Trending: Mix it Up with Minimalist Lighting

by admin · Nov 15, 2023

Some interior design trends come and go so quickly that it’s hard to understand how they were ever popular (we’re looking at you, 1970s orange shag carpet).

Fortunately, some trends have a little bit more staying power. Minimalism is a timeless design trend that we just can’t stop coming back to. It’s all about doing more with less, and making a clean space where you have room to live your life to the fullest.

If your space needs a refresh and you’re not sure where to start, adding a touch of minimalism might be just what you need! The good news is, you don’t need to go all in and chuck everything in a closet to get the look! Take a look at what you have, then start looking for alternatives that feel more simple. It’s easy!

For example: Swap out your ornate coffee table with a simpler version, or just remove it altogether to open up the space. Trade out busy wall art with a piece that has fewer colors or shapes. Put away some of the tchotchkes you have laying around. Little things like these can have a big impact!

One of the hottest home decor trends we see right now is adding a bold touch of minimalism with lighting! Minimalist light fixtures are simple, unassuming, and stunning in the right context. Whether your home is mid-century mod, boho, or an eclectic mix that’s all your own, there’s a minimalist fixture out there that will fit seamlessly into your space.

Want to see how it works? We curated this list just for you, with some of the best ways to add minimalist-inspired lighting to your home. Remember, the beauty of minimalism is that less is more – start with one idea and see where it takes you!

Simple Lamps

*^{Shcherban Oleksandr/Shutterstock.com}*

One of the easiest ways to add minimalist lighting to your home is with a clean and simple lamp. Find floor or table lamps that are made of simple shapes like cylinders, rectangles, and circles. The fewer shapes there are in the design, the more minimalist it will feel in your space.

Sometimes a new shade will give an old lamp a completely new personality! If you’re not ready to commit to replacing your lamps, try just replacing the shade. Look for pattern-free lamp shades in simple shapes, and avoid any dangling crystals or tassels.

Unconventional Pendants

One of the best ways to declutter your space is to remove as much furniture from the floor as you can. While things like beds and couches need to stay, a floor or table lamp can go if you install a pendant light!

Pendant lights have long been used over bars in kitchens, but there are no rules against finding more creative places to put them! One of our favorite places is right over your nightstand, which clears off the space for your favorite book. You’ll need to hire an electrician to run electrical wire to the right places, but the jaw-dropping results will be totally worth it.

Pendant lights come in a massive selection of sizes, colors, shapes, and finishes, so you’re guaranteed to be able to find one you love!

Statement Sconces

Sconces are another great floor-space-saving minimalist lighting option. You see them most often in bathrooms above the mirror, but they can be used in so many other ways!

A pair of well-placed sconces will bathe your room’s best feature with light, like an accent wall or fireplace. A single wall light near your favorite chair will create a cozy reading nook. A row of sconces can dress up a boring hallway.

Stick to something low-profile in high traffic areas like hallways. For places like over the sink or bathroom counter, your sconce can take up more space. Look for fixtures that have a minimalist base, and shades made from basic shapes like globes, cones, or cylinders.

Bare Bulb Fixtures

The bare bulb minimalist lighting trend is very hot, but can also be a little polarizing. They often come with rustic Edison bulbs, but you don’t have to keep them if they’re not your style. You’d be surprised at how quickly a light fixture can go from farmhouse chic to modern with a new set of light bulbs! Go for a more modern globe-shaped style bulb to create the perfect blend of old and new.

The bare bulb trend isn’t for everyone and that’s okay! Get a similar look with a light fixture with clear glass shades surrounding the bulbs. They’ll help to diffuse and soften the light.

Hidden Lights

You don’t have to be able to see a fixture for it to have a stunning impact. LED light strips give off soft light from out of sight, which makes your space feel luxurious and custom-made.

They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and can go almost anywhere that you want to give some extra oomph. You’ve probably already seen them under kitchen wall cabinets, where they shine light on the countertop to make cooking easier… but did you know that they can go almost anywhere?

Install them as back lighting behind your TV, headboard, or bathroom mirror. Illuminate the floor with light strips on the toe kicks in your kitchen and bathroom. Make your storage more functional with light strips on closet shelving or built-in bookshelves. Line your teenager’s room with a color-changing remote-controlled LED light strip so their room can change with their moods. The options are limitless!

