Pine Grove Lighting

2022

A Guide to Grandmillennial Design

A Guide to Grandmillennial Design

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Today’s interior design trends are all about neutral color pallets and streamlined minimalist design. While some may love the simplicity, many millennials are tired of the muted, sparse interiors and are pushing back – resulting in the creation of a unique version of vintage interior design they’ve coined “Grandmillennial.”

The term “grandmillennial” can be understood in two parts: “grand” and “millennial.” The “grand” refers to the vintage and classic feel, with rich textiles, colors, patterns, and embellishments. The “millennial” portion nods towards the generation largely responsible for resurrecting these elements while acknowledging their twist on the classics. 

In short – think Elizabeth Bennett’s drawing-room sprinkled with references to pop culture, LED lighting, and smart home capabilities.

The grandmillennial aesthetic focuses on storytelling through interior design. It uses brighter colors, vintage fabrics, and upholstery, filling the room with interesting points of view. In short, they seem to be embracing their grandmother’s home and furniture, bringing these pieces back to life in a modern application.

As it’s a brand new, trending, and eclectic style, it can be hard to understand how to capture the essence of the grandmillennials. This piece will walk through the essential building blocks – then you can mix and match modern grandma chic your way into grandmillennial design!

Antique Furniture and Inherited Pieces

Grandmillennials love to showcase the family heirlooms that may not have been important to their Gen X parents’ style. Whether it be old couches, tables, art, or even china, grandmillennials are determined to use grandma’s pieces in their homes.

The goal is not to recreate grandma’s house down to the perfumy potpourri, but to bring classic warmth and texture into a modern context. It’s perfectly fine to restore older pieces with a modern touch before using them in your home. 

Pro tip: If you thrift or inherit a beautiful lamp that doesn’t work (or has suspect wiring), it’s easy to restore vintage lamps by replacing the wiring with up-to-code materials. 

Brighter Colors and Lots of Patterns

Leaving the neutral palettes of minimalism behind, the grandmillennial style embraces layering pattern and color. However, this balance can be tricky since grandmillennial design isn’t fully eclectic. Instead, it uses complementary colors with one grounding pattern to anchor the others.

You’ll often see this done on the walls with floral wallpaper, textured surfaces, or large pieces of colorful art. If not on the walls, these colors and patterns are found in furniture items and accessories. They’ll be balanced out with solid, complementary colors elsewhere in the room – a floral wallpaper with board and batten below, or a bright sofa with a light, airy paint on the walls.  

Pro tip: Spend time with your paint and wallpaper samples at home and watch how they change between the natural sunlight and your electric light. Modern light bulbs typically come in either warm or cool light, and what you choose will change how your paint looks!

More “Stuff”

In an anti-minimalist movement, grandmillennial design simply uses more stuff. Designers fill the shelves with art, plants, and figurines, walls are busier with wallpaper and art, and furniture fills up more of the space.

Grandmillennial style also focuses more on embellishments. Old fashioned tassels, crystal chandeliers, tapestries, and metallic accents are common. Showcasing collections and treasures for the sake of displaying them are returning in vogue.

Pro tip: Consider adding LED strip lighting on shelving to highlight your favorite art pieces or collectibles!

Mixing Textures

Velvet, wicker, and woven accents are all fair game in grandmillennial design. In fact, layering these textures will help create the complexity in design that millennials’ grandparents had. You’ll find these textures in furniture, tables, window treatments, and lighting options.

The great thing about grandmillennial design is that it allows you to use whatever textures you like, regardless of how it compares to other trends! Wicker has made a comeback in the last few years, often featured in trendy interiors.

Pro tip: Swapping out your lighting is a great way to introduce a new texture without overcommitting to it. Whether it’s an exposed bulb or rattan shade, an unexpected fixture can add that perfect amount of spice.

Modern Touches and Pop Culture References

A unique difference between grandmillennial and vintage design is a playful reference to pop culture. Next to flowery wallpaper, printed china, and velvet couches are vintage-style portraits of astronaut cats or stylized Stormtroopers.

