Before buying a lighting fixture, it’s important to be knowledgeable about the specifics of what lighting fixture you are looking for and what purpose it will serve. This will help ease the buying process, and make sure you are satisfied with what you spend your money on.
#1: What are You Looking to Light?
The first and most basic question to ask yourself before purchasing a lighting fixture is what do I want to light. Your space is going to determine the first step of what kind of lighting fixture you want to buy. Lighting the interior of a space is going to be different than lighting the exterior of a building. With that being said, it's also important to note what mounting positions you have available. For example, whether your light is going to be on the ground or hanging.
#2: Are You Looking to Buy an Incandescent or LED Lighting Fixture?
Incandescent lights are traditional luminaires. The only time we would really suggest this is if you have an entire incandescent system that you have not updated yet. If you do not have a full incandescent system, it is worth it to consider buying an LED fixture instead. Some benefits of LED lighting fixtures are better performance, less maintenance, and energy efficiency. Read more here to see how LEDs help save building owners money.
#3: Are You Looking for Color Changing or White Light?
- If you are looking for white light: Does it need to be dimmable or DMX controlled?
- If you are looking for color-changing light: Do you have a DMX system in place or do you need one?
#4: Are You Looking for a Spot or Wash Light?
Spot lights are more concentrated, intense lights and are mainly used to focus attention on a particular shape, person, or area. Wash lights softly illuminate a space, with the light being diffused for wider coverage in most cases.
#5: Are You Looking for Soft Edge or Hard Edge Lighting?
Hard edge lighting typically creates a very defined shape of lighting where the edges are very crisp. Soft edge lighting is going to fade at the edge of the light.
Need help with your lighting fixture decision? Reach out to our knowledgeable sales staff today to get personalized help.
