Every spring we plan our summers with trips, barbecues and updating the outside of our homes and the landscaping. The summer is filled with time in the sun taking care of the lawn, planting new flowers and creating gorgeous outdoor spaces that draw us outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. As summer nears the end and we think about fall and the coming winter, our attention turns back inside. Now it is time to take another fresh look at our indoor living space and think about the things we can do to make it a little more attractive, functional and comfortable. One of the options you should consider is a lighting makeover completed by an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners can count on The Electric Connection to help them transform their home by simply changing out a few light fixtures.

Gone are the days when a homeowner had to settle for the typical light fixture in the center of a bedroom or no lights in the living room. Today, modern lighting ranges from very bright to subtle and understated. Kitchen lighting has come a long way as well. Track lights are very functional and provide the entire area with a flood of light. An electrician in Santa Monica can install several tracks or one large one that will provide plenty of lighting for your workspace.

Living rooms don’t have to be dark any more when recessed lighting is installed. This type of light will stay out of the way of the flat screen. The lights are flush with the ceiling and will not hang down, blocking your view. Your Santa Monica electrician can install a couple or several lights depending on the size of the room and your personal preference. When you think about your fall projects, add a lighting makeover to the list and give The Electric Connection a call to make it happen.

Add the perfect custom finish to the front of your home with outdoor hanging lanterns and wall lanterns.

When using two outdoor lanterns, they should measure about 1/4 the height of the front door(s). When you are using only one lanterns, 1/3 of your door height is appropriate.

Outdoor hanging lanterns should be centered over your front door(s), high enough so that the doors may open and close freely. If you have a picture window or archway above the front door, center the fixture so that it may be seen from inside your home.

Wall lanterns surrounding the front doors should be proportional to your home, when in doubt, size up! Remember, fixtures appear smaller from curbside viewing than most people would imagine.

Wall lanterns are also appropriate for rear and side entrances and by garage doors – same rule of thumb for sizing applies for these areas.

Path Lighting should be placed 6′ apart to ensure adequate beam spread.

Be sure to make your space functional! Task lighting is an important piece of the design; it will provide guidance and illumination in the necessary areas to ensure safety.

Focused illumination on key holes and security pads allows for easy access when you are entering and leaving your home at night. Outdoor LED wall lights or recessed spotlights work well in these areas.

Add path lighting to walkways every 6’ to provide adequate beam spread. This will create curb appeal ambiance and visibility when walking at night. Don’t forget to add light near the house numbers – this can help in emergency situations and for deliveries!

After the sun goes down be sure your home has the same curb appeal as it does during the daytime by adding outdoor and uplighting to the landscape.

Illuminating trees or other elements from below will create soft focal points in the landscaping after the sun goes down. Use a flashlight to test where you’d like the light to hit, then mount the fixtures accordingly. Be sure to mount fixtures out of grass for ease of mowing and other landscaping tasks.

Be sure to view your outdoor lighting after dark before signing off on a project; it’s easy to make necessary adjustments to refine your outdoor lighting design.

To avoid being “that neighbor”, be sure to eliminate glare and make sure your outdoor light fixtures do not create “light trespass” into your neighbor’s property.