Needlepoint art is another trend that’s been rising in popularity recently. But in grandmillennial design, you’ll find this vintage technique now displays edgy sayings or outlines of famous icons. You’ll find similar pop references hidden in rugs, throws, and pillows too.

Pro tip: Just because you’re embracing grandma’s style doesn’t mean you have to embrace her technology – smart lights and LED strips are a simple, inexpensive way to make your home look much more modern without detracting from your decor.

Go Big with Statement Light Fixtures

The focus on historical pieces offers an excellent opportunity to play with bigger and bolder light fixtures. If you’ve cherished a childhood dream of having a big crystal chandelier, but have always worried it would feel too traditional or stuffy, now is your time to make it happen!

Keep in mind that effective mood lighting for any design requires five to seven different light sources. So while all styles will have layered lighting, the grandmillennial style allows you to really go all out and take full advantage of this layer-friendly trend to elevate your design. From wicker to crystal and velvet to fringe, you have free reign to play without being kitsch.

Pro tip: Lighting showrooms have a vast selection of fixtures at hardware store prices. A visit to your local showroom will let you see the lights in action before you buy so you can find what you want quickly, and the experts there can walk you through the installation process so you can install it like a pro when you get home.

Now You Know!

With these basics in hand, you are ready to embrace the granny chic movement with the perfect modern balance and function. 

Display those inherited pieces, get creative with wallpaper, fill your shelves with interesting knickknacks, and try out that beaded light fixture! At the end of the day, grandmillennial design is all about nostalgia and freedom of expression. You do you.

Having trouble choosing what to highlight in your redesign? The dedicated experts at Pine Grove Lighting can help you pick the perfect, showstopping light fixtures for your design. Contact us today to get started on your grandmillennial refresh!

Homeowner’s Guide to Backyard Lighting

Homeowner’s Guide to Backyard Lighting

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Whether it’s a quiet family dinner or a formal party, the backyard can be a perfect hosting space. Kids have room to run around, hosts can invite more people, and no one has to vacuum at the end of the night. But when the sun starts to set – you’ll want to have thought ahead about how you can keep the party going without having to move inside.

Before you get started, take a minute to think about how what purpose your lights need to serve. Your outdoor lighting should be intentional and useful, not just a hodge-podge of tiki torches and solar-powered spikes. Balance is important – the right lighting will make your yard cozy and inviting. Not enough light and you’ll be tripping in the dark, too much light and it can create disorienting shadows, or lead to complaints from neighbors.

To help you get it just right, we’ve put together a few tips and tricks to help you put together your next backyard BBQ.

Stair and Floor Lights

The deck or patio area is central for meals or small-group gatherings. One popular approach to deck lighting is using stair lights. Not only are they elegant, but they also provide an important safety feature. They light the space gently without being distracting, and they make steps easy to see in the dark.

You can also install smaller lights on the floor of your deck. These lights can help brighten up corners and can also make your space safe when it’s dark outside.

Recessed Patio Lights

On covered decks and patios, recessed lights are a great option. They’re installed up inside the ceiling, so they’ll be well-protected from the elements. From a design standpoint – they’re the perfect choice to provide your patio with even all-over light that doesn’t get in the way of the view of your backyard. Make sure you double-check before you buy, not all recessed lights are rated for outdoor use.

String Lights

String lights are wildly popular – and for good reason. They are fast and easy to put up, and their effect is magical no matter where you put them! You can attach them to the exterior of your house, a deck railing, or anything tall enough to set them up overhead.

If you don’t have a patio or deck area, they can be strung on posts around a firepit, along a fence, or even in the trees and bushes surrounding your entertaining space.

Landscaping Lighting

You can use landscape lighting to show off the best features of your yard, even after the sun has gone down. Just like stair lighting, landscape lights are multi-functional as a design element and a safety feature. Many people opt for solar-powered lights to brighten walkways and highlight design features, but you can also hire an electrician to hardwire these lighting elements to a light switch you can flip on and off from the comfort of your patio.

