One of the greatest improvements you can make for your space is in the lighting department. Sure you can always add a few lamps — but just as easy is making your overhead lights work on a dimmer switch. Your eyes will thank you and chances are your landlord will as well!
If you're like me, you're able to wield a hammer or screwdriver, but the idea of lighting and wires is intimidating. Luckily for all of us, they really aren't and installing a dimmer switch is a great project for anyone looking to get your feet wet in the world of wiring (although taken literally, that's a quite horrible idea).
From turning off your breaker to turning it back on, there's only 5 steps in between when installing a dimmer. There's wires to match up and ends to tape up, but all in all you can tackle it in less time than it takes to read about it! Head over to Charles & Hudson and see how simple the process really is! Just think of it as mood lighting for Valentine's Day!
Image: Flickr member joe.oconnell licensed for use by Creative Commons
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Great idea! I like the ambiance dimmers creat.
Thanks for this because I love dimmers! I just moved into my first owned home and the inspector told me that this is one place you do not want to skimp on money. He said for safety reasons it is best to purchase a higher end dimmer over a less expensive model
Get your feet wet! Nice one.
I love dimmers...but what do we do when they take away all of our incandescent lightbulbs and all we can get are CFLs? I read somewhere that the CFLs can't be put on a dimmer.
There are dimmable CFL bulbs. You just have to look on the box to find out if it is one you can dim. A regular bulb can be used but you void the warranty if you use it in on a dimming switch.
Most LED's albeit still expensive are dimmable. Grab as many incandescents as you can though.
And get a screwless switchplate.
And if you have older wiring or are concerned with energy costs, a "hard" off setting - dimmers fall into the vampire category using power even when "off"....
The old owners of my new place were OBSESSED with dimmer switches, and I haven't had too much luck with dimmable CFLs. For example, I bought a 4 pack and one didn't work at all, one worked perfectly, and two worked fine when all the way on but kind of flashed in between. I'll have to try LEDs.
Time to start hoarding "real" light bulbs. I figure about a 35 year supply will be sufficient. That's approximately 2,806 bulbs. Whoa, I'm going to need a pretty sizable storage unit. Probably underground too, tucked away from all yinz blinking eyes from too much CFL exposure.