Recessed Lighting

Also called can lights, recessed lights are installed up and inside your ceiling, so they light your room without any visual clutter.

Recessed lights are really versatile- they work with every design style, and can go in any room in the house. Plus, the latest technology for these lights is awesome. LED recessed lights give off virtually no heat, which makes them incredibly safe. They also come in dimmable and color-changing options, so you can switch up the atmosphere in your room with just the touch of a button.

Color Coordinate

If buying all new light fixtures isn’t in your budget just yet, don’t dismay! With just a weekend or two and some basic supplies, you can give the lights you already have a minimalist makeover.

Choose a finish that you love like matte black or brushed nickel, and head to your hardware store for some sandpaper and spray paint. Any light fixture can be repainted – just tape off the electrical components and glass shades before you get started! Don’t forget to turn off your power at the breaker box before taking down wired fixtures!

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel – take a look around your space and choose a finish that will work with what you have. This will unify your space and make it feel more streamlined and clean. We love how well these black porch lights play off the black trim on the windows!

Choose One and Get Started!

No matter how you embrace minimalism in your lighting, it’s guaranteed to make your home feel more streamlined and clean. Remember, less is more with minimalist lighting, so keep it simple to make it stunning!

If you need help finding the perfect minimalist lamp or need a recommendation for a trustworthy electrician to install that new pendant or recessed light, give us a call! Our lighting experts know all of the ins and outs of minimalist lighting – and we’re excited to help you get started!

3 Ways to Maximize Your Space

by admin · Nov 8, 2023

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 Vogue Lighting’s showroom! We’d love to chat and help you find what you need to get started.

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

by admin · Nov 1, 2023

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 Vogue Lighting today for a free consultation!

5 Easy Steps to Create a Modern Minimalist Interior

by admin · Oct 25, 2023

With an intentional lack of furniture and decorations, minimalist design can sometimes come off as cold and uncomfortable. Over the past few years, as we’ve spent more time in our homes than ever before, the need for comfort in a home design has been made crystal clear.

Today’s modern minimalism prioritizes simplicity with a decluttered and uncomplicated aesthetic, while also emphasizing the need for comfort in a space. You’ll see more color and accessories than the minimalist interiors of the past had, but they’ll be thoughtfully chosen extras that provide warmth and life to the space without going overboard.

Whether you’re interested in adopting a minimalist lifestyle or just love the simple yet dramatic design aesthetic, modern minimalism is an achievable aesthetic for just about anyone!

To help you get started, we broke down the basics of modern minimalist interior design into a handful of easy steps you can use to confidently focus on the right essentials.

1. Create an Open Floor Plan

Focus on creating as much connected open space as possible. Obviously, taking out walls is the easiest way to create an open floor plan. But if you’re not in a place where you can tear down walls, there are some simple and subtle tricks you can use to make adjoining spaces feel more connected.

One way to connect spaces in your home is to use the same flooring and wall paint colors for the entire space. This will make rooms look like they belong together, even through a doorway.

A unique accent, like this minimalist pendant light, grabs your attention through the doorway from across the way, which helps your brain perceive the two spaces as one.

Finally, play around with your furniture placement to maximize your space. In smaller spaces, this often means keeping large furniture close to the walls to keep open pathways throughout but don’t underestimate the power of a simple, low-profile, floating sofa used to define a space.

2. Choose a Small Color Palette

A classic hallmark of minimalist design is a neutral monochromatic color palette, typically in warm grey, white, or beige tones. Contrast is important – add dimension and balance with a mix of darker and lighter shades within your color palette.

If an all-neutral color palette just isn’t your thing, you can still get a modern minimalist look with color – you just need to stick to a small palette. Keep most of the colors you use very light, to increase the feeling of airiness and reflect light best.

3. Functional Design is Key

It doesn’t matter how pretty a room is, if it’s inconvenient or difficult to use you’re not going to be happy with it. When you’re trying to adopt modern minimalism, understanding how to pare down to only the essentials can be hard. When you’re going through your room, ask yourself:

“Does this serve a purpose?” “Do I already have something that serves this purpose?” “Is there a multipurpose option that will serve this purpose and others?”