There are countless shapes and sizes of landscape light fixtures to choose from. You may want to consult with an expert to recommend what will work for your yard space. However, there are a few general principles to keep in mind:

  1. Don’t overdo it. Landscape lighting isn’t meant to mimic daytime, it should create just enough light to make the yard inviting at night.
  2. Consider safety. Lighting pathways is a must if you’re using your backyard after dark – but make sure you do it safely. Keep lights out of the way of where you’re walking so that they don’t become trip hazards. Motion-sensor lights near doors and on sheds are also an important safety feature that can deter theft.
  3. Choose your colors. White / daylight light will show colors just as they are during the day, but they can be pretty harsh. Yellow / warm / soft white light will give your yard a more cosy and relaxing feel, and it attracts fewer bugs.
  4. Timers are your friend. If you’re planning a one-time party it’s not a big deal to flip the switch on and off, but if you’ll be in your backyard daily, consider putting your outdoor lights on a timer so that you won’t have to remember to flip them off before bed.
  5. Look into LED. These bulbs may cost more upfront, but they’ll last much longer and use far less energy.

Your Backyard Plan

Pine Grove Lighting’s showroom offers a great selection of outdoor lighting options, and our lighting experts would love to help you plan your backyard entertaining space and find exactly what you need. Stop by our showroom and see it for yourself, or check us out online and we’ll help you get started. 

 

How Light Bulbs Made the Industrial Revolution Possible

How Light Bulbs Made the Industrial Revolution Possible

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The Industrial Revolution was marked by invention, early machinery, and mass production. Likewise, modern methods of supplying fuel, preserving food, producing clothes, and providing health care began with the Industrial Revolution. And a crucial common factor across the modernization of these industries? 

Light bulbs.

Let’s set the stage. As the global population increased in the 1800s, a vicious cycle emerged. With more food, medicine, and shelter available, more children survived to adulthood. More adults meant more families with children, creating greater demand again. So over and over, more people were born and lived longer than before and increased demands on the global economy.

As early supply chains attempted to provide basics to the growing population, its success led to more people surviving.

The Industrial Revolution characterizes an era of inventors, undoubtedly fueled to relieve suffering and improve old methods. In short, it was an attempt to tame this cycle by providing more goods faster, easier, and in better conditions.

But the trouble was, demands for goods often rose faster than was safe to produce them. As a result, many industries struggled to find ways to increase production, but the light of a candle could only go so far into the night, and it came with dangerous risks and consequences.

Coal Miners: The Backbone of the Industrial Revolution

Let’s start with some of the most heavily relied-upon characters of the Industrial Revolution– coal miners. As demands for residential heat grew, so did the need for fuel for factories and trains.

Coal miners dug deep underground to supply the world with the required fuel. It was dangerous work, not only because of the use of explosives underground but because it was so dark. Lack of proper light made accidents common and kept production slow.

Candlelight was the only source of artificial light then. This posed a problem because mines often release flammable gases. The slightest fire exposure in the tunnels regularly resulted in explosions with hundreds dead. Inventors tried– but were unsuccessful– to create proper fire shields. As the need for coal grew, so did the number of fire-related incidents and deaths in the coal mines.

Reducing Fire Risk in Textile Factories

Another significant mark of the Industrial Revolution was the beginning of mass-produced clothing. Before factories existed, most clothing was tailor-made for each family member. Wealthy families hired sewists, and low-income families made their own clothing.

Textile factories promised to speed clothing production and free up time for other work. But unfortunately, textile factory workers faced a similar problem to that of the coal miners. 

Before making clothing, cotton had to be spun into thread, then woven into fabric. This fabric would then be cut into patterns and sewn into finished clothing. The system of processing cotton led to very dusty rooms filled with tiny floating pieces of raw cotton. Even the smallest flame could catch the floating cotton, creating a runaway fire in moments. These fires took down entire factories in moments, often with few survivors.

Unlike the miners, textile workers could use the light of day through windows. But there was little sunlight in rainy regions or during the winters. So textile production had to slow or risk the use of candlelight according to the weather or season.

