This past Sunday we saw the clocks go back an hour for Daylight Savings. While this means we all (hopefully) get an extra hour of sleep, we also lose an important hour of sunlight every day. With the days getting shorter, darker and colder, now is the perfect time to consider your options for creating a cozy home with lighting this winter.
When HomeStars has questions, we go to our professionals. We interviewed Hanna from HotWire Electric to find out the best way to create an inviting and well-lit home while not spending a fortune. Hanna knows lighting is an art form and has some great ideas to make your home beautiful this winter and has insights into top lighting trends for 2017.
1) With daylight savings making our days shorter and darker, what are some ways homeowners can create a brighter and cozier home to help fight the winter blues?
Hanna: Timers are a must, they automatically adjust for daylight savings and help ensure your home is safe and lit when arriving home during those long dark winter months.
App controlled timers with systems such as Caseta Wireless for under $250 have not become not just easy to use for the whole family but also affordable!
When purchasing new light bulbs for your home, you want to go for bright LED bulbs at the right colour, 5000k is now what’s new and hot in bulbs. LED tape lights are a great way to add accenting lighting.
2) Energy bills often increase in the winter, what are some cost effective and energy efficient ways to light a home?
Besides energy efficient light bulbs, try installing timers in your lights. Timers help ensure lights are not left on all night and are on only when needed such as when arriving home.
Sensors are also very helpful to light a home and help save money. Sensors throughout walk in closets, hallways, basements, and laundry rooms are another way to help ensure lights come on when entering an area and turn off automatically when leaving. This ensures no extra energy is left on when the lights are not in use.
3) Holiday party season will be here sooner than we know it. What’s the best way to use lighting to enhance the party? Are there cost-effective ways to create the best party lighting?
Lighting looks best when used properly, timers ensure lights are on when needed and ensures when guests arrive at your home that it is well lit and therefore inviting. Dimming controls are also effective in reducing energy.
To enhance your Holiday parties, you can easily and quickly add a beautiful centre light or add in some retrofit pot lights to illuminate the space. This job can be quickly done and with minor inconvenience, a room can be brightened with a visit from our licensed electricians.
At HotWire, all lights are now LED. From what used to be halogen bulbs, 50w are now 5w LED, reducing consumption and costs. Using non-cheap bulbs allows for the right kind of lumen and LED lights to brighten the spaces up for less money.
4) What trends will be most popular in lighting and electrical in 2017?
App controlled lighting, timers, and floor warming is the trend for 2017. Typically, in the past, this was only found in high-end automation systems, however, in today’s market, there are lots of selections for stand-alone systems.
Hotwire is authorized to install various home automation systems. As soon as it gets dark outside we can program your right lighting levels to take control for you.
5) What is most important in redesigning the lighting in a home? What should homeowners ask or know to look for in hiring an electrician?
Hiring the right installers is the first step, there are many electricians but many lack the design know how. At HotWire Electric, our focus has always been on design and lighting. These are key steps in hiring an electrician that has lighting knowledge.
Key terms to ask is if they are lighting consultants, as a growing new age of electricians are now becoming designers for custom homes. Those days of 4’ pot light spacing are long gone!
6) Is there anything else we should know about lighting or HotWire Electric?
We try to find a balance and a design that matches the client needs. HotWire doesn’t just sell a product, we are your value add one stop shop. We design and install lighting to any homeowners current space keeping in mind budgets and balancing latest technologies and upgrades.
Design is everything and lighting is art if you want to set the mood. Lighting consultants and electricians at HotWire can make your dream space come true because we know that lighting is everything and focus on clients.
Lighting is art and having the right lighting designed for you home can completely change the look and feel of your space. If you’re looking to make your home a cozier and a more inviting environment this winter, while also cutting back costs, think about incorporating Hanna’s suggestions into your home.
Get a quote to find a professional near you for your next project and remember to write a review when you’re done. It helps the whole community!
