Pine Grove Lighting

2022

Nature-Inspired Lighting for Indoor Spaces

Nature-Inspired Lighting for Indoor Spaces

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Eco-friendly. Plant-inspired. Natural colors. These well-loved decor trends are giving homes across the world a breath of fresh air by inviting the outside in.

Whether you take care of an army of plant babies or, if your green thumb skipped a generation, you prefer to use nature-inspired shapes, colors, and materials in your design, you’re sure to get some ideas from these beautiful nature-inspired interiors!

Use Your Houseplants 

What better way to make your space feel alive than bringing in something that’s actually alive? If you’re willing to get creative, your indoor lighting and your house plants can work together in tandem to make a design statement that will literally bring life to your space.

These minimalist bulb lights illuminate plant displays while blending in with the scenery. These industrial lights feel elegant and natural hanging alongside leafy plants and mini terrariums. 

Hanging lights can be combined with natural light from outside as well. This beautiful, open space is accented with simple hanging bulbs. The bulb pendants are long enough to reach eye level, but the cords blend nicely with other lines in the room.

These industrial-feeling pendants show a creative adaptation of a plant and light combination. Vines hanging from the ceiling are an unexpected accent to a warehouse-style ceiling. The vintage pendant lamps tie everything together. 

You don’t have to have a lot of surface area to add life to your space. This light fixture doubles as a plant stand, creating a natural, rustic, multi-purpose conversation starter. 

Find Nature-Inspired Lights

If the thought of keeping a bunch of house plants alive gives you hives, not to worry! Instead of tucking your lights amongst your plants, find light fixtures that echo the shapes and textures of the natural world. They’ll give you a great conversation piece and require zero watering.

Here’s a natural take on a pendant light. A string of white bulb lights wrapped around a tree branch adds a little fairy magic to a simple, gray room. It’s suspended from a cable in the ceiling to create a “floating” effect. 

This chandelier is a modern take on the tree-branch concept. The multi-directional placement of the bulbs, along with its earthy copper color tones, gives off natural, modern vibes.

You can find some creative, colorful lights patterned after plants. This vibrant LED wall light makes a statement on a plain white wall. Not only are they a fun pop of color, but LEDs are also energy-efficient — it’s a green double-win. 

Emphasize Natural Colors

What better way to bring the outside in than with a natural color palette? Greens, browns, and blues are staples in the interior design industry for a reason! But – any natural color palette works here. Snap some pictures of the world outside your door, or find a picture of your dream destination, and then head to a lighting showroom to find fixtures that match! 

Natural colors with accents of dark blues and greens are a great way to create an outdoorsy feel. This black and gold pendant light creates a perfect balance of color in front of a forest green wall.

These pendant spheres are also a great example. The gold and cream lights are soft, neutral, and subtle, which lets the room’s natural wood textures shine. 

Lampshades are also easy to find in natural colors. They add a beautiful, polished touch without being too busy or elaborate. This hanging lamp shade shows how beige can accent a room full of plants, wood, and other natural elements. 

These are some classic, basic lamp designs. Next to other, more eccentric lamp styles, they might not be noticeable. Next to a deep blue wall, however, they stand out. 

A green pendant lamp with a green wall and green furniture might seem like a lot, but it works. Having various shades of the same color adds a fun pop of personality. 

Include Natural Materials

Your light fixtures don’t have to be synthetic and industrial just because they’re connected to the grid. Natural materials such as rattan have come back in a big way. 

This cozy living room is filled with soft, natural materials. The wood lamp brings a natural warmth, and a bit of balanced structure, to this comfy space. 

Some other popular materials include woven straw, wicker, or bamboo. This woven shade is a gorgeous shape and color. It also lets enough light through to illuminate all the other natural features of the room. 

Woven shades are a great way to bring nature into your lighting. They illustrate that the size, shape, and color can vary based on the design of the room they’re going in. They can also be paired up to add another layer of design. 

Ceramic is a beautiful natural material for a light fixture. These two domed ceramic pendants give off a warm glow that’s perfect for a cozy dinner.

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Drawing inspiration from nature to decorate our homes isn’t a new idea. It’s lasted for centuries because it works – we love to bring the outside in! There’s no right or wrong way to make it work for you, so find something you love and get started! 

If you’d like an extra hand finding just the right natural touch for your next lighting project, our lighting experts would love to help!. Give us a call, or stop by our showroom for the breath of fresh air that comes with a lighting update. 