Here again, the invention of the electric light bulb allowed for safer work and better conditions for these workers. Electric light reduced the strain on workers and evened out available work hours. The growing population could now count on having enough clothing.

Impact on Food Preservation

The United States population exploded between the 1800s and 1900s as territory expanded. Consequently, the demand for food increased with these settlements and cities.

People’s access to food in the early 1900s was determined mainly by what they could grow themselves. You would eat some of the fresh food you could grow during the summer and store the rest to survive the cold winters. As a result, starvation was a constant threat, and malnutrition was common.

During the Industrial Revolution, many factories opened and started to mass-produce canned food. While canning factories did not risk the same dangerous fire as miners and textile workers, they still had limited light.

Enabling Quality Healthcare

Finally, light bulbs improved the quality of healthcare in hospitals around the globe. The 1800s showed a marked increase in understanding human anatomy and how to save a person’s life after a severe injury.

However, medical attention requires detailed work, and poor sanitation and techniques cost thousands if not hundreds of thousands of lives. Even the simple fact that candles and firelight distort color made it difficult for early medical professionals to accurately gauge a patient’s health status. 

Beyond surgeries, hospital care, or home visits, the development of new medicines was also limited before the Industrial Revolution. For example, penicillin was developed in the 1920s – 1940s and is widely regarded as the first true antibiotic. The drug was developed through the work of many scientists observing bacteria cultures in universities, and it saved countless lives during World War II alone.

Although light bulbs alone did not allow for the creation of penicillin, the availability of consistent light (partnered with microscopes and other technology) is clearly linked with a massive spike in new medication since the early 1900s. 

Lightbulbs: The Unsung Hero of an Industrialized World

We owe our modern, comfortable world to many inventions of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Still, there is no doubt that none of them would have been as successful without the invention of the electric light bulb. And so, the ordinary light bulb is the unsung hero of the modernization of the world.

So, the invention of the electric light bulb created the possibility of an industrialized, modern world– a world where people had enough heat, food, and medicine. The light bulb allowed for safer working conditions and paved the way for other inventions that advanced humanity as a whole.

Electric light provided bright, steady light for miners without a significant risk of explosion. As a result, artificial light significantly reduced the number of deaths. As a bonus, it also allowed them to work faster. Thus, miners could better fuel the world, unleashing the Industrial Revolution.

Food production through factories was unleashed with electric lights. The world now had an efficient and cheap process to provide food that could last months or years on the shelf.

As one could imagine, electric light significantly improved healthcare quality. Surgeries were performed with much better lighting, and follow-up care received better attention. Doctors and nurses could discover infections faster and perform precision work with accuracy.

Aside from hospital care, proper lighting enabled the creation of new medicines and techniques. Electric lighting was not the only factor to decrease medical-related deaths. Still, the widespread availability of steady light enabled doctors and scientists to make significant strides in proper care.

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At Pine Grove Lighting, we are proudly following in the footsteps of these early lighting engineers. We are just as passionate about lighting the world as they were as we supply homes and businesses with the latest designs and functionality. Talk with an expert at Pine Grove Lighting today to get custom advice on your lighting needs.

Design Trend Inspo: 70s Retro Lighting

Design Trend Inspo: 70s Retro Lighting

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The bold prints, color pops, and unique shapes of the 70s are here again, and we can’t get enough! Modern takes on 70s design may be a little less harsh, but they still have plenty of the iconic warm colors, funky fixtures, and unexpected choices.

If you’re looking for fun ways to inject a little bit of personality into your home’s design, look no further than these adventurous, retro-inspired interiors!

Warm Colors

What could be more 70s than orange and green? While 1970s interiors were overwhelmed with avocado green, harvest gold, and burnt orange, today’s retro-inspired decor stays more neutral, bringing in pops of these retro colors with accent pieces throughout the space instead.

In this 70s-inspired living room, the orange lamps add a fun pop of color next to a mid-century style table and green couch. Paired with a neutral white wall and wood floor, the colors feel bright and fun without being overdone. 

