then a simple, sleek fixture like a drum pendant or a linear LED light may be a better fit. The key is to choose fixtures that complement your home’s existing style, so that they blend in seamlessly and don’t look out of place.

2. Opt for Neutral Colors

When choosing light fixtures, it’s important to choose colors that will stand the test of time. Bright and bold colors may be trendy and fun, but they’re also more likely to look dated in just a few years. That’s why it’s a good idea to choose neutral colors like black, white, bronze, or brass. These colors will always look stylish and elegant, and they’ll blend in well with any decor style.

3. Consider the Size and Scale

Another important factor to consider when choosing light fixtures is the size and scale of the fixture. You want to choose fixtures that are proportional to the size of the room and the height of the ceiling. A large chandelier may look stunning in a grand entryway with a high ceiling, but it may look out of place in a small, cozy bedroom. On the other hand, a small pendant light may not make a big enough statement in a large living room. It’s important to choose fixtures that are in proportion to the space, so that they don’t look too small or too large.

4. Focus on Quality

When it comes to light fixtures, it’s important to focus on quality. This means choosing fixtures that are well-made and have a solid construction. Quality fixtures will last longer and look better over time, and they’ll be less likely to need to be replaced in a few years. When you’re shopping for light fixtures, look for those that are made of high-quality materials like brass, stainless steel, or heavy-duty plastic.

5. Think About Energy Efficiency

Finally, it’s important to think about energy efficiency when choosing light fixtures. With energy costs on the rise, it’s more important than ever to choose fixtures that are energy-efficient and will help you save money on your energy bills. Look for fixtures that are Energy Star certified or that use LED lights, as these are both great options for saving energy and reducing your energy bills.

6. Don’t Overlook Functionality

In addition to style and quality, it’s important to also consider the functionality of a light fixture. When choosing light fixtures, think about the purpose of the fixture and the type of light you need. For example, if you’re choosing a fixture for a task area like a kitchen or a reading nook, you’ll need a fixture that provides bright, direct light. On the other hand, if you’re choosing a fixture for a living room or dining room, you’ll want a fixture that provides soft, ambient light. Make sure to choose fixtures that will meet your functional needs and provide the type of light that you need in your home.

In conclusion, choosing timeless light fixtures for your home is all about balancing form and function, and considering the style, size, and quality of the fixtures you choose. If you need any help or advice in choosing the perfect light fixtures for your home, please don’t hesitate to visit our showroom. Our team of experts is here to help you find the perfect fixtures that will look great in your home and stand the test of time.