logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2020
1h 12m

Ep. 127: Lighting Basics

Ballard Designs
About this episode

This week, we switched it up to take a deep dive into lighting with Ballard lighting experts Valerie and Roger. They answer all our lighting questions including, how many light sources we actually need, the rules for wattage and color that can help us get the best brightness and not waste money, and why light fixtures are like the jewelry of a home. They also give their personal picks for the type of lighting that works best in a space, share rules for using shades and finding the right lamp height, and common mistakes we make that can make a huge difference in creating a simple yet beautiful mood in a room.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

  • Valerie handles the “pretty” part of lighting at Ballard, and Roger hands the technical.
  • How Valerie and Roger work together to make things both as functional and aesthetically pleasing as possible, and what a day in their work life looks like.
  • How we know if a room is under lit, and if there is a thing as too much lighting in a room.
  • The rules of thumb for hanging lights at different levels, and the most important rules of can lights.
  • Why we shouldn’t rely on one fixture such as a chandelier to be our main source of light.
  • The many different ways light bulbs can make or break a room, what exactly wattage is and how we are paying for it, and how to know which LED colors to pick.
  • Why Roger loves incandescent lighting, and how we can use the Kelvin temperature scale on the Ballard website to better understand which type of bulb to pick.
  • What a humming sound inside our bulbs means, and what we can do about it.
  • How to check to see if a light meets your “CBD” needs - Color, Brightness, and Dimmable.
  • Pleated, paper, and printed textures are in, so bring those shades on!
  • How to best match the lamp with the appropriate piece of furniture, and how to know what height and width works best for picking lamps.
  • What makes some lamps more expensive than others, and how to get the right deal when paying for a lamp.
  • If we should or should not put shades and chandeliers, and the rules surrounding it regarding functionality.
  • The true confessions of how often we really clean our ceiling fans.


Mentioned In This Episode:

Ballard Designs Lighting

YouTube.Com/BallardDesigns

Ep 122: Tom Scheerer

Up next
Jul 8
Ep. 421: Relaxed Elegance with Brittany Bromley
Caroline and Liz welcome New York-based designer and author Brittany Bromley to the show, known for her ability to blend traditional aesthetics with a modern twist. Brittany shares the inspiration and stories behind her new book, "Relaxed Elegance," and details her design portfol ... Show More
1h 1m
Jul 1
Ep. 420: The Secrets of Timeless Design with Miles Redd
In this delightful episode, hosts Caroline and Liz welcome back the charismatic and imaginative Miles Redd to the show, renowned interior designer and Ballard Designs product design partner. Known for his signature blend of traditional elements with a bold, fantastical twist, Mil ... Show More
46m 51s
Jun 24
Ep. 419: Design Reimagined with Corey Damen Jenkins
Caroline and Liz welcome Corey Damen Jenkins to the show, principal and CEO of Corey Damen Jenkins & Associates. Renowned across the industry for his exuberant use of color and pattern, this episode offers listeners an exclusive look at his upcoming book, "Design Reimagined," as ... Show More
1h 7m
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2024
Seus Lighting: Illuminating Your Space with Elegance
Welcome to the enlightening world of Seus lighting, where innovation meets elegance in the realm of home illumination. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the intricacies of Seus lighting, exploring its features, benefits, and how it transforms your living spaces. ... Show More
1m 47s
Dec 2016
Lightbulb
Once too precious to use, now too cheap to notice – the significance of the lightbulb is profound. Imagine a hard week’s work gathering and chopping wood, ten hours a day for six days. Those 60 hours of work would produce light equivalent to one modern bulb shining for just 54 mi ... Show More
8m 58s
Dec 2023
LED Lights Make You Sick? We Found Out What Causes It
LED light bulbs are the future. They're better for the environment and the pocket book. But for some people, certain LEDs lights — particularly holiday lights—are also a problem. They flicker in a way that causes headaches, nausea and other discomfort. Today, we visit the "Flicke ... Show More
13m 47s
Apr 2020
Practical Lighting
Episode 4: PRACTICAL LIGHTING - James and Roger discuss practical lighting - what it means, the additional challenges and why you might prefer to use practicals for a scene.   https://www.rogerdeakins.com/episode-4/ 
30m 48s
Sep 2023
The Wandering DP Podcast: Episode #401 – The Sound of Lighting
A bit of a different style of commercial on this week's breakdown episode. We try to recreate some of the classic looking pictures from the 1950s with a big wide dance number and a little 2d animation thrown in for fun. Hopefully you can follow along with the stills below to see ... Show More
39m 14s
Sep 2022
Using Light To Enhance Your Memory with Dr. Shelley James
How do you use light to enhance your memory? As the world becomes increasingly digital, you’re likely spending more time indoors with artificial light. Blue light from screens can interrupt your sleep, focus, and concentration. But can some types of light actually make you strong ... Show More
20m 5s
Aug 2021
Lampe, Licht und Leuchter
Lampen und Leuchter erhellen dunkle Räume. Damit jemandem ein Licht aufgeht, braucht es aber häufig mehr als elektrischen Strom. Bringen wir Licht ins Dunkel der Welt von Armleuchtern bis zu hellen Köpfen. 
6m 27s
Mar 2019
How to Light Up Your Brain with Wes Pfiffner
Our bodies absorb light and use it as fuel for our bodies, but few of us have been taught about how to harness the power of light to boost our health and happiness.  Our natural environment deeply affects our bodies—our circadian rhythms are affected by sunlight and increasingly, ... Show More
18m 11s
Jan 2023
L is for Light (Engineer Academy : A to Z of Engineering)
L is for Light - In this episode we shine a light on the engineering that goes into the design and use of light bulbs and how we manage big lighting systems on the road, stadiums or theatres.Join Fun Kids Podcasts+: https://funkidslive.com/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for priv ... Show More
13m 20s