Let There Be Light
How to update the lighting in your old home or storefront without losing the character you love.
We’ve all seen ‘em:
Beautiful old homes, or retrofitted storefronts, that would be wonderful places to live or run a business.
The problem is they get gloomy even in the summer, or the original fixtures don’t cut it for daily tasks. You would hate to sacrifice that original architecture by tearing down walls, but you need better lighting to make it truly usable.
So, how can you bring more light into old buildings without giving up the character you love?
What You Can Do
Fortunately, there are some simple ways to immediately improve the light in your old space.
These include painting walls or ceilings in brighter, lighter colors. That’s why you see so many old brick walls painted white inside certain shops. Unlike the original brick color, which absorbs light, white paint reflects even ambient daylight, making that wall act almost like a mirror, bouncing illumination back into the space.
The same is true of old homes with narrow hallways or tight bathrooms. Painting them in lighter, brighter colors helps the existing light–be it natural or artificial–go a lot farther.
You can also maximize the natural light by keeping your windows clean and using light-filtering curtains. All of this is minimally invasive to the character of your older home or building.
How We Can Help
For bigger changes, however, it’s time to call in the professionals. Not all older buildings are up to code–or amperage–for modern day fixtures and appliances. But some are. The quickest and easiest way to find out is calling a master electrician for a wiring assessment. We’re most familiar with the volume of power you’ll need and can recommend where new circuits might be necessary. This is especially useful if you’re hoping to increase visibility in poorly lit areas.
A wiring assessment is done during an on-site walkthrough. Yes, we can answer questions over the phone, but our most transparent and accurate pricing happens when we complete an initial on-site walkthrough at your home, cabin, or shop. We’ll ask you lots of questions while we’re there, and you can show us exactly where and how you want to improve the current lighting plan. All of this is part of our in-depth, complimentary consultations.
Now we’re on the same page when it comes to your vision and expectations.
Awesome!
This is where the innovation begins. Our crew gets started on the agreed upon scope of work.
Once your new lights and circuit setup is finished, we’ll take you step by step through all of it, so you can ask questions and see how it functions in real time.
Your older building is now beautifully lit–for day and night–and that historic character you love will last for decades to come.
The Benefits Are–
All of these tips–from updating paint colors to calling a local electrician–help preserve the personality of your space while bringing it up to modern standards. DIYs will always save you money, and working with Swenson Electric comes with a 1-Year Workmanship Warranty.
Any mistake we might make (and they don’t happen often) we’ll fix for free. Because our customers deserve excellent electrical service that makes them feel valued.
Save this blog post for the next time you start dreaming of updating your space.