Building a new home? Trying to figure out how much to spend on lighting?

Most lighting packages average 1 - 1½ % of your new home value, including land.

For example: If your finished home will be worth $125,000 - plan to spend $1,200 to $1,800 on lighting; $500,000 - plan to spend $5,000 to $7,500.

If you have high ceilings, expensive taste or just want to make sure you’ll have plenty of lighting, budget 2 - 2½ % to be safe. This rule of thumb doesn’t include installation.

Trying to decide how to light a room? recess - track - or decorative lighting?

Always look at a room function when figuring lighting solutions.

Recess lighting is good for traffic areas such as halls. It can also be effective where you want general lighting in a large area, such as rec rooms or great rooms. But, be aware of which type of recess lighting you buy. Halogen flood bulbs provide a brighter, whiter light and are more cost effective. But low voltage halogen is very spotty and is designed for highlighting rather than general lighting.

For example: If you wanted to highlight art on a wall or a sculpture or plant, you would consider low voltage recess. If you want general lighting in your study, use standard recess with either halogen or standard flood bulbs.

Track works well when you need versatility, as in being able to change your lighting as needed.

For example: You know you want to put art on a wall, but you’re not sure how many pictures or where they will be placed. Track is also well suited to computer desks. You can move the fixtures and aim them at your work without worrying about them shining into your computer screen.

Once again be aware of the different types of track lighting. Low voltage fixtures are designed to “punch” light onto a picture or highlight an area. Track lights, which take a standard bulb, can provide general lighting. But the majority of track fixtures use halogen or standard flood bulbs. These work well to light walls, countertops, fireplaces, etc.

Decorative lighting is excellent for general room illumination. Whereas a 10’ X 12’ mud room would take 4 recess lights to light effectively, 1 decorative fixture using 3 - 60 to 100 watt bulbs or 1 - 150 watt halogen fixture would do the same job. Decorative lighting also provides warmth and intimacy - such as a hanging fixture over the dining room table. Although recess can many times do the same job, it doesn’t create the same warmth.

When looking at a room, think layering. What do you want for general lighting? Do you have anything you want to highlight? And how about some lighting for fun?

For example: In your dining room use a hanging fixture over the table, some recess or track to light the walls and maybe some funky wall sconces for fun and to set a mood.