3 Things You Need to Know About Recessed Lighting

3 Things You Need to Know About Recessed Lighting

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Recessed lights can radically change the way your home looks and feels. Done right, they can bathe your space in soft light, highlight special features, and help you set the right mood. Done wrong, they turn your ceiling into a polka-dotted nightmare of harsh spotlights and awkward shadows. So, how do you get it right? 

We’ve put together three of our top expert recessed lighting tips based on our years of experience in the lighting industry to help you get it just right! 

Installation Know-How

If you’re building or remodeling, now’s the best time to be thinking about recessed lights. Recessed lights are easiest to install during construction. With the walls opened up, it’s not a big deal for an electrician to run the necessary wires and mount the lights. 

If your home is already finished and you’re really not ready to tear out the ceiling, don’t despair! The recessed lighting industry makes a whole line of specialty lights designed for non-intrusive updates. Look for lights that say retro-fit in the product description – this means they can be more easily installed in an existing ceiling. Canless recessed lights are ultra-thin (the same thickness as your ceiling’s drywall), which makes installing them the most DIY-friendly option for homeowners.

Placement is Paramount

One of the most common mistakes homeowners make when installing recessed lights is poor placement. Your recessed lights should wash your walls, not just the floor, with light. If your walls aren’t properly lit, your room will feel dim and dull no matter how your lights are installed. 

 

Wall washing spreads soft light evenly across a wall, and it will make your room feel bigger and more open. For example: the recessed lights in the image below (see upper left) cast soft light across the entire wall, which makes the room feel larger and brighter.

A close cousin, wall grazing (as seen below), occurs when recessed lights are placed close to the wall and the cone of light casts harsh lines of light and shadow. This is typically done to accent a design feature, not to provide ambient lighting for a room.

Wall washing is usually the goal in residential applications – it’s a good idea to talk to a lighting expert before you get ready to install to make sure you get them at the right distance from the wall.

A grid of soft white lights will give off a comfortable, all-over light, which is perfect for large rooms, but it’s not one-size-fits-all for every space in your home. Areas where you work, like your kitchen, should have more focused task lighting over countertops and work surfaces. 

Quick Tip: Space recessed lights away from ceiling fan blades or you’ll end up with a subtle strobing effect when both are on. Also, avoid placing bright lights directly over a seating area so that your guests won’t feel like they’re under a spotlight.

 

Zones and Dimmer Switches

Your lighting plan will be most effective if you can create zones based on how you use your space. Large spaces and multi-purpose rooms have different lighting needs throughout the space. If you strategically wire these areas independently, they can work together to give you more control over the way your room works for you. 

For example, a living room may have a row of wall-washing lights around the perimeter, a central grid of ambient lights, and a couple of spotlight lights to highlight a feature fireplace or some artwork. If each of these zones can be adjusted independently, you can transition a bright morning workspace to a cozy evening entertaining space with ease. 

Wherever possible, install each zone with a dimmer switch. Being able to adjust the intensity of light in your space is an essential part of creating the right mood. An added benefit of dimmable lights is that they last longer when not used at full power, so you can extend the life of your bulbs and entertain houseguests at the same time!

Installing recessed lighting is no small task, but it doesn’t have to be a big pain in the neck. Whether you’re a D.I.Y.er needing a few pointers, or if M.O.D.I.F.Y. is more your speed (Make Others Do It For You), we can help you find exactly what you need to get it done. Give us a call or stop by our showroom today!

 

Contractors: 6 Reasons You Should Ditch the Hardware Store Lighting Aisle

Contractors: 6 Reasons You Should Ditch the Hardware Store Lighting Aisle

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Contractors: 6 Reasons You Should Ditch the Hardware Store Lighting Aisle: How Sourcing from a Lighting Showroom is Better for Your Business

While the pressure and prices in the housing market continue to rise due to supply chain shortages and increased demand, all businesses are looking for ways to get the best value for their dollar. This is especially true for contractors and builders, who are working harder than ever. 

If you’re still relying on big-box stores to light your projects, you’re probably missing out on a lot. Lighting showrooms offer better service, quality, expertise, and selection that big-box stores just can’t shine a light to. 

We know your time is valuable, but we can guarantee it’s worth your time to look into what showrooms have to offer before you go out shopping for your next project.

1. Fair Prices 

We know the bottom dollar is important on your projects, and lighting is often one of the last steps on the list when the budget is getting thin. 

It’s a common misconception that lighting showrooms charge more for their fixtures than you’d pay at a chain retail store – but it’s just not true. In fact, some big-box stores are notorious for marking up fixtures and then offering occasional “deals” that aren’t really deals at all. 