These soft neutral creams and tans, combined with natural materials, set off this fun bright orange lamp in a way that perfectly balances modern and retro in one comfy space.

Pro Tip: If orange, tan, and green aren’t your thing – keep reading! There are a lot of other ways to incorporate this fun and unique style!

Geometric Silhouettes

Nothing says “style” like a unique lamp in a funky retro shape. These geometric designs create fun silhouettes, and they’ll go with anything!

Pendants lights were a permanent fixture of the 70s. These lantern-style pendants look like they could have been taken right out of the disco era! The calm, neutral color deftly balances out the busy, varied shapes and lines.

This curvy pendant light brings back the groovy vibes of the 70s, but with sleek modern finishes.

Some fixtures demand your attention the moment you enter the room, like this asymmetrical design that can’t help but be noticed. The round curve at the top is also a trademark of 70s decor. 

Domed Tops

Rounded tops scream “retro”. Finding fixtures with a domed shape is a great way to add a subtle touch of retro to any room.

This cream table lamp’s rounded metal shade gives off subtle 70s retro vibes without distracting from the calm, neutral design. 

These domed silver pendants bring an unexpected mix of modern and retro designs to this otherwise very neutral space. Their curves help to balance out all of the harsh straight architectural lines in this space to make it feel more welcoming. 

This domed top is easy to find in a wide variety of fixtures from lamps to pendants – and in a wide range of colors and finishes. You’re sure to be able to find one that matches your room while giving a subtle nod to the 70s. 

Pro Tip: Domed fixtures don’t need to be basic. Don’t be afraid to look for unique designs and textures that match your space! 

Modern Twists

One trick to finding 70s-inspired lighting is to find fixtures that incorporate retro and modern touches in the same piece. 

These modern pendants give a slight nod to the 70s, but live in 2022. Their modern, sharp lines and matte black color are right at home in this minimalist earth-toned room, while their retro, curvy, geometric shapes warm up the space. 

These retro-inspired pendants have a modern industrial vibe. The brushed metallic gray tones complement the cool green decor, and their unique shape and design are a great conversation starter! 

This bold pink room carefully balances several modern and retro elements, which makes this rounded pendant in a bright, modern pink finish a perfect fit.

Think Outside of the Box

Outside-the-box thinking is another hallmark of 70s style. Retro-inspired lighting often includes using lights in a different or unexpected way. 

This wall has all the 70s colors and shapes we know and love. Neon lights give off a strong retro ambiance – but they can break easily. Modern takes on this trend use LED lights, which last much longer. 

This unusual fixture is another perfect example of thinking outside of the box. We love how this light’s unique shape and placement make an understated yet bold addition to the room. (Anyone else want to relax here with a good book?)

Pro Tip: Don’t let the fear of making a design mistake stop you from taking a risk! Some of the best designs happen when you’re willing to let go of convention and try something new!

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One of our favorite things about 70s Retro Design is that there’s something for everyone. From the bold, funky, and adventurous maximalist to the subtly nostalgic minimalist, anyone can spice up their home with a little bit of 70s funk! 

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Ready to join the disco-lovers of the past? Stop by our showroom or give us a call to see what retro-inspired lighting can do for your home!

What to Expect When Visiting a Lighting Showroom

What to Expect When Visiting a Lighting Showroom

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Have you ever purchased something online only to have it arrive looking very different than you expected it to, or it just didn’t look as good in your space as you thought it would? Have you ever purchased an item at the store based off the image on its packaging only to be disappointed by the poor quality once you got it home and unwrapped?

There’s no substitute for being able to see, touch, and try out an item before making a purchase. This is true for any purchase, but it’s especially important when you’re buying things for your home! Your home needs to be somewhere you’re comfortable and can feel relaxed – and good lighting is absolutely essential to creating that environment! 

Don’t leave your lighting purchases up to chance. If you’ve never been to a lighting showroom before, here are a few things you can expect to happen on your next visit. 

