Summer is the time of year when days are longer and warmer. However, as the sun goes down, we still need light in our homes to perform tasks and enjoy our evenings. Luckily, keeping your home well-lit during the summer months does not have to be expensive or difficult. In this blog, Burgess Lighting, a local lighting store located in Forestville, Maryland, will highlight some affordable and easy summer lighting ideas that will keep your home bright and beautiful. Shop our indoor and outdoor lighting today!

The right lighting can make everyday tasks easier and more enjoyable

Hanging around the house more lately? Sometimes the more time we spend at home, the longer our to-do list grows. To ease the burden of persistent homeowner obligations, it is important to have appropriate lighting for specific tasks. Terry McGowan of the American Lighting Association (ALA) answers some of homeowners’ most frequently asked questions about lighting activity spaces.

This summer, more than any other, is a great time for a staycation. Many people are foregoing their usual getaway, instead opting to stay home for a retreat in the backyard, movie marathon in the media room, game night at the kitchen table, any of many alternatives to traveling to a destination. There are myriad home-based activities and ways to relax while still having a fun and memorable time at home.

UV technology can be effective against viruses with proper safety precautions

The use of germicidal lighting as a potential way to combat germs and viruses, including COVID-19, is receiving a lot of interest and publicity lately. Germicidal ultraviolet “light” or GUV refers to the technology of germicidal lighting, which utilizes ultraviolet-emitting sources. According to the American Lighting Association (ALA), GUV is a technology with great opportunity, but it is more complicated than simply turning on a UV light.

Terry McGowan, FIES, LC, director of engineering and technology for ALA, explains that it is imperative to be cognizant of the safety and efficacy issues of using germicidal lighting, and to be educated about the capabilities of the different types of UV light.

Lighting is a visual medium, so we would like to highlight our Video Gallery. We are members of the American Lighting Association, an organization dedicated to educating consumers and professionals alike about the benefits of good lighting design and efficiency. We are pleased to feature a number of videos with helpful tips for choosing the best lighting for your home, including inspiring design trends and choosing the right bulbs for your fixtures. Browse through our video library, which we will be updating regularly with new information and home lighting fundamentals.

We’re not just your favorite lighting store. We also carry an incredible selection of home decor.

We are proud to carry Kichler Lighting outdoor fixtures, which are designed to bring professional design principles to the exterior of your home. From your entryway or driveway to the backyard deck and garden, Kichler’s outdoor light fixtures are crafted with style and durability. Whether you choose outdoor wall lights, hanging chandeliers or post top lanterns, find the perfect outdoor lighting to enhance the beauty and safety of your home.

When it comes to home renovation projects, the first place to start is usually the kitchen. The latest trends in finish-outs and appliances will impact your lighting choices.

Enjoy your outdoor space as much as your indoor living area with beautiful, sophisticated, lighting and ceiling fans stylish enough to make you feel right in home.

We’re proud to be included in the top 100 Best Lighting Blogs! Feedspot rates websites and blogs based on quality and consistency of posts, influence in social media for lighting-related information and search ranking. Stop by to talk to our lighting experts and discover why we’re so passionate about lighting!

It’s easy to recognize good outdoor lighting when you see it. When the sun goes down, the house looks welcoming – there are no dark shadows, and entrances and the driveway are well-lit, secure and beautiful.

You can create the same welcoming ambiance for your home with a good outdoor lighting plan. Start with a list of your goals for lighting your home’s exterior.

The sparkle and dazzle of a well-placed chandelier defines and enhances the mood of any room. A chandelier that is too large can easily overpower a room and its inhabitants; one that is too small becomes insignificant and decreases the perceived value of the entire space. By following a few interior design guidelines for choosing the correct size, you will maximize the impact of the fixture. Room size affects chandelier size, but the type of space also affects the size.

One of the most significant current home design trends is the use of integrated LED fixtures where the LED light source is a permanent part of the fixture. The fixture does not use a bulb in the traditional sense. While this concept may sound futuristic or even frivolous, in reality it is efficient and conducive to unique design capabilities.

