Are you tired of looking at your old exterior light fixtures, or you are putting your house on the market? Whatever the case, replacing the exterior light fixtures can transform your home quickly without taking a big hit to your wallet. To help, we have listed some tips below that should make the refresh much easier while allowing you to have fun while doing so. Let’s take a look!

Proper Size

Often times, homeowners make the mistake of choosing a fixture that is too small. Please keep in mind that if you are replacing commercial builders’ light fixtures, they will use fixtures that are on hand or too small to save money. The general rule of thumb is if you are replacing two fixtures on either side of the front door, the fixtures should be ¼ the height of the front door. If there is only one light, purchase a fixture that is ⅓ height of the door.

Style

You may want to change the fixtures to an industrial- or modern-style fixture, but you must stay with the overall style of the home. If your home is a mid-century modern home, then stick with those types of fixtures. If you are not sure about what fixtures go with what style of home, simply google it, look in magazines, ride through neighborhoods, or visit new home construction communities. Also, regarding the color of the fixture, stay with the matching door’s hardware (a dark bronze for a dark or black look). Dark bronze goes great with ranch- and traditional-style homes. Chrome or stainless is a popular choice in modern design.

Light Output

Lighting output is often overlooked and is a significant factor for how the fixtures will look when lit and for safety reasons. Pay attention to the type/kind/wattage of the bulb that the fixture recommends, the number of bulbs required, and what type of glass bulbs (like clear or opaque, etc.). By using the recommended bulbs for the fixture, it will certainly enhance the beauty of the fixture and provide a well lite pathway when dark.

Do you have any tips that you would like to share with other readers? If so, be sure to leave us a comment below in the comment section.

Are you shopping for lighting fixtures for your home? If so, then you may want to consider pendant lighting, which is suspended in the air via a chain or cord. Pendant lighting has become trendy because it is generally less expensive than chandelier lighting, and it does not take up much space. Some of the benefits of using a pendant light over traditional lighting sources include:

• Pendant lights serve as great focal points. So if you are interested in adding subtle drama to your living room or bathroom, a funky designed pendant light will bring some emphasis to the area.
• If you need to save on space, then pendant lights are necessary because they do not use floor space, and they do not require something to be propped on like a table lamp.
• You can purchase pendant light in a variety of colors and styles.

When purchasing pendant lighting fixtures, you will have to consider a number of factors such as:

LED or Standard Light Bulbs

There are pendant lighting fixtures on the market that only take LED light bulbs and traditional bulbs. LED bulbs are extremely durable and more efficient than standard light bulbs, making for great task lighting. However, LED bulbs are more expensive than traditional light bulbs.

Hardwiring or Plugin

Plugin pendant lights are easy to install. However, you will need to use a longer cord or an extension cord to pull off this look. On the other hand, hardwiring your pendant light will provide a clean look. However, hardwiring is labor-intensive, and if you are not handy, you will need to seek help from a professional. If you desire the pendant lighting fixture that you selected to be permanent, then you may want to opt for a hardwiring installation.

Materials and finishes

Most pendant light fixtures on the market are made with plastic, glass, metal, and cloth finishes. Glass and metal finishes reflect light, which means that more light will be distributed across the room. Plastic pendant lights are cost-effective, but they wear easily. Cloth pendant lights collect dust easily and are best used in areas like the living room where cleaning is done on a regular basis.

All in all, our best advice to you is to be sure to shop around before settling on a pendant light fixture for your room. There are a variety of styles out there. You just need to find them.

How does this room make you feel? For most people, this space offers an invitation to walk in and make yourself comfortable.

The coffered ceiling, window casings, fireplace and built-in cupboard could be overwhelming with their strong presentation. However, gentle buttermilk walls contrast only slightly with the pure white of the architectural details, keeping every element low-key.

The flooring is a light oak. This is a perfect selection for the space’s traditional style. The oversize area rug has a soft tweedy pattern which adds another layer of design without outshining the rest of the room. Wood floors and area rugs are such a classic and inviting look and it works with almost any rug/floor combination.

One important element in creating an inviting space is light. By choosing simple light wood blinds, they can be pulled up during the day to take advantage of the sunshine and pulled down for privacy at night. In the evening, the ceiling light fixture combines with the lamp in the right corner to provide a warmly lighted space in the evening. Brightening up the corners with table lamps makes a room feel more welcoming.

Sofa and chair are of the same light sage green, adding color without taking over the room. The simple solid-color pillows can be requisitioned for a number of uses, but their gentle tones are also consistent with the soft nature of the room. Add in two round ottomans by the fireplace and this room is ready to make you comfortable.

What ideas from this room can you borrow to make your home more comfortable as well as lovely? Remember to design for your own comfort as well as your style preferences.

What makes this room work? It’s the study in contrasts that make a traditional design like this stay new and interesting.

The classic elements such as the design of all the furniture, the moldings and most of the accessories contrast with the contemporary approach to color and design.

Painting the walls this dark green grey provides the first leap from the standard. The fabric choice for the loveseats and drapes also depart from a traditional approach.

The carpet, while traditional in color, departs with its willingness to include pattern. Both the base pattern of the carpet and the overlay of a matching rug with a contrasting border take this room up a design notch. Both the colors and the carpet choices make this room stand out as a fresh take on an old look.

This room shows the power of contrast in design. Taking a chance on a dark wall tone, combining different patterns, and encouraging both very light and very dark elements to interact makes for an exciting room.

Does your home show your more daring side? How about challenging yourself to take some chances with your décor? Even if your taste is traditional, let your creative side experiment. You never know what may happen!