Huge Selection of Quality Fixtures

When you shop online, it can be overwhelming and frustrating trying to sort through all of the options to find something you like, and it’s always a gamble as to whether it will look right once you get it. 

Lighting showrooms specialize in one thing: getting you the perfect light for your home. We have access to thousands of lighting options, and our lighting experts can help you sift through it all to find exactly what you need – without hours of frustrating internet searches. 

Showroom owners are choosy about what they’ll offer to customers, so you won’t have to worry about getting a dud. 

See Everything in Person

When buying light fixtures, you’re usually trying to set up an entire room with balanced needs. Unless you are a trained interior designer (and even if you are), it’s very difficult to gauge style, size, space, and balance just from a picture. 

Fixtures look really different when they’re off and on, and the way they cast light can change the feel of a space. It’s also hard to see small details and textures on finishes. Being able to see the light in person before buying can save you the headache of having to return a dark brown fixture you thought was black or a lantern that casts shadows you weren’t expecting. 

Personalized Expert Advice

Most DIY homeowners and interior designers know what it feels like to thoroughly research and still feel dissatisfied with the end result. It doesn’t matter how many how-to videos you watch – the person on the other end can’t give you personalized advice specific to your project. 

With something as crucial to your design as lighting, it’s a really good idea to check over design plans with an expert on the topic before you get started. 

When you stop in at our showroom, our lighting experts can teach you how to select the right bulbs for your needs, get the best light fixture for your money, and instruct you on proper installation, all as a regular part of your shopping experience. You won’t get that level of personalized expertise anywhere else!

Better Value for Your Money

Many believe that lighting showrooms charge “boutique” prices that are much higher than you’ll find online or at the hardware store. This simply isn’t true. When you visit a showroom, you’ll find that showrooms charge comparable prices to other fixture suppliers, and they have higher quality pieces.

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Let’s Recap

When it really gets down to it, if you’re shopping online or at a hardware store, you’re gambling on quality and not getting the best value for your money. 

The next time you’re shopping for lighting, make sure you include a lighting showroom in your process. When you shop at a showroom, you can see what you’re buying before you take it home. When you factor in the free expert advice, the higher quality fixtures, and the time saved, you’re actually paying less to get exactly what you need for your home. 

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Ready for your showroom experience? Check us out at Pine Grove Lighting! 

5 Easy Steps to Create a Modern Minimalist Interior

5 Easy Steps to Create a Modern Minimalist Interior

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With an intentional lack of furniture and decorations, minimalist design can sometimes come off as cold and uncomfortable. Over the past few years, as we’ve spent more time in our homes than ever before, the need for comfort in a home design has been made crystal clear.

Today’s modern minimalism prioritizes simplicity with a decluttered and uncomplicated aesthetic, while also emphasizing the need for comfort in a space. You’ll see more color and accessories than the minimalist interiors of the past had, but they’ll be thoughtfully chosen extras that provide warmth and life to the space without going overboard. 

Whether you’re interested in adopting a minimalist lifestyle or just love the simple yet dramatic design aesthetic, modern minimalism is an achievable aesthetic for just about anyone! 

To help you get started, we broke down the basics of modern minimalist interior design into a handful of easy steps you can use to confidently focus on the right essentials. 

1. Create an Open Floor Plan

Focus on creating as much connected open space as possible. Obviously, taking out walls is the easiest way to create an open floor plan. But if you’re not in a place where you can tear down walls, there are some simple and subtle tricks you can use to make adjoining spaces feel more connected. 

One way to connect spaces in your home is to use the same flooring and wall paint colors for the entire space. This will make rooms look like they belong together, even through a doorway. 

A unique accent, like this minimalist pendant light, grabs your attention through the doorway from across the way, which helps your brain perceive the two spaces as one.

Finally, play around with your furniture placement to maximize your space. In smaller spaces, this often means keeping large furniture close to the walls to keep open pathways throughout but don’t underestimate the power of a simple, low-profile, floating sofa used to define a space.

