Settling into the very first apartment or house of your own can be a very busy yet exciting time. It could be the first ever home you move into by yourself, with a significant other or with a spouse and your children; whatever the situation may be, it’s certainly understandable if you can hardly wait to begin making changes and adjustments to the place to suit your living needs as well as design preferences. Choosing paint colours for walls, furnishings for the different rooms, appliances for dining and entertainment, and materials for the walls and floors can take up much of your time and efforts, but it will all prove worthwhile once you begin seeing your dream home taking shape.
Of course, if you’re like most average working professionals who make a conscious effort to stay on budget as you work through your home design project, you’ll want to consider the pros and cons of each home feature before you make a decision to purchase. This would involve determining which product provides the best quality for its particular function while being cost-efficient as well. A good example of this exercise in smart selection would be choosing the right light fixtures to use throughout your home. Traditionally, halogen bulbs would be the logical home lighting option, but if you’re set on getting the best value for your money, then you may want to take a closer look at what LED downlights have to offer.
Compared to common light bulbs and tubes that are clearly visible on the ceiling (as well as intricate chandeliers and other display-worthy light fixtures that take up much space and can make the room appear smaller), more and more homeowners are discovering the benefits of installing downlights. These are bulbs that are installed into holes or housings within the ceiling; they create the effect of light pouring out from recesses in the ceiling, concentrated on a downward direction. These downlights or recessed lights can create a softer, more elegant quality to any room compared to the harsh glare that exposed bulbs provide. But more than serving as an aesthetic feature, downlights also have several other advantages to take note of.
Downlights come in light-emitting diode or LED configurations. While halogen lights provide bright lights with considerable heat, LEDs are much cooler – only a fraction of the energy used by the light is converted to heat. Homeowners can also expect to experience 75% energy savings by using LEDs compared to using any halogen light bulb. Longer life is also another widely popular feature of LED lights – they come with advertised lifetimes of 10,000 hours and up while halogen bulbs typically last for about 1,000 hours.
While LED lights do require buyers to pay up to six times more upfront than they would for halogen bulbs, homeowners will quickly be able to see a return on their investment in about two years. Overall, this would give them much bigger savings compared to purchasing and replacing several halogen bulbs a year. This is certainly good news for budget-conscious consumers.
If you’re seeking the best lighting option for your new home in terms of light quality, cost efficiency, and even energy efficiency, then there’s no need to look beyond the row of LED downlights displayed at the hardware store. Not only will your home give off that comfortable, elegant vibe, but you’ll also be confident that you received the best value for your hard-earned money.