The difference between a kitchen that looks good and a kitchen that looks great isn't how you decorate the space, it's how you light it. Even the best designed kitchens feel lackluster with inadequate lighting, while a few stylish, well-placed lights can make even an ordinary kitchen come alive. And, of course, good lighting plays a role in how well you can see while you're working. So if you thin...

Choosing a new lighting fixture can be a somewhat daunting process. Even if you have a good idea of the style or type of light you want, the sheer number of options available can be a tad overwhelming. A good way to start narrowing down your options is to look for brands that offer large collections of lighting fixtures in the same style. Having the choice of several fixtures in different sizes, s...

Unless your closet is really roomy, chances are it probably doesn't have any lights in it - or at most maybe a single bare bulb overhead. But adding in just a little bit of light can actually make your life a whole lot easier. Whether your closet is narrow or deep, barely big enough for coats or a full-sized walk in, good closet lighting can make it easier to find what you're looking for, not to m...

Decorating a very small bathroom can be an exercise in frustration. There's rarely room for anything but the basics, and it's easy to expend all your creative energy just trying to find a place for all the necessary parts. That combined with a lack of natural light means that small bathrooms are a somewhat grim canvas for a remodel. But small bathrooms don't have to be boring, drab, or dark - you ...

I've spent a lot of time on this blog talking about how important it is to have lighting fixtures that look good as well as providing the light you need, but today I want to talk about lighting fixtures that work best when you don't even realize they're there at all: under cabinet lights

Getting ready to sell a house is more of an art than a science. Before your house goes on the market, you want to make it look as up to date and desirable as possible, but you also want to be wary of putting too much time and money into improving a space you won't be living in much longer. Trying to figure out where to spend and what projects to skip can be especially difficult, as different featu...

I'm a strong believer that lighting should always always do double duty in your home. Light is a necessity, but filling your home with no-nonsense, forgettable task lighting is doing your dec0r a real disservice. While some generic, bargain bin table lamps or

Pros And Cons Of Ceiling Fans: When They Work And Why They Don't

In my household, the summer months are always spent maintaining a precarious balance between keeping the house cool and keeping the cooling bill low. I'm willing to consider just about any option to make it work, too. But recently I spent some time in a home with ceiling fans in almost every room - a feature I've never had anywhere I've lived personally. They seem to me like an excellent solution,...

With newer kitchens trending more and more toward professional grade cooking appliances - especially large gas ranges - it's more important than ever to have proper ventilation. Ducted range hoods improve indoor air quality, keep kitchens cleaner, and even help lower heating and cooling costs. Of course, not all models are created equal, and there are a few features to look for specifically, but X...

We spend a lot of time here on HomeThangs talking about large-scale bathroom renovations - replacing and updating big-ticket items like your vanity, bathtub, or shower. But there are plenty of ways to update your bathroom even if you aren't planning a major remodel, and spending a little money on some of the smaller details can have a bigger impact than you might think. Today we've got six afforda...