2. Choose a Small Color Palette

A classic hallmark of minimalist design is a neutral monochromatic color palette, typically in warm grey, white, or beige tones. Contrast is important – add dimension and balance with a mix of darker and lighter shades within your color palette.

If an all-neutral color palette just isn’t your thing, you can still get a modern minimalist look with color – you just need to stick to a small palette. Keep most of the colors you use very light, to increase the feeling of airiness and reflect light best. 

3. Functional Design is Key

It doesn’t matter how pretty a room is, if it’s inconvenient or difficult to use you’re not going to be happy with it. When you’re trying to adopt modern minimalism, understanding how to pare down to only the essentials can be hard. When you’re going through your room, ask yourself:

 “Does this serve a purpose?”   “Do I already have something that serves this purpose?”   “Is there a multipurpose option that will serve this purpose and others?” 

Just remember, there’s no hard and fast rule for what it means to be “functional” – and you don’t need to justify every item you love to keep it in your home. A funky decorative pillow that makes you smile when you see it is serving a purpose (and it’s making your couch more comfortable – so it’s multifunctional!) 

A huge part of functional design is organization. Decluttering for a modern minimalist space involves reducing “visual clutter” too! Things not actively being used should have a home where they can be tucked away until they’re needed. 

Opt for storage options that have doors that will hide the things you’re not using.  When styling open shelving, choose items that match your color palette, leave plenty of open space, and use boxes or baskets to organize and hide loose items.

Don’t be surprised if you get down to the basics and you aren’t in love with what you have left. You’ll likely need to start making smart trades here and there to end up with a set of basics that you love.

4. Add Light – Lots of It

Like most modern design aesthetics, modern minimalism focuses on filling the space with light. Where possible, introduce as much natural light as you can. The light colors on your walls and floors will reflect it – making your room feel open and airy. 

In addition to natural light, a modern minimalist space needs a well-thought-out interior lightscape. Make sure your general ambient light is bright without being harsh, and add extra lighting in dark corners and over workspaces. Hidden lights, like LED strips under a cabinet, are an inexpensive DIY trick with a big payoff! 

Because minimalism is all about doing less with more, it’s okay to be choosy about how you add light to your space – you don’t want to clutter up your home with a floor lamp in every dark spot! When you’re shopping for fixtures, stick to simple shapes that can double as design elements.

5. Finish it Off with Thoughtful Accents

Little pops of color and texture are what take a modern minimalist space from blah to wow. You can do this in a number of ways, but remember to keep it simple. Start with just one color or texture and see how it feels before committing to more. 

When possible, look for ways to upgrade your existing decor rather than adding extra items. Look for functional pieces that you need in your space, but feel a little lackluster, and find a more interesting alternative. Replace an old, overstuffed sofa with a simpler version in a deep color (as long as it’s in your color palette!) or give an old end table new life with a coat of paint.

Pro Tip: If you have a hard time committing to color, consider using houseplants! They introduce a vibrant green color and soft, organic textures, which can balance out a minimalist design quite nicely.

By far, one of the most effective ways to accent a modern minimalist design is with an interesting light fixture. Your room will always need light, so it might as well be an integrated part of the design! 

A stunning ceiling light with a simple shape will stand out as a piece of art against a minimalist backdrop and elevate the entire design of the space. 

Pendant lamps are popular in modern minimalist design because they come in simple shapes with lots of finish options, so it’s easy to find something that will match your aesthetic. 

If replacing a ceiling fixture isn’t an option, you can get a similar impact with a carefully chosen floor lamp! Lamps are the MVP of accent lighting for a reason – they’re easy to move, replace, and rearrange, and come in a HUGE variety of styles. You can go for something small that blends in, but we also love the way a large, yet simple, lamp like this one makes a statement without taking over. 