You cat trust that the prices you see at a lighting showroom are transparent and fair. And if you pay attention, you’ll notice that the prices at a showroom are comparable across the board for similar products you’d find anywhere else. 

If the prices aren’t that different – then you might as well be taking advantage of all of the extra benefits that come with shopping at a lighting showroom. Such as:

2. Better Value

Showroom owners are a lot pickier than online retailers and megastores about what they sell. Those comparable fixtures you’re price checking? They’ll often be higher quality versions – which means you are less likely to have your clients calling you in 2 months with a complaint. 

In addition to the overall higher quality, showrooms also give you more than your money’s worth in other ways not directly tied to your costs – like better warrantees and extended customer support.

3. Huge Selection

Lighting showrooms specialize in just one thing – quality lighting. With the entire store dedicated to showcasing fixtures and bulbs, you’ll be able to see how the fixtures look up close and check installation guidelines before making any purchases. 

If you or your client is looking for something specific, showrooms also have access to a massive selection of fixtures through the manufacturer catalogs. If it’s not on the floor, we’ll be able to find it and get it ordered for you. You’ll be able to find exactly what you need without having to shop around. 

4. Expert Advice and Speciality Knowledge

When you walk into a national chain hardware store and need help, you already know that the employees there usually know a little bit about plumbing, electrical, appliances, and lighting, but they likely won’t have deep knowledge about any of them.

Lighting showroom staff are experts in lighting. Their services center around helping contractors get the right products into their builds. The experts at our lighting showroom stay up to date on the industry and can give you expert advice you wouldn’t find anywhere else. You don’t need to spend hours researching and comparison shopping – we’re more than happy to share what we know to help you get exactly what you need.

5. Word of Mouth

Your reputation matters – and nothing is more valuable to a business owner than a glowing recommendation from a happy client. Sometimes lighting is an afterthought for your clients who are more focused on finishes and fixtures. But even a brand new space with high-quality craftsmanship will look underwhelming with poor lighting. 

Our lighting experts can help you make sure that your clients get quality fixtures that will highlight your hard work. This will result in two things: 1. Happy customers that want to refer you and 2. Jaw-dropped friends and family that want to ask for your number for their next project.

Another thing to consider – homeowners often come windowshopping at lighting showrooms to pick out what they want “when they’re ready” to start a renovation. If your local lighting showroom knows who you are and sees you regularly, they can refer you to their customers to help them get started.  

6. Industry Relationships Matter 

Developing relationships in the industry is vital for all of us. You’re not receipt #238942, you’re a local business owner, part of our community, and a friend. 

When we know who you are and what you like, it makes it easy for us to help you get in, get out, and get what you need quickly so that you can spend your time on other parts of your project.

In addition, most showrooms allow contractors to set up an account – which often comes with perks such as discounted prices, bulk ordering options, and payment plans. 

If you’re still relying on big-box stores for your lighting needs, it’s probably time to consider your options and visit a lighting showroom to see what you’re missing. 

If you’re in our area, stop by Pine Grove Lighting – we’d love to get to know you and see how we can help your business grow.

 

Your Bathroom Lighting May Be Ruining Your Look- Here’s How You Can Fix It

Your Bathroom Lighting May Be Ruining Your Look- Here’s How You Can Fix It

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Picture this: You wake up early on a workday (a feat to be proud of). You don’t necessarily have to, but you’ve got the time, so you decide to spend some of that extra time on your makeup. After one last quick check in the mirror, you head out the door, feeling yourself and the look that you’ve created. Then, on a bathroom break at the office, you take a peek in the mirror and are surprised to see that your face here looks nothing like it did at home. What happened? Sure, the lighting isn’t great at the office, but there’s no way it could do all of this… right?

If this sounds familiar to you, take heart. Your makeup skills are probably not to blame – it’s more likely that your makeup lighting at home isn’t right – and it’s messing with your look.

Unfortunately, most standard bathroom lighting types aren’t a great help for flawless makeup. You might need to tweak the lighting set up at home to get it working for you instead of against you. This article will compare some of the common pitfalls of builder-grade lighting, and tell you exactly what you need to look for to upgrade your makeup space. 

Remember, the purpose of makeup lighting is to show your face as true as possible, so you know how the look will translate outside of your home.

