Category Archives: Lighting

In many areas of your Phoenix home, the lighting you choose is all about creating a mood. However, in creating a lighting design, many people overlook the kitchen. Just because the room needs to be functional doesn\’t mean that it can\’t also be beautiful. Adding over- or under-cabinet lights can make a huge difference in the overall appearance of your kitchen. Here\’s what you need to know to make the most of these unique lighting styles.

Benefits of Under-Cabinet Lights

Under-cabinet lights are the more common of the two varieties, so you have likely seen them in home design magazines or when visiting a friend\’s house. This type of lighting fits underneath the bottom of your kitchen cabinets, shining downwards onto the countertops. In most cases, you won\’t be able to see the fixtures unless you look up underneath the cabinets. This creates a sleek look and eliminates the need to match the lights to the rest of your decor.

Many Phoenix homeowners choose under-cabinet lights to provide additional task lighting when preparing and cooking food. While many kitchens have built-in overhead lighting, this type of lighting often creates harsh shadows. Not only that, but overhead lights can also be much brighter than you might want if you were entertaining guests. In this scenario, you\’d likely want lighting that is a bit more unobtrusive to create a relaxed, festive vibe.

With under-cabinet lighting, you\’ll get light exactly where you need it without overpowering the rest of the room. This way, you and your guests can relax and enjoy yourselves with minimal glare and shadows. You can even find varieties with dimmer switches, allowing you to customize the lighting design even further to suit your mood.

Benefits of Over-Cabinet Lights

While not as common as under-cabinet lighting, over-cabinet lights are growing in popularity. This type of lighting is strictly for decorative purposes, as it won\’t shed light on your kitchen counters. Of course, you\’ll need to have enough space above your cabinets to accommodate the lights and give them plenty of room to shine. In general, you\’ll want to have about a foot of space to get the greatest effect.

You can find over-cabinet lighting in a variety of styles, and you can choose various colors for the bulbs as well. This way, you can complement your existing decor while also creating a festive atmosphere for entertaining. As with under-cabinet lights, you shouldn\’t be able to see the light fixtures above your cabinets when they are installed properly. Dimmer switches are available in this category as well.

To truly get the most out of over-cabinet lighting, it is also a good idea to add some decorative pieces above your cabinets. Real or artificial plants work well, as do large, colored vases, plates and similar items that are at home in kitchens. Because the lights will be showcasing these pieces, be sure to dust and clean them regularly. The last thing you want is for your over-cabinet lighting to draw attention to cobwebs or a layer of dust.

Let the Professionals Handle the Install

To avoid having wires running down to your countertops and taking up valuable kitchen outlets, you\’ll likely want to have your over- or under-cabinet lighting hardwired into your home. Electrical work can be dangerous, so it is best to let a professional handle this for you. Here at Turn It On Electric, we are experts in installing over- and under-cabinet lighting, as well as a variety of other lighting styles. Reach out to us today to request a free quote.

Urban dwellers are aware of the risks associated with their living locations. Suburbanites are vigilant too. Hopefully, you feel safe in your home and neighborhood. So do you really need security lights and/or motion sensors?

Security Lights Enhance Quality of Life

Wanting to be able to see what’s going on in your yard isn’t necessarily “fear.” It’s just good sense. If you have aging family members or friends, security lights and motion detectors can illuminate their paths from car-to-door. It’s a great safety feature.

Wandering wildlife can be a pleasure to view but also destructive. Security lights and motion sensors can keep them at a safe distance. You can also reduce energy usage with motion sensors. Your all-night front porch light can be “off” until activated.

Types of Security Lights and Sensors

Lights with cameras are becoming more popular, especially during the holiday gifting season. More front-porch-package hijackers and their license plates were filmed this year than ever before.

The top outdoor security cameras for 2020 are:

• Amcrest Ultra HD 4K Dome
• Arlo Ultra
• Logitech Circle 2
• Nest Cam IQ Outdoor
• Reolink Argus 2
• Ring Floodlight
• Vivint Outdoor

All offer some degree of night vision. Fields-of-view range from 69°-180°. The Amcrest and Arlo Ultra cameras offer the best resolution (3840 x 2160). They are also among the priciest.

Motion Sensor Activated Lighting

Motion detectors with lights are another good choice for your property. If you live on a low-traffic street, a security light motion sensor can be a welcome addition to your home. But in a high-traffic area, it’s like having a strobe light on your front porch.

