Lighting in a home with low ceilings. Any suggestions?

Question

The ceilings throughout our home are 95 inches or 2.4 meters high. Low indeed. Most of the house has wooden ceiling beams. I am trying to figure out a way to better “light up the house” and am in need of good suggestions.
In one room we've solved the problem with two floor lamps and a halogen lamp on the upright piano.
In another room I've 4 wall lamps (total eight 40 what bulbs) – but it still isn’t enough. But more importantly, it's in the kitchen that we need to have more light. The ceilings have wooden beams about 10 / 12 inches apart and I've put sheet rock between the beams. I've incased 3 decorative halogen lamps (transformer hidden above the sheet rock). They give off light but it’s not enough and in any case the lamps burn out at least once a year and cost nearly 10 US dollars each to replace. I’m sure they also consume plenty of electricity.
Ah, finally – I do need to mention that we’ve neon lighting under the cupboards – above the sink, the burners and above two work counters.
Please let me know if you need more (precise) information so to give me a detailed answer.
Thanks in advance for you help.

karadann... why don't you come arond and blow out my halogen 100 watt bulb

karadann... why don't you come around and blow out my halogen 100 watt bulb. Could be very lightful
;D

Answer 1

For starters, the 40 watters can be replaced with a 12 watt flourescent screw in bulb in the daylight style (bluer) than the warm flourescent (yellow) - the brightness levels are same as regular incandescents BUT... they cost about 4-6$ each and use less energy (and last about 10 yrs!) - If you replace your 40 watters with a flourescent that is brighter than a 40 watt (try a 60 watt brightness) you'll save money and brighten up that area immensely! check your home improvement centers, sometimes they sell these in a 4 pack for 7 bucks or so. Trust me on the brightness and savings on energy used...I have them everywhere in my home! Haven't replaced one in 4 yrs and have had 2 since 1998 already!
I also recommend track lighting or lighting fixtures that are directional so you can aim them where most needed. (use the flourescents here too)
Floor spot lights will also light up an area or plant and act as a night light (use the flourescent there too)
Recessed lighting can replace the halogens - there are directional styles available and again, the flourescents are your best bet there too for cost and replacement (or lack thereof)
Wall sconces are great if they have a frosted glass - they have top and bottom openings for the direction of light best suited for the area.
Halogens are best for heating up an area that is drafty (my opinion and experience) but they cost so much money for replacements and energy used to use them - under cabinet flourescents are nearly invisible and very helpful with a wider spectrum of lighting for cooking and dishes.
Save yourself the headache of replacing bulbs all the time and using so much electricity to light your home.
I use 4 of the directional lights across my ceiling about 18-20 inches apart between the kitchen and living room and aim where needed most - I too have low light in my home....I also installed the white pleated shades on my windows to allow more natural light in to the room as well.
Remember, the daylight screwin flourescents - they're brighter like a halogen!
Good luck - hope this helps

Answer 2

Yes, I believe you can get halogen indoor lights - they certainly should be bright enough! And most ceiling fans have a 75 watt limit per fixture (so if you get a 3-light fan, it should handle 225 watts total, ot you can use CFLs that need less power. But for my money, the best indoor lighting I’ve ever seen is made by a company called Solatube. They’re light-conducting tubes that run from your roof into whichever room(s) you choose. They concentrate daylight and also come with light kits for after dark, but the ones I’ve seen in use provide adequate light for reading even on cloudy days or late in the day. The company even used to carry a kitchen unit which incorporates a vent fan. The lights sit flush in the ceiling (I guess you’d call that recessed) but are fairly simple to install, or you can have it done. I’d suggest checking out their website.

Answer 3

Track lighting attached to the beams, and you can set the direction they shine in for maximum lighting where you need it

Answer 4

Candles and torches...
in wooden house...
could be very light-full...
:-D

Answer 5

you might try flourescent lights