NO: Windowless Rooms

Hopefully, your home was built with windows in the bathroom to help balance the lighting. However, if your bathroom doesn’t have a window and it’s not in your budget to install one, we recommend you get ready for the day by your bedroom or office window. Not only will this improve your makeup accuracy, but it will add dimension to the styling of your bedroom.

YES: Natural Light

Expert makeup artists all agree that natural light from the sun is the best light for doing makeup. If you can do your makeup facing a bright window, this is the best choice. However, many people do their makeup early in the morning or don’t have a windowed area suitable for makeup.

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NO: Fluorescent and Colored Lighting

Fluorescent Light

Everyone knows that fluorescent light is the most unflattering possible. While many spend days under fluorescent light in the office, it is typically offset by some natural light coming through windows. Bathrooms are often windowless, completely isolating the makeup artist in the worst lighting possible.

Yellow Light

While warm, yellow light could be soothing for a home spa experience, it exaggerates flaws in the mirror. The yellow glow will bring out yellow and green tones in your skin, often making you appear sickly or washed out when you aren’t. This effect commonly results in putting too much makeup in the wrong places and then looking cakey once you step out onto the street.

Pink Light

Pink or rosy light has the opposite effect of fluorescent and yellow light― it hides flaws! This might feel good while applying makeup, but you may notice that you failed to cover certain areas as soon as you get to the office.

YES: Warm White Light

Warm white light is the best artificial light for doing makeup. It most closely mimics the effect of the sun, so what you see in the mirror will match what everyone else sees in the office or at dinner. Many experts recommend backlighting your mirror with LEDs to achieve this effect.

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NO: Light From Above or Below

Kids love to make scary faces at sleepovers by shining a flashlight upwards from their chin. Overhead makeup light can create the same results (although not as dramatic). As the light shines down your face, it will naturally exaggerate certain features, like shadows under the brow, nose, and mouth. It can also catch more harshly on wrinkles. Once again, the results are too much makeup in the wrong places.

YES: “Face-forward” Light

“Face-forward” light shines directly towards your face rather than shining down on you. When your lighting is set up this way, it will reduce false shadows, making it easier to decide where to apply makeup. Many add LEDs around their mirror – it’s is an easy, inexpensive way to customize your makeup table and get the truest lighting for your look.

Pro Tip: If you’re renting and can’t replace your bathroom lights, a ring light is a solid option. They come in a wide range of prices and sizes, so it won’t be hard to find one that will fit both your counter and your budget. Position a smaller ring light around face height. Larger ring lights are designed for you to look through them, so the light shines on your face from all sides to eliminate shadows, as seen below:

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Kick that Crappy Lighting to the Curb

Replacing, or adding to, your bathroom lighting isn’t as difficult as it sounds. Swapping out an old fixture with a new one is a relatively simple project that won’t cost much to have done. It’s also very beginner DIY-friendly – most homeowners can do it on their own. (Just remember to turn off the breaker first!)

A simple lighting upgrade can totally transform your makeup experience, and give you the confidence to trust that what you see in the mirror at home will translate across to the rest of your day. Whether you have a full makeup studio or you’re sharing a small vanity with a partner, you’ll be surprised at how a small change can make such a big difference. 

If you want some help choosing the best lighting upgrade for your makeup area, stop by our showroom and take a look at the options we have available. You’ll be able to see for yourself how you look in different lighting, and our experts can help you find the right options to dress up your space. Stop by, or give Pine Grove Lighting today for a free consultation! 

Top Tips to Keep Your Home and Family Safe

Top Tips to Keep Your Home and Family Safe

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Household accidents cost time, money, and suffering. From burns to falls, break-ins to credit fraud, it can feel overwhelming to protect your home and family. 

In this article, we’ll cover some top tips to keep your home and family safe. In this article, we’ll cover some top tips to prevent household accidents. The good news is that you’re probably already doing most of these – and many of the fixes are low-maintenance and low-cost.

Fire Safety 

Parents often think of the stove or oven when they think of fire hazards (we’ve all heard the Thanksgiving turkey mishap stories!), but forgetting to maintain fire prevention measures in the home is just as dangerous.

Fire Extinguishers & Smoke Alarms

Since people rarely need to put out a fire in their home, many homeowners forget where their fire extinguisher is, and it ends up buried in the back of a closet or cupboard. Fire extinguishers need to be replaced about every 12 years, and often need recharging as soon as six years. Be sure that your extinguishers are ready to go and that your family knows where it is and how to use them. 

Smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years. Keep batteries on hand and replace them once a year. It’s best to test them once a month – it’s a great opportunity to do a family fire drill! Set up a meeting place and practice getting out of the house quickly so that kids will know what to do in case of an emergency. 

Candles

Candles are fun for mood lighting, but they are also a fire hazard. Never leave a candle unattended! For safer mood lighting, consider switching to softer light bulbs and dimmer switches. Color-changing LED bulbs are a fun option – some can be controlled by an app that lets you customize the lighting in your room with just the touch of a button.

Old Wiring

Electrical wiring is encased with a plastic or silicone coating to prevent fires, but that coating wears off over time. Electric codes also change over time, so many older homes may already have outdated and unsafe wiring. If your circuit breakers trip regularly, your lights flicker, or you hear a buzzing sound by your outlets, you should have your wiring professionally checked. Need a recommendation for a good electrician in the area? Give us a call!

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Childproofing 

Homes are filled with hazards for curious little ones― washing machines, driers, water heaters, and even daily toy messes can lead to serious injury. Here are a few simple ways to keep kids safe!

Appliances 

Appliances are everywhere, and kids love to help grownups with laundry and cooking. Make sure the washer and dryer are in their own enclosed space and that the doors are sturdy. Help your children know that the laundry room isn’t a place to play or hide. In the kitchen, simple tools like burner locks ensure that little chefs don’t start cooking on their own. There are also locks to ensure that oven doors can’t open either.

Toy Clutter

Tripping over toys is another leading cause of falls― bumped heads, sprained ankles, and avoidable tears. Keep walkways clean by confining toys to bedrooms or toy rooms. Encourage cleanliness by installing low shelves or get kid-friendly storage containers!

Lamps and Sockets

Most parents know that electrical sockets need to be covered – it’s childproofing 101. But what is there to do with the outlets in use? Most homes use lamps in one form or another. They’re great for adding a little extra light in a dark corner and for giving soft light in calm spaces, like a child’s bedroom. To childproof a floor lamp, place it behind a large piece of furniture so that it can’t be pulled over. For table lamps, make sure it’s out of reach up high and that the cord is inaccessible. 

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Prevent Trips and Falls

Falls are the leading cause of injury worldwide in adults over 60 years old. Although falls are most serious for the elderly, all ages are at risk of injury from falls. Every homeowner should review common fall zones to protect family and guests.

Banisters

Make sure that all stairways have a banister for support. A sturdy banister can be the difference between a simple slip and a broken leg. Ensure that all banisters are secure and won’t pull away from the wall when yanked on.

Stair Lights

Simple stair lights help you see where you’re going, even when the overhead lights are off. Installing them can be a large or small project – it just depends on your budget and willingness to DIY. LED strip lights and motion-sensing stick-on battery lights are easy beginner projects that will make your stairway safer. You can also hire a contractor to hardwire lights to a switch if you don’t want to worry about replacing batteries. 

Loose Carpets or Rugs

Loose flooring is another common tripper― whether it’s your kindergartener running at full speed or your partner with a tall load of laundry, rugs should not get in the way. If you notice your carpet is pulling up at the edges, contact a professional to help reinstall it or find a DIY method. Only use rugs with flat edges and avoid ones that curl upwards.

Safeguard Personal Information

From hackers to natural disasters, it’s essential to keep personal information safe. Here’s some basics:

Computer Safety

Be sure to keep security software updated, so you have the best protection possible. Update your passwords regularly and avoid using the same password for multiple accounts. It’s also a good idea to keep computers out of sight when you’re out of the house― you never know who’s checking for valuables when you’re away.

Credit Monitoring

Hackers are everywhere. The 2017 Equifax Data Breach showed how important it is to monitor our credit reports. Many monitoring services are easy to use. Some lock your social security number so that no one but you can use it. Safely store or destroy documents with bank account information or social security numbers.

Prevent Fire or Water Damage

Birth certificates, titles, and passports are important documents – and you don’t want to be without them in an emergency. The best practice is to store these documents where they’ll be safe from fire or water damage. Small home safes are an excellent option for most. For high-value items, getting a security box at your bank may be necessary for peace of mind. Whatever your preference, make sure you’re housing your documents safely.

Intruder Prevention

Did you know that 34% of burglars simply walk in through an unlocked front door? Or that most break-ins occur between 10 am and 3 pm when houses are usually empty? A few simple tools and habits will keep you well prepared against burglary.

Lock Your Doors and Windows

It’s always a good habit to keep your doors and ground-level windows locked. Most robberies are the result of opportunity, not a criminal master plan. A simple fix here would be to upgrade your deadbolt or add a second lock up higher on the door. 