Just remember, there’s no hard and fast rule for what it means to be “functional” – and you don’t need to justify every item you love to keep it in your home. A funky decorative pillow that makes you smile when you see it is serving a purpose (and it’s making your couch more comfortable – so it’s multifunctional!)

A huge part of functional design is organization. Decluttering for a modern minimalist space involves reducing “visual clutter” too! Things not actively being used should have a home where they can be tucked away until they’re needed.

Opt for storage options that have doors that will hide the things you’re not using. When styling open shelving, choose items that match your color palette, leave plenty of open space, and use boxes or baskets to organize and hide loose items.

Don’t be surprised if you get down to the basics and you aren’t in love with what you have left. You’ll likely need to start making smart trades here and there to end up with a set of basics that you love.

4. Add Light – Lots of It

Like most modern design aesthetics, modern minimalism focuses on filling the space with light. Where possible, introduce as much natural light as you can. The light colors on your walls and floors will reflect it – making your room feel open and airy.

In addition to natural light, a modern minimalist space needs a well-thought-out interior lightscape. Make sure your general ambient light is bright without being harsh, and add extra lighting in dark corners and over workspaces. Hidden lights, like LED strips under a cabinet, are an expensive DIY trick with a big payoff!

Because minimalism is all about doing less with more, it’s okay to be choosy about how you add light to your space – you don’t want to clutter up your home with a floor lamp in every dark spot! When you’re shopping for fixtures, stick to simple shapes that can double as design elements.

5. Finish it Off With Thoughtful Accents

Little pops of color and texture are what take a modern minimalist space from blah to wow. You can do this in a number of ways, but remember to keep it simple. Start with just one color or texture and see how it feels before committing to more.

When possible, look for ways to upgrade your existing decor rather than adding extra items. Look for functional pieces that you need in your space, but feel a little lackluster, and find a more interesting alternative. Replace an old, overstuffed sofa with a simpler version in a deep color (as long as it’s in your color palette!), or give an old end table new life with a coat of paint.

Pro Tip: If have a hard time committing to color, consider using houseplants! They introduce a vibrant green color and soft, organic textures, which can balance out a minimalist design quite nicely.

By far, one of the most effective ways to accent a modern minimalist design is with an interesting light fixture. Your room will always need light, so it might as well be an integrated part of the design!

A stunning ceiling light with a simple shape will stand out as a piece of art against a minimalist backdrop and elevate the entire design of the space.

Pendant lamps are popular in modern minimalist design because they come in simple shapes with lots of finish options, so it’s easy to find something that will match your aesthetic.

If replacing a ceiling fixture isn’t an option, you can get a similar impact with a carefully chosen floor lamp! Lamps are the MVP of accent lighting for a reason – they’re easy to move, replace, and rearrange, and come in a HUGE variety of styles. You can go for something small that blends in, but we also love the way a large, yet simple, lamp like this one makes a statement without taking over.

That’s all there is to it! Just to recap, here are the 5 Easy Steps to Create a Modern Minimalist Interior:

Create an open floor plan – tie separate spaces together with color and materials, and rearrange furniture to maximize your space.
Choose a small color palette – neutrals are your friend, but it’s okay to add in a little bit of color to make your space feel like you.
Functional design is key – use multipurpose furniture, and organize, organize, organize. Store things that aren’t being used so that they’re not cluttering up your space.
Add light – having lots of natural and indoor lighting is what makes your space feel open and airy. Light up dark corners and workspaces.
Finish it off with thoughtful accents – Don’t over-accessorize. Pops of color and texture give life to a space, but try to incorporate these add-ons with the functional elements of your space – like a colored sofa or an upgraded light fixture.

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Modern Minimalist design can be a difficult concept to balance, but it’s very forgiving and so beautiful when done correctly. If you need help finding the right lighting for your Modern Minimalist home, the experts at Vogue Lighting can help!

Lumens vs Watts: What’s the Difference?

by admin · Oct 18, 2023

Light bulbs have been lighting up our world for over a hundred years, but do we really understand how they work? When you go to the store to buy a replacement bulb, the box labels are filled with numbers and industry terms that can leave you wondering how to know which bulb you actually need.