A family room that doubles as a media room requires lighting that can be adjusted to minimize glare and shadows while providing ample illumination for varying activities.

Tired of haphazard internet shopping? Burgess Lighting invites you to “See It. Touch It. And Take It Home”. No more guessing, broken items, or return shipping charges. At Burgess Lighting you have the luxury of a trained lighting professional to help you make the correct choice. There’s also a huge selection of lighting fixtures in a multitude of finishes and important items that you might not think about such as bulbs, dimmers, and other accessories.

It’s a hot, sticky day and you emerge at home from your nicely air-conditioned car. The A/C at home has been on low efficiency – or turned off entirely – while you were at work. It will take a while to move the temperature down to a tolerable level, so in the meantime, you seek out the coolest room in your home. Wouldn’t this be a good time for a ceiling fan?

Quentin is constructed of angular forms that create a striking geometric interplay. The stem-hung collection features intersecting rectangles which form a modern silhouette. Candle sleeves in heritage brass add a distinctively vintage feel that is both hip and historical. > Let’s Go Shopping

Titus 8 Light Oval Chandelier/Pendant features black mesh ironwork, giving off an industrial accent to a modernly sleek collection. The Chandelier/Pendant has a Polished Nickel finish for a dynamic effect. > Let’s Go Shopping

Breezes, sunshine and soaring box kites inspired our Summer Pendant, from our Four Seasons Collection, which features rectilinear lines in a nod to the Arts & Crafts style. The textured panes are available as clear glass or aluminum finished in Soft Gold or Vintage Platinum. > Let’s Go Shopping

In 2015 people spent a record $300 billion on renovations in their homes, and it’s predicted that spending in 2016 will set yet another record.* One of the most in-demand renovations is for bathrooms, often including an upgrade to LED lighting fixtures, along with other environmentally-sound products such as low-flow commodes to save water.

Lighting experts acknowledge that LED tape lighting is rapidly replacing traditional recessed undercabinet lighting, thanks to its ease of installation, warm color temperature and low profile.

The most popular application for LED tape lighting is kitchen under cabinet lighting. It places light closer to work surfaces and avoids casting shadows for tasks such as food prep, recipe reading and cooking. Tape lighting also allows for edge-to-edge coverage of cabinets, which eliminates bright spots or dark spots.

Straight lines, spheres, cone shapes, orbs, all kinds of geometric shapes add up to beautifully refined lighting style.

TOP TRENDS: Show Your Style With An Eye-Catching Geometric Fixture

Lighting fixtures with sharp edges, clean lines, and dynamic shapes make classic rooms feel fresh and create a pleasing balance of old and new. Samantha Hart of Better Homes & Gardens Lighting magazine recently visited the Feiss Lighting showroom during the Dallas International Lighting Market to discuss the newest geometric shapes in ALA-Feiss Videolighting, such as sphere or orb-like fixtures, and how they can be the perfect accent in a traditional

or contemporary space.

Long, long, ago – throughout the dark ages, medieval homes were lit by fires in open cooking pits.

When candles (“chandelles”) were invented, they were incredibly expensive and reserved for the wealthiest class. It wasn’t until the 14th century that the first “chandelier” was created – a crude wooden cross with spikes at each end to skewer a candle. It didn’t take long for the artistry of chandeliers to evolve, utilizing complex patterns of cut glass suspended from ever-expanding architectures of bronze and steel to light ornate castle entrances, bedrooms, and dining halls. Chandeliers soon became a statement of status, with wealthy landowners competing for exclusive rights to the best craftsmen of the day to create works of art that served not only to illuminate, but as the topic of conversation at evening events.

Investing in quality outdoor lighting is a great way to add value, curb appeal and safety to your home.

Start by talking to a lighting expert at a local lighting store. These lighting professionals are trained to look at the big picture and design an outdoor lighting layout that will take into account all the layers of exterior lighting, including driveway, path, garden features and entranceways.

