D.I.Y. Home Lighting Projects

Home Lighting Projects on This Old House
The electrical and lighting section on This Old House's website offers how to fix wiring problems, installing and using dimmer switches, lighting for senior citizens and lighting for nicer home decoration. Home lighting falls in three categories: ambient, task, and accent. The main living areas of a home should have a flexible combination of all three. Ambient lighting provides general illumination - the background brightness that gives a room a comfortable glow. It helps you move through a room safely and easily. Indirect uplights, such as wall sconces, light rooms softly and evenly for a diffuse effect. For senior citizens, increased wattage and luminosity are just the beginning. Not only does an older eye need a 100-watt lamp where a 60 once sufficed, but it also needs consistent light, whiter light, and glare-free light.

How To Build a Plant Light Stand
Instructions on how to build a PVC plant light stand, including costs and supplies.

Electrical Projects: How To
This web page, part of the Lowe's site, offers links to how to tutorials offering instructions for electrical and lighting projects for the home. Articles include topics like installing a dimmer, installing a three-way switch, making and installing lamps and fixtures, installing recessed lighting, installing track lighting, installing a chandelier, and replacing light fixtures. There are also tips for interior and exterior lighting design, including low voltage and solar lighting, motion detectors, and holiday decor.

You Must Be Able to See in Order to be Seen
The members of a small band find themselves playing in dark corners more often than they are comfortable with, so the problem becomes how do they build a portable lighting grid that not only allows them to see what they are doing, but which allows the audience to see them in a flattering light as well? The information found on this site can be adapted to a number of lighting needs. Such things as size and type of bulbs, the proper indoor lighting fixtures to secure the bulbs, transporation of the system and the bulbs for maximum efficiency, plus bulb color, proper lighting height, and a discussion of the proper controller or dimmer for low voltage lighting. The site ends with a discussion of the proper cables and the final prices for the completed lighting grid.

Lighting Articles and Tips
The electrical and lighting section of This Old House features solutions to wiring problems, installing and using dimmers, suppressing light surges, burnout busters, installing recessed lighting, ambient lighting, task lighting, accent lighting, adding cables, lighting for aging adults and choosing light bulbs. An online video gallery features lighting installation demonstrations.