Fortunately, understanding the difference between lumens and watts is fairly straightforward. Take a quick minute to read this quick summary, and you’ll be ready to hit the stores to find exactly what you need.

Lumens

Lumens measure the amount of light a bulb emits. The technical definition is “the unit of luminous flux, equal to the luminous flux emitted in a unit solid angle by a point source of one candle intensity.” In less scientific terms, the higher the lumen rating, the brighter the bulb. Most mainstream bulb labels use the full term, but if you can’t find the word “lumens” on the label look for its abbreviation, lm.

How many lumens do I need?

Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn’t put the brightest bulbs you can find in every area of your home. The rooms in your home will all need different levels of light, depending on how you use them. Use bulbs with a high lumen count in areas where you need a much brighter light, like above your kitchen counters. You need much less light in your bedroom, so consider going with lower lumen count bulbs in warmer colors to keep it a relaxing space where you can get some sleep.

While there are complicated equations out there that you can use to calculate your “exact” lumen requirements, the trouble is that every person and every space is different. You may find that you prefer brighter lights than what’s “necessary” in one place and dimmer lights in another. Your best bet is to try a few different bulbs, or better yet – get a dimmer switch so that you can customize your light levels depending on your needs for the day.

Pro Tip: Lumens can be added across several light sources in a space. It’s not an exact science because it doesn’t take into account distance from the source and the angles of the light, but if you have three 800lm bulbs in a room, it will be lit with roughly 1800lm.

Watts

Watts measure the amount of power consumed by the bulb. One watt isn’t much, it’s equal to 1/746 horsepower. It’s named after James Watt, a Scottish inventor credited for creating a steam engine during the Industrial Revolution. The symbol for watts is “W”.

Most electrical devices are rated in watts, although large appliances that use more power are often measured in kilowatts, which is equal to one thousand watts. (1W = 1000kW)

The wattage of a bulb will tell you only how much power it consumes, not how bright it is. The lower the watt rating on the bulb, the cheaper it will be on your energy bill to light your house.

Before you buy, always check your light fixture for its watt rating. Never put a bulb with a higher watt rating than the fixture can handle. If the bulb tries to pull more power than the fixture can handle, it could start a fire.

Energy-Efficient Bulbs

Before the days of LED bulbs, it was pretty easy to get a good idea of how bright a bulb was by simply looking at the wattage. The higher the watts, the brighter the bulb. LED lightbulbs can give off the same amount of light as a traditional bulb using far fewer watts. This is what the labels mean when they say the bulbs are “energy efficient” – they need less power to provide equivalent light.

TL;DR Lumens and Watts

Lumens and Watts both describe how a lightbulb works. Lumens measure the amount of light a bulb emits – the higher the lumens the brighter the bulb. Watts measure the amount of power a light bulb uses. Newer light bulbs like LEDs can produce a lot of light (lumens) using very little power (watts), making them more energy-efficient.

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Need help finding the right light bulb? Give the experts at Vogue Lighting a call!

Create a Balanced Home with Warm Light

by admin · Oct 11, 2023

Did you know that the color of the lights in your home has an affect on your health? Both your sleep and your mental health can be influenced by the type of light you’re exposed to during the day, and it’s about more than just the lightbulbs in your bedside lamp. In 2020, people spent an average of 13 or more hours a day on screens. Many of us are struggling to fall asleep at night, we’re less productive, and we’re noticing that our emotions are a lot closer to the surface. Parents are seeing their children struggle with emotional regulation. While these issues are multifaceted, the links to overexposure to blue light can be seen across the board. Consciously introducing warm light into the home could be a simple, yet powerful part of creating a healthier and happier home.

The Difference Between Blue and Red Light

Light is made up of many different wavelengths, which our eyes perceive as colors. Each color correlates to a color temperature on a spectrum from low energy (red) to high (blue). Light from each part of the spectrum reacts with our eyes and brain in a unique way and affects the way they function.