One element needed to achieve a complete outdoor lighting plan is landscape lights – such as path or spread lights, hardscape lighting, uplights for house or garden features, and even LED outdoor tape lighting. The other element is decorative outdoor lighting – which includes post lights, wall lights, hanging lights, deck or patio lights, and ceiling lights.

A ceiling fan is more than an appliance – it’s a design statement. Most ceiling fans are located front and center in the home – dominating the scene in the living room, kitchen, bedroom or patio – so style is important.

Think twice before you go online or down to the big box store and purchase a ceiling fan that may not be the perfect match for your home’s design and personality.

Now You See It; Now You Don’t

You’ve seen some fabulous lighting applications in home design magazines and now you’d like to create that same magic around the exterior of your own home. With a little technical knowledge and some experimentation, you can create an inviting outdoor environment that will increase safety and security, provide easy driveway access, and enhance the beauty of your home both from the inside looking out and from the outside looking in.

The first thing to understand is the difference between “outdoor lighting” and “landscape lighting.” Outdoor lighting fixtures are highly decorative visual elements designed to coordinate with the architectural style of your home. They are made to be seen.

Everyone needs a bit of pampering. And what better place to rejuvenate than the master bathroom? The bathroom is a private place that should provide a calm and quiet retreat from today’s hectic lifestyle. The right lighting can go a long way toward providing the right atmosphere.

As a part of your design process, here are a few important details to consider.

Lighting the Way for the Rest to FollowExquisite lighting from the Tontori Collection.

The idea for élan started simply enough: with inspiration. From there, a sketch was born that elevated the notion to a possibility. Our artists crafted with the utmost devotion, seeing the possibilities and not stopping until every detail was brought to light.

At élan, our passion is art and our medium is light; one that elevates a space and everything in it. With each piece in our collection, we create modern sculptures that define a room and your style, while bringing that all-important light to a space. We do it so you can choose that one perfect piece that you’ve been dreaming about – that connects you and your space.

There’s No Place Like HomeRelax with beautiful lighting from the Ahrendale Collection.

The dressed up rustic styling chandeliers, pendants and wall sconces from the Ahrendale collection opens new possibilities sure to enhance your décor. Open Iron Anvil mesh surrounds and protects the Vetro Mica shades which in turn cast a satisfying and comforting illumination in your home.

Visit our Hubbardton Forge Gallery . . .Artistry. Integrity. Enduring Value.

These time-honored principles are built into every Hubbardton Forge design. Each piece is hand-forged one at a time by skilled artisans in Castleton, Vermont.

Since the company began in 1974, they have been re-exploring the ancient art of metal sculpting, creating lighting and accessories of grace and simplicity. The design and manufacturing process is a collaboration of designers, engineers and craftspeople. Every curve, taper, and twist in the metal carries with it the distinctive marks of honest hand-crafting.

When you own a Hubbardton Forge pendant, lamp, chandelier or sconce, you own a piece of Vermont-made art of enduring value.

It’s Time for a Beautiful Switch

Burgess Lighting is pleased to offer the LeGrand® adorne™ line of lighting controls. Select from a creative line of dimmers, switches, wall plates and other illumination accessories that can be customized for your home. Don’t settle for an ugly switch!®

Now that old incandescent 100- and 60-watt bulbs are no longer being manufactured, consumers will need to replace burned-out bulbs with new technology.

There are two main options: CFL or LED. Many consumers already use CFL bulbs and may or may not be happy with the light output. LEDs have many advantages – for instance, they don’t have mercury or require special disposal – and they can last up to 25 years. Homeowners should remember this if they experience sticker shock when they price LED bulbs – but you won’t need to buy any bulbs for many years.

Prices continue to come down, but, as with many things in life, you get what you pay for. There are many LED manufacturers with bulbs at different price levels, so how do you choose the best LED bulb for your particular needs?