How to Choose Light Fixtures for a Home Makeover
Choose light fixtures by room: brightness in lumens, warm or cool color, damp or wet ratings, safe placement near tubs and closets, size, style and finish.
Author
Ryan
Ryan writes Home Remodel Guidance's planning guides: the order of a remodel, permits, contracts, budgets and contingencies, room-by-room renovations, and which jobs a homeowner can do versus which need a licensed trade.
Ryan has written most of Home Remodel Guidance, covering a renovation from first plan to final inspection: the sequence of work, permits and inspections, contracts and change orders, contingency budgets, financing and insurance, and guides for kitchens, bathrooms, additions and home systems. His DIY-versus-professional guides separate the jobs a careful homeowner can take on from those that need a licensed electrician, plumber or engineer. Guides on this site cite their sources and are updated when the facts change.
Articles by Ryan
Guest Suite Must-Have Features: Design Tips and Code Basics
Plan a guest suite with the features that matter: a legal bedroom, egress, alarms, a private bath, storage and lighting, plus a checklist of upgrades.
Easy DIY Lighting Upgrades to Brighten Your Home
Easy lighting upgrades most homeowners can do safely: LED bulbs, plug-in and battery fixtures, dimmers, plus when to call an electrician.
Attic Conversion: Code Requirements, Costs and Steps
Find out if your attic can become a bedroom or office: ceiling height, floor load, stairs and egress rules, insulation levels and the steps in order.
Renovation Permit Costs, Timelines and Inspections
What renovation permits cost, how long plan review takes, which inspections to expect, and what happens if you skip the permit.
Cabinet Refacing vs. Replacing: Which Makes Sense for Your Kitchen?
Cabinet refacing vs replacing: what each changes, when refacing works, when to replace, plus lead-paint, formaldehyde and permit rules to know.
Kitchen Lighting Design: Layers, Fixtures and Wiring Basics
Plan kitchen lighting in layers: ambient, task, accent and decorative, with brightness and color guidance, code basics, and when to hire an electrician.
Low-Cost, High-Impact Curb Appeal Improvements
The cheapest curb appeal fixes, from paint and mulch to a new front door, ranked by cost with Cost vs. Value 2025 resale data and safety notes.
Home Insulation Upgrades That Pay for Themselves
Which insulation upgrades pay back first, what EPA says you can save by climate zone, and how to work out payback on your own bills and quotes.
Basement Finishing Ideas: Turning Unused Space Into Living Area
Compare basement finishing ideas, from family room to guest suite, with what each use needs for egress, ceiling height and moisture, plus 2025 costs.
