Putting Your Home In The Spotlight (NAPSA)—Oneof the easiest, most cost-effective ways to enhance a home’s style and to increase its beauty and value is to select and install the right lighting system. “A good lighting plan can dramatically affect how every home looks and feels,” says James Decker of Progress Lighting. “Not only does it increase the functionality of every room in a home, but the right lighting system also provides security and adds personality to a home’s design and dcor.” Whether you design your home’s lighting plan yourself or seek the assistance of professionals, the following tips may help “shed somelight” on how to build upon your greatest investment: your home. First Impressions The entryway of a homecreates the all-important first impression of its interior and design personality. Selecting the proper fixtures for this area can set the stage for the dcor in the rest of the home. Make a statement with a large entryway chandelier and matching wall sconces to invite guests into your home. When choosingfixtures for your hall and foyer, be sure they are scaled to fit grand entranceways, stairwells and tall, multi-level open plan areas. Kitchen Lighting The kitchen is often the busiest room in the house, used for enter- taining, doing homework and gathering with family and friends, as well as cooking, so selecting the right type and numberoffixtures is an important consideration. “The key to kitchen lighting is to provide sufficient task lighting while also creating a warm and inviting atmosphere,” says Decker. “Close-to-ceiling fixtures, hanging lights and recessed cans provide needed illumination over key work areas and add dimension and decorative style.” Final details may include the use of accent or track lighting to create drama and ambiance. Installing undercabinet lighting is also an easy way to add beauty and increasesafety. Transforming the Bath Discriminating homeowners want a bath that is more than functional; it should complement Adding companion sconces or wall brackets to your dining room’s dcor provides a complete lookfor this formal dining area. the home’s overall style and character. When selecting fixtures for the bath and vanity area, choose one main decorative fixture—to be mounted over the mirror—as well as recessed downlights to be used throughout the bath for added illumination and emphasis. Coordinating wall brackets, mounted to the side of the mirror, are effective in eliminating shadows on the face and a recessed shower light or ceiling-mounted plastic unit installed in the showeror over the tub is essential for safety. Decorative Detail Create an inviting ambiance in your living and dining room by adding decorative fixtures that complement your home’s design. Chandeliers, for example, are available in a wide variety of design styles, ranging from contemporary to traditional, and can be married with an assortment of companion fixtures including sconces, pendants and close-toceiling accessories, all of which provide a complete look to every home. Highlighting artwork or accenting a room’s key area with recessed or track lighting can bring to life areas of a room that normal light fixtures usually fall short of emphasizing. An additional tip: install an inexpensive wall dimmerto create drama with these generallighting fixtures. For more information about lighting, contact Progress Lighting at 864-599-6000 or visit www.progresslighting.com.