That’s all there is to it! Just to recap, here are the 5 easy steps to create a modern minimalist interior: 

  1. Create an open floor plan – Tie separate spaces together with color and materials and rearrange furniture to maximize your space.
  2. Choose a small color palette – Neutrals are your friend, but it’s okay to add in a little bit of color to make your space feel like you.
  3. Remember functionality – Use multipurpose furniture, and organize, organize, organize. Store things that aren’t being used so that they’re not cluttering up your space.
  4. Add light – Having lots of natural and indoor lighting is what makes your space feel open and airy. Light up dark corners and workspaces.
  5. Finish it off with thoughtful accents – Don’t over-accessorize. Pops of color and texture give life to a space, but try to incorporate these add-ons with the functional elements of your space – like a colored sofa or an upgraded light fixture.

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Modern minimalist design can be a difficult concept to balance, but it’s very forgiving and so beautiful when done correctly. If you need help finding the right lighting for your modern minimalist home, our experts at Pine Grove Lighting can help!

Lumens vs Watts: What’s the Difference?

Lumens vs Watts: What’s the Difference?

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Light bulbs have been lighting up our world for over a hundred years, but do we really understand how they work? When you go to the store to buy a replacement bulb, the box labels are filled with numbers and industry terms that can leave you wondering how to know which bulb you actually need.

Fortunately, understanding the difference between lumens and watts is fairly straightforward. Take a quick minute to read this quick summary, and you’ll be ready to hit the stores to find exactly what you need.

Lumens

Lumens measure the amount of light a bulb emits. The technical definition is “the unit of luminous flux, equal to the luminous flux emitted in a unit solid angle by a point source of one candle intensity.” In less scientific terms, the higher the lumen rating, the brighter the bulb. Most mainstream bulb labels use the full term, but if you can’t find the word “lumens” on the label look for its abbreviation, lm.

How many lumens do I need?

Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn’t put the brightest bulbs you can find in every area of your home. The rooms in your home will all need different levels of light, depending on how you use them. Use bulbs with a high lumen count in areas where you need a much brighter light, like above your kitchen counters. You need much less light in your bedroom, so consider going with lower lumen count bulbs in warmer colors to keep it a relaxing space where you can get some sleep.

While there are complicated equations out there that you can use to calculate your “exact” lumen requirements, the trouble is that every person and every space is different. You may find that you prefer brighter lights than what’s “necessary” in one place and dimmer lights in another. Your best bet is to try a few different bulbs, or better yet – get a dimmer switch so that you can customize your light levels depending on your needs for the day.

Pro Tip: Lumens can be added across several light sources in a space. It’s not an exact science because it doesn’t take into account distance from the source and the angles of the light, but if you have three 800lm bulbs in a room, it will be lit with roughly 1800lm.

Watts

Watts measure the amount of power consumed by the bulb. One watt isn’t much, it’s equal to 1/746 horsepower. It’s named after James Watt, a Scottish inventor credited for creating a steam engine during the Industrial Revolution. The symbol for watts is “W”.

Most electrical devices are rated in watts, although large appliances that use more power are often measured in kilowatts, which is equal to one thousand watts. (1W = 1000kW)

The wattage of a bulb will tell you only how much power it consumes, not how bright it is. The lower the watt rating on the bulb, the cheaper it will be on your energy bill to light your house.

Before you buy, always check your light fixture for its watt rating. Never put a bulb with a higher watt rating than the fixture can handle. If the bulb tries to pull more power than the fixture can handle, it could start a fire.

 Energy-Efficient Bulbs

Before the days of LED bulbs, it was pretty easy to get a good idea of how bright a bulb was by simply looking at the wattage. The higher the watts, the brighter the bulb. LED lightbulbs can give off the same amount of light as a traditional bulb using far fewer watts. This is what the labels mean when they say the bulbs are “energy efficient” – they need less power to provide equivalent light.

TL;DR Lumens and Watts

Lumens and Watts both describe how a lightbulb works. Lumens measure the amount of light a bulb emits – the higher the lumens the brighter the bulb. Watts measure the amount of power a light bulb uses. Newer light bulbs like LEDs can produce a lot of light (lumens) using very little power (watts), making them more energy-efficient.

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Need help finding the right light bulb? Give the experts at Pine Grove Lighting a call!