Bathroom Lighting Buying Guide
Proper interior bathroom lighting provides comfortable, adequate, un-shadowed light. There are several styles of bathroom lighting, and proper placement of your lighting is important for best results.
Styles of Bathroom Lighting
Bath and Vanity (also called a bath bar) has two or more bulbs and is installed over the mirror and sink. The number of bulbs you will require depends on the length of your mirror.
Adding Sconces to the sides of a mirror can help even out the light on your face and eliminate shadows during activities such as makeup application and shaving. In addition, sconces add a decorative touch to help complete your overall bathroom design.
Ceiling Lighting is used in addition to the lighting around the mirror. Ceiling lighting helps to illuminate the rest of the bathroom and can be used in the center of the room or in alcoves to improve overall conformability and safety.
Lighting Placement
The purpose of mirror lighting is to surround your face with light. A Bath and Vanity fixture is intended to cast light downward, while the sconces are intended to illuminate from the sides. The bath and vanity fixture should be about the same width as your mirror. When hanging the fixture, take into consideration the relative heights of your family and install the lighting at about average forehead height. An average height in most homes is about 66″ from the finished floor. The mirror should be hung 1-5″ below the bottom of the fixture. The sconces should be equal height on either side of the mirror and positioned to fill in the sides of your face with light.
Most bathrooms will also require at least one ceiling fixture to properly illuminate the remaining area of the bathroom. If your bathroom has additional alcoves you may want to consider adding small fixtures in those areas for even overall lighting.
Matching your lighting and plumbing fixtures
Consider the finish of your bath faucets when purchasing your new light fixtures. Most manufacturers offer a variety of finishes to match bathroom faucets, lighting and accessories for a cohesive overall design.
Vinyl Flooring – An Excellent Substitute
Vinyl flooring makes an excellent substitute for wood and other kinds of flooring. Commonly used in high traffic areas, vinyl flooring is an attractive option because of its affordability and durability. Vinyl flooring is very easy to install and does not suffer from abrasions, impacts, or water damage. This is in sharp contrast to wood flooring that may warp and crack from water damage, or show scratching from abrasions. Vinyl flooring, on the other hand, can hold up for many years without visible signs of wear. Even when damage or wear occurs, the floor can be very easily refinished with little cost. Damaged tiles can be removed without much trouble as well.
Hardwood flooring provides an attractive aesthetic appeal, but cannot hold up very well under heavy traffic and harsh wear. Vinyl flooring can provide the same aesthetic appeal without the associated maintenance issues commonly encountered. Vinyl manufacturers today have large lineups of products with great durability, as well as a variety of appearances. Vinyl flooring can be easily manufactured to appear like wood flooring, or any other surface for that matter. Manufacturers such as Armstrong produce vinyl flooring with a keen eye toward appearance and durability.
High quality Armstrong vinyl flooring is produced to look just like hardwood. The Armstrong Hi-Definition printing process creates vinyl flooring with a hardwood appearance that is difficult to discern from that of a real hardwood floor. Best of all, vinyl tile is very easy to cut and fit around corners and other obstacles. This makes vinyl tile flooring extremely flexible. Add to that its affordability, and vinyl tile is an incredibly attractive option for flooring. This is especially true when the flooring must withstand high traffic or frequent abrasions.
Check with any number of vinyl tile manufacturers, and you will find that the tiles are available in an amazing array of styles, shades, and colors. Vinyl tile is not only durable, but extremely diverse in its range of style as well. Vinyl tile allows the designer to imitate almost any material without worrying about the subsequent maintenance issues. Armstrong is one of the largest names in the vinyl tile business. Employing over 12,000 workers, Armstrong is a pioneer in the vinyl tile market. With cutting edge printing technology, Armstrong focuses on providing both durability and aesthetic appeal.
Bathroom Decorating Tips For Your Bathroom Makeover
Decorating your bathroom can be one of the easiest tasks in your decorating jobs. You do not need too much accessories to achieve an attractive bathroom. Just be creative and resourceful in choosing the right materials, which reflects your personality and interest. Bathroom decorating tips can be helpful if you want to decorate your bathroom better.
You can find bathroom decorating tips in books, magazines and in the internet. If you do not have any idea on hoe to design, select those bathroom decorating tips that are appropriate to your own bathroom and try the suggestions given.
Start with the shower curtain. Select the color and design you want, which you think will look good in your bathroom. The paint in your bathroom should match the color of your shower curtain. If you want to make your bathroom appear larger, choose light colors. Complement the shower curtain color the paint of the bathroom.
Towel racks are necessary and place them near the bathtub or toilet. The design of the towel racks must be the same to have a better appeal. Pick towels that have the same shade as the shower curtain. They do not have to be the same color, just the shade. Roll some additional towels in a small stylish basket and place them on the floor.
Rugs for your bathroom floor should also go with the colors of your towels. If your bathroom is spacious, it is a good idea to place rugs by the toilet and the sink.
Add more accessories in the bathroom such as tissue holders, toothbrush holders and soap dispenser. Scented candles can be a nice accent on the vanity and bathtub corners. You can also put some of your collections in the bathroom to personalize your design. Unique bottles, paintings, and small figurines can create a more interesting appeal. Just make sure that you do not overdo the design for it may become cluttered.
The Problem that Never Ends
It is funny how people think that there are so many problems in life that may never end. It is because every problem has a solution and they will be solved easily if we try to solve them. The most common problems which people think will never end are money problem. It is ridiculous because the fact is people will be able to solve money problem really fast if they decide to use the cash advance online service. The problem is people do not like to use it. What is their problem? Well, let us explain it to you.
