The type of light bulb a Brentwood homeowner uses has a lot to do with their utility bills, safety, and comfort. And yet, lighting is not normally something we pay attention to until we absolutely need to. For homeowners to shift focus, they may need to do a little more research. Consider the common bulbs around the home and how they function.

Halogen

A halogen bulb is a type of incandescent bulb that attempts to mimic sunlight as much as possible. This white light is stronger than incandescent and is said to accentuate the colors of everything in the room. However, these bulbs are more expensive than incandescent but only slightly more energy efficient. The heat of the halogen bulb can also be a problem for homeowners if they change the bulbs by hand. A halogen bulb is prone to explosion from the combination of skin oil and heat, which can result in a home safety hazard. Finally, this lighting may also be too harsh for some residents.

Halogen bulbs are recommended for:

• Cabinet lighting
• Pendant lights
• Recessed lighting

LED

Light-emitting diode bulbs were all the rage for a while—practically every homeowner was looking to upgrade to this more efficient model. LED lights are more expensive, but they also last longer and may dramatically lower the costs of a homeowner's bills. But LED lights are not necessarily recommended for all over the home. Their directional light can interfere with resident safety with its odd shadow formation. Diffused lighting is what gives the room its all-over glow and provides better visibility. LED lights now come in clusters for more general use, or homeowners can consider using them for purposes like undercabinet or bedside lighting.

CFL

Compact fluorescent bulbs are not like the fluorescent bulbs of yesterday. They're gentler, warmer, and make the room more welcoming. CFLs are great for general room lighting, and can easily replace the incandescent bulb. They're energy efficient and can burn 10x longer than incandescent. However, these bulbs do contain small degrees of mercury and will need to be recycled properly when they burn out. They're also more expensive than incandescent lighting and are prone to breakage under even moderate pressure.

There's nothing wrong with the more common incandescent or fluorescent bulbs for the home when it comes to general visibility. However, if homeowners want to avoid energy waste and promote better mood lighting, they may want to look into more modern lighting ideas for each room to satisfy their needs.