Security Alarms

Security alarms and smart doorbells have become much more popular in middle-class homes. There is a wide range of security systems and providers. Many security systems pair with apps so you can alarm or monitor your home from anywhere. Finally, most security providers will give you signs with the security systems. Posting that you have a security system may be one of the most effective deterrents to theft.

Motion-activated Lights

Keep the exterior of your home well-lit to discourage nighttime crime. If you use video surveillance, it’s important to make sure you don’t have blind spots in your lighting. No matter what, it’s a good idea to have lights on your property’s front, sides, and backyard, especially near the entrances. Motion-activated lights are a great option for most people – they conserve power (which lowers your electricity bill), and they’ll often scare away potential intruders when the light turns on.

Outdoor Safety

Summer nights are a fun time to be together as a family. A few tips and tricks will create quality memories without emergency room visits.

Outdoor Lighting

Proper outdoor lighting will make your yard safer, no matter the time of day. Whether it’s a powerful light on the driveway for evening basketball games or soft lights on the back patio for an outdoor dinner, consider the ways you use your yard and choose lights that will make it the safest for you and your family to enjoy.

Pool

The CDC states that there are an average of 33 drowning incidents per day in the United States. To keep your home’s pool safe, maintain a sturdy fence around the pool area if you have young children or pets. Always have a buddy whenever someone is in the pool, and always have life vests on hand. Keep pool maintenance chemicals in a safe location.

Landscaping

Maintaining a yard is a lot of work, and it comes with a lot of tools. Keep play areas and walkways clear by trimming back bushes and trees, and consider lighting well-used walkways (like the path to your front door or to your backyard shed) to make them safe after dark. Store yard tools somewhere safe when not in use, and make sure chemicals like gasoline and pesticides are either up high or behind a lock. 

Expert Help

We understand that making your home safe is of the utmost importance. The lighting in your home should play a central role in both safety and comfort! For help choosing lighting that will make your home and family safer, stop by our showroom or give us a call to speak to our lighting experts!

3 Ways to Maximize Your Space

3 Ways to Maximize Your Space

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Less is more with a small space, especially when you use what you have and buy intentionally. If you’re looking to use your space better or just go more minimalist, versatility is key. 

Not only is versatile design increasing in popularity (think tiny homes or vans converted to homes), it’s also better for the environment and your health. Researchers found those living a minimalist lifestyle experienced more positive emotions and a variety of “wellbeing benefits.” 

Investing in multi-use furniture, choosing more versatile lighting, and getting creative are 3 ways to use your space better so you can live with less and still feel like you have more.

1. Multipurpose Furniture

When you’re trying to create a more versatile space, the best place to start is furniture. Choose pieces that serve more than one purpose. Here are some ideas to create storage that will reduce clutter and the number of furniture pieces you’ll need.

Loft beds like this one give you double the space, allowing you to have a desk when you may not otherwise have room. You could also create a cozy setup like this!

If you have a larger bed, maximize your space using under-bed storage. Find a bed with drawers in the base or just use baskets (they serve the same purpose).

Benches are often underutilized pieces of furniture, but they shouldn’t be! They’re incredibly versatile and can go almost anywhere in your home. Have an unused wall or corner? Scour flea markets to find a bench. If it doesn’t have built-in storage, simply add a few baskets underneath for shoes, blankets, or other items.

This entryway setup creates a natural place for shoes and offers a place to sit while putting them on. Bonus: it’s small and would fit anywhere.

These wicker baskets act like an end-of-the-bed bench while also providing storage where you can tuck away extra pillows and blankets.

2. Choose Lighting that Creates Space

When you’re looking for other ways to make your home more versatile, upgrading your lighting is another quick and practical option. Changing up your lighting can save you space and make your room feel bigger. If you choose quality fixtures that last longer and use less energy, you’ll end up saving money in the long run, too.

Task lighting is essential in an office space. Ditch that desk lamp that’s taking valuable real estate on your work surface and find a flexible floor lamp that can be used as ambient lighting or as a reading lamp when you’re off the clock.

Instead of using a table lamp on your nightstand, consider hanging pendant lights above it instead! Visually, it creates space around your bed, making it look more open and airy. Plus, you’ll have more room for that stack of books you’re working on.

Small kitchen woes are no more with under-cabinet lighting. LED light strips are easy to stick on, and they’ll make your kitchen feel bigger and brighter. They also make your counter space more functional – nobody should be using a kitchen knife in the dark! 