Blue light has high energy and its color temperature is around 5000+ Kelvin (K). As the Kelvins go higher, the light appears cooler, or more blue. Many people associate blue light with harsh fluorescent bulbs, but we get most of our blue light exposure from a more natural source – the sun! Most screens, from laptops to televisions to cell phones, emit blue light as well. Red light is on the opposite side of the spectrum. It has lower energy and its color temperature ranges between 2700-3000K. Red light is more commonly called warm light. Imagine the light given off by a candle’s flame or an Edison bulb, this is red light. This type of light plays a crucial role in a well-balanced home by regulating both the health and the mood of its inhabitants.

How Light Affects Your Sleep

The human body runs according to a circadian rhythm, or a 24-hour cycle. This rhythm regulates many functions in the body, with one of the most basic being the sleep cycle. In the morning, the sun’s natural blue light signals the body to produce a hormone called cortisol, which promotes alertness and focus. When the sun sets and gives off a warmer glow that fades into darkness, the change in light signals the body to make a hormone called melatonin, which promotes relaxation and sleep. The cycle of the sun signals the mind to fall asleep or wake up. There is nothing inherently unhealthy about blue light. Problems arise, however, when we interrupt that natural shift in light temperature by exposing ourselves to blue light for hours after the sun has set. The blue light from your light bulbs and device screens signal the body to keep making cortisol instead of switching to melatonin. This disrupts the circadian rhythm and natural sleep cycle, which can make it harder to fall asleep at the end of the day. While a late-night TV binge here and there won’t cause much trouble, regularly disrupting the natural sleep cycle by several hours can lead to health problems.

Get Better Sleep With Balanced Light

Good sleep is crucial to overall good health. Our bodies need that time to rest and restore each day. The brain uses sleep to create new pathways to retain what it learned during the day, so one major side effect of poor sleep is poor memory. Studies have also linked increased anxiety, depression, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease with poor sleep. These risks are greater in children. So what can you do to avoid the destabilizing effects of blue light? The obvious answer is to avoid all blue light after sunset, but that’s just not practical. The key to this issue is balance. Cool, blue light is only a problem when it overtakes the natural balance with warm, red light. Find ways to bring that balance back into your home by limiting blue lights and increasing warm light after dark. It’s a pretty easy fix once you know what to look for. A simple switch to warm bulbs (often called “soft white”) and limited screen usage at sunset will have long-term benefits for the whole family by promoting healthy, natural sleep.

How Light Affects Your Mood

Have you ever noticed that many sit-down restaurants feel as if they are only half-lit? This isn’t done to save on the electricity bill, there’s a science behind it! Restaurateurs take advantage of both types of light to keep their business running smoothly. Warm, dimmed lighting in the dining areas naturally relaxes guests and encourages quiet. The kitchens are brightly lit with cool light to help everyone working there to be fully alert and productive while working at high speed. You can do the same thing in your home once you know how it works. Warm, red light is naturally less bright than blue light, so it will feel softer in your home. Use it in the places where you spend time at night to help you wind down and relax. It’s also a great choice for family gatherings or an intimate dinner date at home, where you can use warm light to naturally make everyone feel comfortable. Bright light enhances emotions, making us more aware of everything we’re feeling. If you notice that bedtime is a constant source of chaos at your home, try dimming the light in bedrooms, hallways, bathrooms, etc. It won’t instantly make them perfect sleepers, but it will definitely help you to foster a calm wind-down strategy at the end of the day.

How to Use Warm Light At Home

Older incandescent bulbs are a great source for warm light, but they’re being phased out in the lighting industry in favor of safer and more efficient alternatives. But that doesn’t mean you need to break out the candles just yet! LED stands for “light-emitting diode”. Essentially they’re microchips that glow as electricity passes through them. This design not only makes them up to 90% more efficient than incandescent bulbs, but it also makes them versatile. LED bulbs come in a wide variety of color temperatures, and they can be paired with dimmers to set the mood. Some are even color-changing, so that you can switch back and forth from warm to cool using a remote or an app. If you just don’t love the look of a standard LED bulb, there are beautiful Edison bulb style LED options available! They’ll still give you that soft, warm, old-world charm with all of the same energy efficiency and safety advantages.

