There's a lot of focus today on energy efficient windows. Windows are the primary source of natural lighting in our homes, so size and placement are important. Natural light or sunlight distributes the spectrum of colors evenly while incandescent lights (lightbulbs) distribute colors unevenly with more emphasis on warm colors (reds, oranges and yellows) and less distribution of cool colors (blues, greens and violet).

Here are creative ways to increase your use of natural light:

• North facing rooms receive less sunlight so consider increasing your window size when replacing them.

• Bay and bow windows increase the amount of glass and angle capturing sunlight.

• Garden windows are a nice treat over the kitchen sink as you can grow fresh herbs.

• Clerestory windows (photo upper right) add light to a room, above other windows or along a wall reserved for furniture.

• Not enough wall space, consider using skylights or …

• Newer, Sun Tunnels (photo at right) are becoming popular for closets (no more mismatched socks or shoes) and bathrooms.

• My favorite, full glass storm doors that start letting light in as soon as spring arrives, and through most of the fall.

Maybe you have enough windows but there are so many trees and/or shrubs surrounding your home? Consider the one or 2 rooms where you’d like more natural light and research ways to change your landscaping that give you more sunlight You might have enough window coverage so how else can we help you?

Window tinting can protect your furniture and provide more insulation from extreme weather conditions, hot or cold.

Lets look at your choices in artificial lighting, from the type of bulbs you use to the fixtures and whether a shade affects how the light is distributed.

Remember that natural light will always influence the degree to which artificial light sources affect the colors you see. Here are your basic artificial lighting choices:

• Incandescent bulbs give off a familiar yellow light that intensifies yellows, oranges and reds while dulling the cooler colors.

• Fluorescent bulbs are the opposite of incandescent. They generate a cool, blue light and emphasizes blues and greens while muddying warm colors.

• "Soft white" fluorescent bulbs mimic the warmth of incandescent bulbs but all colors can appear faded.

• Halogen bulbs produce a bright, white light that is more like sunlight. Be aware that there are new Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards for halogen torchiere floor lamps manufactured after February 5, 1997 to address safety issues because these bulbs burn hotter posing a fire risk if curtains, clothing, or flammable materials contact the bulb.

• Full-spectrum fluorescent bulbs are more expensive but the light from these bulbs is the closest to natural sunlight. Ott lights are very popular for artists who require natural light, as well as serious growers of indoor plants.

You’ll want to consider not only the type of bulbs that fit a given room or activity, but also the fixtures which distribute light to meet your needs. Sconces are one example of indirect lighting as they aim the light towards the wall or ceiling. There are many different styles of recessed lighting that can act as flood lights or very focused lights such as those commonly installed under kitchen cabinets.

Remember to integrate lighting into your decorating plans. Everything in the room from lighting to flooring, along with your choice of wall colors, furniture and window coverings will affect the atmosphere of the room. Where electronics are a key element in the room, you will also need to consider placement to insure that glare doesn’t negatively affect using a computer screen or watching your new plasma television.

Ideas for Decorating with Light

Great ideas for having fun in your own backyard, in addition to great barbecues we all enjoy:

• Decorating with Natural Light , Using natural light to enhance your home decor offers ideas on the best decorating colors depending on which way your windows face.
• Decorating with Light, A guide to creating a well-lit space from Women’s Day sister publication … Decorating with Style.

• Using lights to decorate for special occasions:

• Wedding Receptions: Decorating with Lights introduces color lighting, spot lighting, and lots more fun ideas.

• Light Visions , a holiday decorating service offers some great photos for inspiration for my favorite holiday, Christmas

About the Author

Tina Gleisner is the founder of the Association of Home Professionals, which helps home owners find the information and resources they need to manage their homes with confidence (www.hometipsandtools.com ). She has written hundreds of articles about home maintenance, repairs and remodeling to help customers find the best solutions for their home, lifestyle and budget. Through My Handyman of Southern NH, Tina offers services in home maintenance including wood rot and water damage, energy saving improvements and updates such as trim, tile, painting and creative storage solutions.