Motion detectors are usually wired into your home security system and connected to a monitoring center. Your concerns might include:

• Doorbell-triggering upon approach
• Restricted areas for kids, pets, visitors – basements, medicine cabinets, pools, workout rooms
• Saving energy – Abandon all-night front porch/garage lights for energy-saving motion-detectors/lights
• Teens breaking curfew; sneaking out

Choose a motion sensor that provides what you need:

• Area-Reflective – Reflections from infrared LED rays are measured. Alarms are triggered if an object is within a specific range.
• Dual-Technology – These motion detectors can combine PIR and MW sensors. Because one is passive (PIR) and the other active (MW), they reduce the number of false alarms.
• MW – Microwave sensors measure the reflection of moving objects and can cover a larger area than infrared. They are pricey and can be vulnerable to electrical interference.
• PIR – Passive infrared sensors are the most popular. They detect heat and movement. If a moving person or animal trips the infrared energy levels, the sensor sounds an alarm.
• Ultrasonic – This unit measures moving objects’ reflections in pulses of ultrasonic waves.
• Vibration – These can be homemade. The sensor detects vibrations then activates a switch to an alarm. They are often unreliable.

Turn It On Electric Protects Your Investment

Simple home security systems without lights (bells or buzzer systems) can be DIY (do-it-yourself)-mounted. They are usually battery-operated and you simply need to monitor the batteries. Most don\’t consider them very effective.

The circuitry for even a “small” home security system can be complicated. “It’s more than drilling holes and running wires,” says Reviews.org.

If you want security lights and motion sensors, consider it an investment that will increase the value of your property. Get a good system. Then contact your local electrician for installation.

In the Phoenix-area, Turn It On Electric is your affordable, trusted source for home security system installation. Contact us to learn more.

Your kitchen is one of the most-used rooms in your home, so you\’ll want to make it look its best. An easy way to do this is by adding kitchen pendant lighting. Not only will this help you see what you are doing, but it also adds beauty and style to the space. Here\’s what you need to know to choose the best kitchen pendant lighting for your home.

Types of Kitchen Pendant Lighting

When it comes to pendant lighting for your kitchen, you\’ll have a lot of options to choose from. This lighting style comes in a broad range of sizes and aesthetics to complement virtually any decorative scheme.

For starters, you\’ll find lights ranging in size from small to large. To choose the best size for your kitchen, pay attention to not just the size of the room, but also the ceiling height and counter heights. The lights you choose should be large enough to command attention. However, they should not be so large as to overpower the space or get in the way while you are cooking.

Once you have narrowed down your choices by size, you can move on to selecting the overall style. Just like other types of decor, you\’ll find pendant lighting to suit contemporary, rustic, classic, elegant, sculptural and many other styles of decor. Take cues from the rest of your home to guide your style choices.

Finally, you\’ll get to choose the color or finish of your kitchen pendant lighting. Look for lights that complement the rest of your kitchen decor. For example, if you have stainless steel appliances, you\’ll likely want light fixtures in a similar finish. If you have chosen a bold accent color in your kitchen, try to find pendant lights that incorporate that hue as well to keep everything looking cohesive.

Benefits of Kitchen Pendant Lighting

Of course, the key benefit of pendant lighting in your kitchen is that it makes it easier to shine some light on the task at hand. Typically, you\’ll want to hang your lights directly over a countertop, like a kitchen island, peninsula counter, or breakfast bar. This way, the lights will be right overhead, shining down on your counter space.

In general, kitchens don\’t have much space for decor, as you\’ll want to keep your workspace clear for prepping food. With pendant lighting, you\’ll have a unique opportunity to inject some decorative style and flair into your kitchen. This will keep it from looking too bland and boring. Look for lights that are visually interesting to have the biggest impact.

You can also use lighting to set the mood in your kitchen. This is especially beneficial if you enjoy entertaining or have dining space in your kitchen area. Many modern pendant lights are dimmer compatible, letting you customize the lighting to your liking throughout the evening. To create a fun atmosphere, try using colored light bulbs or smart bulbs that allow you to change the color of the light.

Add Kitchen Pendant Lighting to Your Home

To add pendant lighting to your kitchen, you\’ll need the services of a qualified electrician. Your technician can install any necessary wiring in your ceiling to power the lights and ensure that everything is working properly. This includes setting up any additional features, like dimmers and smart light bulbs.

At Turn It On Electric, we have helped countless Phoenix homeowners install pendant lighting and other types of light fixtures in kitchens and throughout their homes. We\’ll handle all of the complicated electrical work for you, saving you from the risk of electric shock. Call today to schedule an appointment.