The problem is simple. People do not like to take cash advance service on the internet because they think that loan will never help them out. They are wrong. They have been mistaken for long because loan is very effective. The only thing you need to make sure is you are capable of paying them. That is why we always tell people that there is no problem which will never end. It is especially when we realize that cash advance online services are all over the internet these days. They are very easy to be found these days and we believe you know how to do that.
Furniture Layaway – The New Financing
Today’s furniture buyers are looking for ways to buy quality new furniture without having to apply for credit or take a large financial hit all at once. So how do you get the furniture you want and bypass the above mentioned options?
Layaway is the simple answer to this problem. Most people now associate layaway with large discount super stores, but it is a smart and easy solution to getting quality large ticket items also. In the current economic times, people either cannot obtain the credit they need, or they do not want to acquire any new debt. So either the need of furniture has to be ignored or a layaway plan can be used. So how to choose a store with a layaway plan? Research is the key. You can call local furniture stores, or you can use the power of the internet to find an online furniture retailer who has a layaway plan in place.
Take time to research the retailer. Google the store and make sure there are no negative postings about the store. If you do find any of the stores you want to do business with, call them and ask about the remarks. Sometimes customers who did not get their way will post remarks that are not 100% true. Next you need to make sure you are comfortable with the layaway plan and that it can fit into your monthly budget. Make sure you are clear about the dollar amount of the payments and how long you have to make the payments. Of course you need to know what the cancellation policy is also. If you are hit with a financial crisis will they let you hold off payment? Will the refund you your money if you need it for something else? If they will not refund your money, make sure you can enter into the layaway plan without worry.
Another question you should not be afraid to ask is what does this company do with my money before the layaway is complete and the order is placed? Do they consider it immediate income and spend it? That will be a worry point with so many companies going under right now. A trustful business will have a separate account that all layaway payment go into and is separate from the operating account so that the money is not income for the business until the layaway is complete. So if you need furniture and are willing to wait, a layaway plan is a great option. No, you do not have immediate gratification of the furniture, but that could be a good thing. The harder we work for something the more it means to us. And you may sleep better at night knowing you do not owe a bank any money.
Lighting Ideas For Your Bedroom
Bedrooms are used for far more than simply sleeping. They provide places to read, work out using exercise equipment, watch TV, or spend time relaxing alone or with your partner. It’s important to have the right lighting for all these different activities – more light will be needed for working at the computer, say, than for relaxing in bed. To achieve this balance, you’ll need to have both portable and fixed lights in your room.
Different types of people also have different lighting needs. Couples need individually controlled bedside reading lights so they can go to sleep at different times. Teenagers and students need adequate light for studying. Babies’ nurseries should be fitted with a dimmer switch or low-level light so that parents can check on their child without waking them. Plug-in nightlights are ideal for young children to help them find their way in the dark.
Older people need more light to see properly and their eyes are also more sensitive to harsh lighting. If you’re older, you should make sure your lights are sufficiently bright but covered with a shade to reduce glare. If you do your make-up sitting at a dressing table, this should be horizontally lit from both sides, otherwise shadows will fall across your face.
Choose your bedroom lighting to complement your furniture and decor. If your bedroom is romantic and traditional, go for bronze or antique fixtures and fittings, or for a contemporary look, incorporate spotlights in the ceiling or floor.
Your central light needs to be high enough to reach all areas of the room, so don’t buy a fixture that hangs too low. Before choosing your bedroom lighting, first measure the dimensions of your room and take them along to a lighting showroom. The staff will be able to help you select lights that are the right size for your room.
Bedroom lighting options
o Dimmer switches can be used to adjust the main central light and wall lights in your bedroom to suit your mood
o Recessed lights, or downlights, are light fixtures that are installed into a hollow opening in the ceiling, so that the light appears to be shining down from the ceiling. They concentrate the light downwards, either as a broad floodlight or narrow spotlight
o Uplighting from the floor draws attention to a particular feature, such as a potted plant.
o Directional lighting sheds light on an area of the room where more light is needed, such as a workspace or exercise area
o Track lights are a series of light fixtures attached on a continuous track device which contains electrical conductors. They are useful for highlighting artwork along the walls
o Sconces are a type of light fixture fixed to a wall. Sconces were originally used to hold burning torches and tend to be ornate, so would suit a more dramatically styled bedroom
o Occupancy sensors react to the infrared heat energy given off by people. The sensors can tell if there is somebody in the room or not and switch the lights on and off accordingly. This saves you fumbling for the light switch in the dark and avoids wasting electricity from forgetting to turn off the lights when you leave
o Closet lights are small, fluorescent lights mounted inside a walk-in closet above the door to help you see to choose your clothes
o Candles create a romantic atmosphere in a room, but only use them if you’re sure you won’t fall asleep and leave them burning
o Fairy lights add sparkle and a feminine touch to your bedroom. Run them along the walls or drape around a feature such as a mirror
Bedside lighting
The simplest solution for bedside lighting for couples is to place individual lights on bedside tables or cabinets. Choose shades that are white inside and a warm colour outside and use a clear bulb to give off warm tones of light. Other options are to mount bedside lights on the wall, or to fix them into the bedhead. However, depending on how tall you are, you may find you have to lie at a certain angle to be comfortable. Make sure they have separate switches so you can turn off your light without reaching over your partner.
Finally, remember that your bedroom may be used during the day and pay attention to the natural light in the room. If blinding sunlight creeps into the room when you’re trying to work, use Venetian blinds or muslin curtains to diffuse it.