Where to Use Warm Light

When you’re planning where you want to introduce warm light in your home, think about the main uses for each space. One method is to designate each space in your home as an active or rest area. Active areas are places where you’re working. Blue light promotes focus and alertness, so it’s great to have in places like the kitchen, homework stations, home office, and garage. Rest areas are places where you want to relax and feel comfortable. They’re often gathering places like the living room or dining room, or night-time areas like hallways and bedrooms. Some rooms will have a combination of uses, so you’ll want to use a combination of light types! Bathrooms could use a mix, as blue light is great for a makeup table but warm light is more relaxing for a soak in the tub. Large great rooms might have seating and dining spaces that are rest areas, and study desk and food prep spaces that are active areas. Play around with lamps, dimmers, and smart bulbs to get the right balance for the way you use your home.

This world feels chaotic at times, and finding balance can feel daunting. We can’t help much with office politics or your crazy neighbors, but when it comes to lighting we know a thing or two about helping you find just the right light for your home. If you’re ready to start creating a balanced home with warm light, give us a call or stop by our showroom. Our lighting experts are happy to answer your questions and help you get started!

7 Things You Should Know About Organic Modern Interior Design

by admin · Oct 4, 2023

Organic Modern – also called contemporary rustic or transitional rustic – is an interior design style that’s become very popular in the last year as people have fallen in and out of love with sleek minimalist and farmhouse chic interiors. Organic Modern interior design is a natural next step – it incorporates the best of the minimalist design aesthetic with the warmth of natural materials. The result is an open and airy space that oozes comfort.

If you’re looking for a way to simplify your farmhouse aesthetic or add some comfort to your minimalist space, we have good news! The shift into Organic Modern is as natural and effortless as these interiors feel.

So what is Organic Modern, exactly? We’ve put together a quick cheat sheet to help you identify the core elements of Organic Modern and find ways to incorporate it into your home.

1. Neutral colors and earthy accents

Organic Modern design is rooted in minimalist design, so keep your color palette neutral – think beige, white, tan, and gray. Keep walls and flooring light and bright to create an airy, clean feeling.

Keep in mind – a neutral palette does NOT mean monotone! Organic Modern design aims to warm up classic minimalist styling, so you’ll often see warm, deep accent colors in natural hues, like green, blue, terracotta, or orange.

Keep in mind that your lighting can change the way your colors look. Organic Modern’s inviting neutral colors often look best in soft, warm light. We recommend buying 2-3 different colors of light bulbs and trying them in your space. You’ll be surprised at how much the colors change!

2. Balance

Organic Modern design strives to strike the perfect balance between sleek and streamlined minimalism and natural shapes and textures.

Achieving this balance isn’t easy, but it’s very important. Be mindful of how many sleek versus organic pieces you incorporate. Pay attention to scale. Scatter organic shapes and textures around your space, but don’t fill it to the brim. Leave plenty of open space to keep that light, airy minimal feel.

In this attic, they’ve artfully balanced the clean lines of the architectural details with an organic, flowy pendant light, lots of comfy blankets and pillows, and a handful of plants.

Many homeowners forget to budget for lighting when they’re redesigning and end up with something cookie-cutter they can “hide” – but well-thought-out light fixtures are absolutely essential to creating a balanced design.

Finding a jaw-dropping fixture that’s perfect for your space can be a challenge if you limit yourself to what you can find at your local hardware stores. If you stop by our lighting showroom, we have access to thousands of lighting options – and we’d love to help you find that unique fixture that makes your space.

3. Use natural materials

The crowning element of Organic Modern design is the consistent use of natural elements, such as stone, wood, and ceramics… and the shape, finish, and mix of pieces you choose will have a significant impact on how your room feels. Organic Modern design looks best with a mix of shapes, finishes, and materials – just like you’d find on a walk in the woods.

Balance is important here too. Natural materials tend to feel more rustic, so balance them out with modern pieces, like combining a raw-edge wooden dining table with modern seating. Stone vases and lamps introduce an earthy element, but stick to organic shapes over more ornate, traditional styles.

This living room showcases natural materials in all the right ways! The rounded, wooden elements bring the “organic” while the minimalist shape of the sofa and sleek stone fireplace bring the “modern” – married perfectly together to make a cozy Organic Modern space.

