Condo Lighting 101 - An Introduction to Home Lighting in a Loft or Condo

Condo Lighting 101 - An Introduction to Home Lighting in a Loft or Condo

Condominium homes offer premier locations and conveniences, but they do require the sacrifice of space and storage options. These constraints have far-reaching implications. Even lighting is affected! I am a real estate agent in the Twin Cities in Minnesota who has focused on condo homes for the last six years. To guide the young new owner, or anyone considering the condo life, here is an introduction to home lighting.

The light in any home is determined by a combination of:

Natural Lighting: Sunlight is arguably the most preferable light source since it is free, providing natural color variations from the morning into the evening. Then again, sunlight can beam hot air inside in summer while allowing freezing air in your home in winter. For condos, the issue is likewise a double-edged sword. They inherently are challenged by some lack of natural light. I work with properties worth between $100,000.00 and $2,000,000.00. Even my highest end homes only have windows along two sides!

One suggestion, no matter what your price point, is to seek a home with a balcony. Many affordably-priced modern condos offer great-sized balconies for an ultimate daily dose of natural lighting. Often, these structures cleverly are set back from the rest of the building, providing an amazing amount of privacy. This is especially true for upper-level units. I know people who grow all kinds of vegetables on theirs in the summer, from tomatoes to mint to basil. They enjoy observing the changes every day of the summer in private while also enjoying the greater social opportunities available in a condo building. Another twist pertains to loft condominiums. Given the sheer size of the windows, the owner can fill a house with natural light with the opening of one window treatment!

Artificial Ambient Lighting: Ambient means surrounding, present on all sides; encompassing. In small homes, the concept can be confusing because many ceiling light sources also provide task lighting. A recessed light above an outer doorway is positioned inside the ceiling, yet its main function is to illuminate your door lock so you can enter your home quickly and easily.

To make this work for you, try harnessing as much ambient light for specific tasks as possible. If you use your dining room table for working as well as for eating, try placing it as directly underneath your largest ceiling fixture as possible. While I am speaking of a home's artificial light sources, I also recommend compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs for great and ongoing energy savings.

Task lighting: Other lights in the home clearly are dedicated for certain tasks. Table lamps are preferable over floor lamps as an overall space-saving design. Also, I definitely recommend fluorescent tube lamps that fit underneath kitchen cabinets. They take up absolutely no space while flooding even the darkest kitchen with the warmth of light.

Accent lighting: A light fixture that adheres to a wall is called a sconce lighting fixture. Its purpose is typically to highlight artwork or other decorative items. Loft homes often use monorail track lighting to provide combinations of ambient, task and accent light.

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