Pro tip: Mirrors make your space look bigger! Place one near a window or a light fixture to reflect the light to create the illusion of a larger space.

3. Get Creative

Arguably the most important way to save space is to get creative! There are so many ways to use your space better, and there are lots of places to find inspiration. Look for wasted space in your home, and find design solutions that are versatile and solve multiple problems.

A common place to find wasted space is underneath the stairs. Getting it opened up and organized is a great way to get more bang for your buck. Drawers like these make use of every single square inch under the stairs! 

If drawers aren’t an option, find shallow shelving or hang hooks on the wall to create a space where you can throw all of those holiday decorations you only see for a month at a time. 

If your kitchen space is small and you’re short on storage options, put your empty corners and walls to work. This 3-tiered cart does double duty as a plant stand and extra kitchen storage. The wooden crates also double up – serving as both a decorative element and open shelving for larger kitchen items that would otherwise take up valuable cupboard space.

Another way to add visual interest while creating storage is hanging up floating shelves. Open shelves like these are a great place to put your favorite kitchen-wares on display where they can be easily found when it’s time for a mid-afternoon coffee break. 

Open shelving also works great in the bathroom. Use them to store bulky bath towels, or buy decorative baskets to hide away all of that countertop clutter when you’re not getting ready for the day.

Closet busting at the seams? Make your closet space work for you with organizing systems that save space, like these drawers and slide-out racks. 

Maximizing Your Space

This tiny home is a perfect example of these tips in action. The multi-use kitchen set can be folded away and used for extra guest seating. Natural light and interior lights combine to keep shadows at bay, making a small footprint feel open and airy. Creative storage options are tucked into every square inch. 

You don’t have to be making the most of a tiny apartment to take advantage of space-saving and space-creating design tips. Just remember – when you’re trying to maximize your space, everything you have counts. Make sure everything you have is intentional and serves at least one purpose – hopefully more!

To learn more about creative lighting solutions that will help you maximize your space, stop by Pine Grove Lighting’s showroom! We’d love to chat and help you find what you need to get started.

 How Light Bulbs Changed the World

 How Light Bulbs Changed the World

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Imagine waking up to the light of the sun in 1850. It’s summertime, around 6 am. You go downstairs, stoke the fire and get breakfast together as your children start to wake. Outside thunderhead clouds are heading towards you, darkening the land. Lighting a few lamps, you prepare for a quiet afternoon inside, knitting and sewing with your daughters while the boys wrestle in the flickering light. It rains all day. You’re running low on kerosene oil, so off to an early bedtime. Maybe tomorrow will be brighter, less restricted.

In a world of modern conveniences, it’s easy to take something like our control of light for granted. Did you know that lightbulbs have been around for less than 150 years? Revisiting the history of home lighting may inspire you to see your home with new eyes.

Before the Light Bulb

For thousands of years, humankind has lived according to the cycle of the sun and moon. The earliest humans relied on fire and learned to control it over time. Wax and oil made fire portable and practical through the use of torches, candles, and lamps.

This “domestication” of fire spurred innovation. There were more hours to use in the long dark winters, which gave humans time to craft and study. Still, firelight wasn’t nearly as bright or even as the sun. It produced a lot of heat, required care to keep alive, and created black smoke and soot. 

Fire was far from a perfect lighting solution. Inventors around the world continued to pursue a better solution without much success. It wasn’t until the 19th century that inventors saw progress with electricity and light. 

The Invention of the Light Bulb

The first successful version of electric light was achieved in 1835. This bulb, called the arc lamp, was invented in London and was popular in street lighting. Although it was a huge step forward in the development of electric light, there were still plenty of technical problems to solve. The arc lamp was extremely bright and hot, so it had to be on high towers for safety. The glaring light made it impossible to use in the small rooms of private homes. Even in the 1800s, critics were wary of the invasion of technology into private life. More work needed to be done.

More than forty years later, Thomas Edison successfully created a light bulb that wasn’t excessively hot or bright. He invented the first incandescent bulb in 1879 in New Jersey. These bulbs used electricity and gas to sustain the slow burn of filament. The light was powerful enough to light a room. 

The incandescent bulb changed the world. The ability to have consistent, clean light on demand meant that hospitals, schools, governments, businesses, and the public could control their work. Its use was able to increase health, safety, and productivity. 

