Condominium Lighting 101 – Introduction to Home Lighting in a Loft or Condo
Condo homes offer top-notch locations and amenities, but require the sacrifice of space and storage options. These limitations have far-reaching implications. Even the lighting is affected! I am a real estate agent in the Twin Cities in Minnesota who has focused on condo homes for the past six years. To guide the young new homeowner, or anyone considering condo living, here’s an introduction to home lighting.
The light in any home is determined by a combination of:
Natural lighting: Sunlight is possibly the most preferable light source, as it is free and provides natural color variations from morning to night. On the other hand, sunlight can radiate warm air indoors in summer while allowing icy air to enter your home in winter. For condos, the problem is equally a double-edged sword. Inherently they are challenged by a certain lack of natural light. I work with properties that are worth between $ 100,000.00 and $ 2,000,000.00. Even my tallest houses only have windows along two sides!
One suggestion, no matter what your price is, is to look for a house with a balcony. Many affordable modern condos offer oversized balconies for a maximum daily dose of natural lighting. These structures are often cleverly set apart from the rest of the building, providing an incredible amount of privacy. This is especially true for higher-level units. I know people who grow all kinds of vegetables on their own in the summer, from tomatoes to mint to basil. They enjoy watching the changes every day of the summer in private while also enjoying the greatest social opportunities available in a condo building. Another twist concerns the loft-style condos. Given the size of the windows, the homeowner can fill a home with natural light by opening a window treatment.
Artificial ambient lighting: Environment means surrounding, present everywhere; encompassing. In small homes, the concept can be confusing because many ceiling light sources also provide task lighting. A recessed light over an exterior door is placed inside the ceiling, however its main function is to illuminate the door lock so that you can enter your home quickly and easily.
To make this work for you, try to take advantage of as much ambient light as possible for specific tasks. If you use your dining room table for both work and dining, try to place it as directly as possible under your largest ceiling fixture. While I am referring to artificial light sources in a home, I also recommend compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) for excellent and continuous energy savings.
Task lighting: Other lights in the house are clearly dedicated to certain tasks. Table lamps are preferable to floor lamps as an overall space-saving design. Also, I definitely recommend fluorescent tube lamps that fit under kitchen cabinets. They take up absolutely no space while flooding even the darkest kitchen with the heat of light.
Accent lighting: A light fixture that is attached to a wall is called a chandelier light fixture. Its purpose is typically to highlight artwork or other decorative items. Loft homes often use monorail track lighting to provide a combination of ambient, work, and accent lighting.