4. Bring the outside in with plants

Besides using natural elements in furniture and shapes, one of the best ways to bring Organic Modern design into your home is with plants! You’ll often see many of the same kinds of plants used in mid-century modern design (like palms, figs, and grasses) with a variety of sizes ranging from small shelf plants to larger trees and shrubs on the floor.

Plants clean your air, lift your mood, and brighten up the space. This homeowner took full advantage of their large windows and really made their plants the star of the design. They’re all in a similar color tone to the design and offer plenty of beautiful organic shapes and textures to balance out the clean lines of the furniture and architecture.

5. Make it yours with unique and handmade pieces

Styling is one of the last steps when designing a space, and it’s the most fun because you can start making it your own! It’s an excellent opportunity to go thrifting, hit up the local flea market, or finally make that unique Etsy art purchase.

We love how the unique shapes of the vases, prints, and light fixture here give this space so much visual interest without filling it to the brim.

Handmade pieces give your room personality, and they provide new textures and colors that are hard to find in a mass-produced decor store. When you’re looking, stay focused on finding colors and shapes that will highlight the unique balance of clean, modern, and earthy rustic pieces in your space.

Make sure your lighting highlights your unique style! Light a cozy reading nook with your curated novel collection with a modern, organic lamp or pendant light made from natural materials. If you’re displaying your favorite finds on a bookshelf, consider adding a row of LED strip lights on the shelf above them!

6. Prioritize comfort

Organic Modern design is minimalism made comfy. When considering your options, make sure that whatever you choose is comfortable and practical over anything else.

What “comfortable and practical” means will vary from person to person, but here are some suggestions to get you started.

Low Maintenance – Choose materials that are durable, low-maintenance, and easy to clean. There are plenty of natural materials that fit in this category, like clay, copper, finished wood, and stone.
Smooth Finishes – Choose materials that are “nice to the touch” – raw, natural edges are beautiful, but make sure they’re in places that won’t snag on guests’ clothes or skin.
Pillows, Cushions, and Blankets – Create cozy spaces with plenty of soft textures. They’ll create an aesthetic balance against the harder natural materials while making your space so comfortable you’ll want to spend all your time there.

7. A Well-lit Space is a Comfortable Space

Proper lighting is a crucial element of any design project, but it often gets added in as an afterthought. This can cause significant problems for your space. If your finished room has dark corners, it won’t look right or feel inviting. A builders-grade traditional ceiling fixture can throw off the feel of a beautifully curated Organic Modern space.

In the space below, this stunning light fixture brings Organic Modern design to a whole new level. But how do you replicate this in your home? We recommend considering two things when picking out a light fixture: the material choice and breaking tradition.

Material Choice

Most default lighting includes stainless steel or brushed nickel and frosted white glass shades. Instead, play with finding fixtures with natural materials for the base or the shade.

You might have a hard time finding anything else at a hardware store, but if you stop by a lighting showroom, they’ll be able to show you a wider selection of modern fixtures.

Consider things like stone lamps that introduce texture, wicker pendants that soften the room, or colored shades that dimension.

Breaking Tradition

Traditional fixtures and placements work, and they’re always a safe bet. But with Organic Modern design, it’s okay to bend the rules to get a less structured look.

Don’t let the fear of a mistake stop you from trying something new. Get that funky fixture you love. Be bold with finishes and colors – great design moments happen when you choose something you love rather than playing it safe.

It’s okay to experiment with unconventional placements too! Try hanging pendant lights over your end tables instead of using lamps. Play with scale and get an oversized fixture (remember to balance your design!).

Just give it a go – you’ll create a more interesting space. Remember – nothing in design is permanent, and your design can grow organically (right along with your houseplants) as you trade things in and out over time.

Just remember – the elements of Organic Modern are there to help guide you to a feeling more than anything, and there are no absolutes. So whether your take on Organic Modern borders on eclectic boho or modern with an emphasis on wood and stone, if you feel relaxed and connected, then you’ve created the perfect space for you.

It’s quite the balancing act! We don’t doubt that you’re up for the adventure, but if you’d like to skip the “hours of googling” phase of your lighting selection, let the experts at Vogue Lighting do the heavy lifting and help you find what you need!

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