It wasn’t until the mid-20th century that incandescent bulbs were commonly used in middle-class homes, decades after the death of the brilliant inventor Edison. The evolution of electric light was far from over. As incandescent light bulbs became commonplace, energy consumption greatly increased and we began to record harmful effects to the climate. Once again, we needed a new light solution.

Evolution of EcoFriendly Bulbs

Now imagine it’s 1950. You’ve moved into a new home in “Leave it to Beaver” suburbia. White picket fences, green lawns, neat houses, all wired to the now publicly available electricity network. You pause and think back on your childhood, the challenges of life before this technology. You smile. This is a new world for your children. You flip the switch on in the family room to spend some quality time together.

As the general population adopted the use of electric light, energy consumption skyrocketed. This increase in demand for energy production started to impact the environment, as the most common energy production was the burning of coal and natural gas. The effects of global warming came to a head and we looked for ways to reduce our impact on the world. Although the groundwork for fluorescent and LED bulbs was laid long before our awareness of global warming, they turned out to be the key to energy-efficient lighting. 

Fluorescent Bulbs

Several inventors got to work on fluorescent lighting, the process of passing electricity through the gas to create light. Even Thomas Eddison had a version of fluorescent light, although his was never mass-produced. George Inmann of General Electric finally secured a patent for a commercial version of the fluorescent light. This light was first sold in 1938, around the same time the incandescent light became a common household appliance. 

Fluorescent light bulbs were first designed as long tubes, typically used in offices. A modified design adapted them for home use: a slim spiral tube the size of an incandescent bulb. These bulbs grew popular in the early 2000s. Fluorescent bulbs are much more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs. Yet, many were wary of their use in homes because they contain mercury. Many families wanted to avoid the risk of broken bulbs.

LED Bulbs

The technology behind LEDs (light-emitting diodes) began back in 1907, when a British man named Henry Joseph Round experimented with a cat’s whisker and silicon carbide, somehow generating light. Several other inventors tried to harness LEDs, first succeeding in creating invisible infrared LEDs, then finally achieving visible red light in 1962.

LEDs have evolved to emit every color, are highly adaptable, and maintain popularity today. LEDs use a microchip to produce light instead of burning filament or gas, and are popular in both bulbs and strip lighting. The microchip design means LEDs are colorful, adding “fun” and “versatility” to “eco-friendly”. And, no mercury!

Light in Creating a Home

Back to today. Your home is custom lit in every space. It’s a beautiful summer night. The kids are in bed, the soft, warm glow of fairy lights giving them comfort. You lock the front door and see your walkway lit by solar-powered footlights. You turn off the lights in the kitchen, except for the cabinet lighting, which offers a gentle glow into the living room. You snuggle up with your partner to catch up on your favorite show.

We live in an era of ultimate convenience. Gone are the days when the weather or seasons dictate what we do. Modern technology has allowed us to use light to optimize health, safety, and design.

Despite all of the incredible things the light bulb has done for us, we will never fully be able to remove ourselves from the influence of the cycles of the sun and the moon. Much like our ancestors who lived life by the firelight, our bodies still rely on the cues of daylight and dusk to regulate our hormones and sleep cycle.

Modern innovators have developed a spectrum of bulb “temperatures”. The temperature, or wavelength, of light mimics either sunlight or firelight. Bright, cool light acts like the sun and is excellent for workspaces, like kitchens and home offices. Softer warm light sources are closer to firelight, and help our bodies to relax and prepare for sleep. It’s excellent for bedrooms, reading lamps, and by bathtubs. 

The right light sources also help to protect our family and home from accidents and theft. Strip lighting along stairs is great for preventing falls. Motion-activated lights outside have protected families for decades by preventing nighttime theft.  

Beyond function, light design controls the feel of your home. Two hundred years ago, pioneers and frontier families had the same, functional log cabin. Today light gives us all the opportunity to customize our homes to our family needs and interests. Simply upgrading the existing, builder-grade lights makes your home feel like it’s yours. Strip LEDs under your kitchen cabinets increase visibility, make it feel bigger, and upgrade it to a first-class workspace. Installing pendant lighting in the bedroom increases style and decreases chord clutter. A unique chandelier brightens your home office and helps you relax in a space that’s really you.

It’s incredible how much light has changed the world.

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Talk with the Pros

With all the technology and styles available to you, it can be hard to know how best to take advantage of this era of light. Pine Grove Lighting offers a great selection of not just bulbs and fixtures, but also professional lighting advice from experts in the lighting industry. If you’re ready to start lighting your home, stop by our showroom and we’ll help you find exactly what you need.