LED lights are leading the way in home lighting trends.
“The biggest trend in home lighting is LEDs. Everyone wants LEDs,” says Mike McDougall, a certified lighting consultant with McLaren Lighting.
Existing styles of bulbs from halogen to flourescent are still in use, but LED lights are longer lasting and more efficient to use.
The last of the incandescent light bulbs, the 40- and 60-watt versions, join the 100-watt bulb in being legislated out of existence as of Dec. 31.
LED lights are still the most expensive lighting product, but McDougall points out that ”because the price has continued to come down more people are using them.”
LED lights are being incorporated into all styles of light fixtures from desk lamps to chandeliers.
“Victoria is a diverse community for lighting,” says McDougall. “It is very modern but has a strong base for traditional and industrial styles of lighting.
“Craftsman style is also a favourite but that is currently morphing into more of a West Coast contemporary look.”
McLaren Lighting always has classic Tiffany-style lamps in stock as well. McDougall says that “Tiffany style is a small market but one that is always there.”
When asked what customers should keep in mind when purchasing lighting for their home, McDougall suggests that “living space needs to be lit for the task at hand.”
He reminds buyers that areas such as workspaces need brighter light and to consider that when designing a residence or retro-fitting current lights.
He also suggest that multiple light switches and dimmers are becoming a thing of the past. New one-stop key pads give you the ability to control all your lights on one panel and allow you to create preset lighting conditions for different times of your day.
“You can push one button and have all your lighting change,” he says.
McDougall recommends using experienced staff from a lighting store when purchasing lighting products.
“We’ve done the research and worked with the items in stock,” he says. “We want to be sure the homeowner has the right product for their needs.”
