Finding the perfect lighting system for a home can be tricky, since lighting is one of the elements in a home that serves both aesthetic and functional purposes, explains Varsha Lafargue, an architect in Houston, TX, and the owner of V-Create LLC.
Whereas someone can probably get by with a couch that is beautiful but uncomfortable, it can be difficult to function successfully in a home without adequate lighting no matter how pretty the sconce or lamp may be. Because of this, many homeowners turn to experts like the designers at Lafargue’s company for help in designing a lighting system that looks pretty and serves its purpose of giving out enough light.
These days, most designers rely on a mixture of installed lighting fixtures and freestanding lamps to provide light in a home. This is especially the case in living rooms, where most families need adequate lighting to be able to read and play games together at night.
Although lamps are generally thought of as decorative features in most homes, they can be burdensome for people with children and pets. A lamp could even be hazardous if a toddler were to knock it down and hurt himself. Because of this, Lafargue says that many of her clients with young children or pets at home are shying away from using lamps in their living rooms.
Increasingly, the clients Lafargue works with are requesting to have ceiling lights integrated into their living room spaces rather than lamps. Although ceiling lights were once thought of as too plain and bright for a stylish living room space, Lafargue explains that simply using low voltage light bulbs can go a long way.
Recessed ceiling lights are particularly popular these days, especially when used in conjunction with dimmer switches. By turning the brightness of the light bulb up or down, homeowners can completely change the look, feel, and functionality of a room in an instant. When couples feel like setting a romantic mood, they can turn the dimmer switch down. And for times when the kids are at home and doing homework in the living room, the dimmer can be turned all the way up to make the room as bright as possible.
Other popular lighting options among homeowners in Houston include LED lighting and solar tubing lighting. As an architect in Houston, TX, Lafargue regularly works with clients who are interested in learning more about solar tubing. Although solar tubing systems do require a bit of an initial investment, the benefit is that homeowners with solar tubing will not have to spend a dime on living expenses once their systems are set up, Lafargue says.
LED lights, meanwhile, are fantastic because they offer a great amount of light output with very little energy consumption. Additionally, LED light bulbs can last up to 15 years before burning out, which means that families who use them will not have to worry about replacing their bulbs for many years down the line.