Light Renovation

By Michael Malecka, X Electric, Inc

Light, as in illumination. Most of the time, “light renovation” would make someone think of painting and hanging new curtains. However, lighting itself can be the renovation. With the days getting shorter, let’s talk about a few aspects of how quality lighting and thoughtful lighting design can dramatically elevate your home—and even make you feel better. Let’s examine a few of the challenges to having great lighting in your home and how we can help overcome all of them. 

Problem: Light in Your Eyes

Let’s start with the biggest issue. Most homes have light in your eyes, not just where you want to see. This is why, even though some rooms have inadequate light, people don’t always add more—because, for them, more light can mean more glare. That glare can be uncomfortable, and the older we get, the more sensitive our eyes become to it. 

Solution: Light for Your Eyes

The key is lighting the surfaces you want to see and letting softer, glare-free light reflect off those surfaces throughout your home. We achieve this for you in three ways.

1. Beam angle or beam spread: This describes in degrees how wide or narrow a light's focus is. Floodlights are wider, but not too wide (40 to 60 degrees), while spotlights are narrower (15 to 25 degrees). Using lenses or optics, light is directed exactly where it’s needed, reducing glare in your eyes. For example, a 40-degree beam over kitchen countertops can gently spill into upper cabinets, while a spotlight over a kitchen island or dining table creates a cozy, fine dining-style ambiance.
2. Adjustable or directional lights: These allow you to highlight artwork, bookshelves, or display cases. They also work on sloped ceilings, directing light exactly where it’s needed instead of following the slope.
3. Indirect lighting: Think under-cabinet lights, over-cabinet lights, and even toe-kick lights. 

This solution results in plentiful illumination without harsh glare, making your home safer and more comfortable. This is especially beneficial to seniors, who often need more light but keep rooms darker to avoid glare.

Problem: On or Off

Many homes still have light switches with only two options: on or off. Even with LED bulbs, most dim only 10–20 percent, which can feel like only 32–45 percent of perceived light—still too bright for nighttime trips to the restroom, for instance.

Solution: Dim to Dark

X-Electric offers LED lighting that can dim as low as 0.1 percent. This allows safe nighttime movement without disturbing your eyes or waking you fully.

Problem: Light With Limited Color

Most home lighting doesn’t replicate the full spectrum of sunlight, so colors can appear washed out and have a grey/green tone to them.

Solution: Light With All the Color

With full-spectrum or ultra-high CRI lighting, artwork, countertops, cabinets, and floors look richer and more vibrant. Clothes match their true colors, and paint appears as intended.

Problem: Flicker

Although not perceivable, typical AC-powered LEDs flicker 60 times per second, which can contribute to fatigue, headaches, or negatively affect your mood.

Solution: Flicker-free

X-Electric installs lighting that converts this on/off cycle into steady, flicker-free illumination.

Problem: Too Much Blue Light

Our brains are hardwired to respond to blue light, which signals wakefulness, and warmer light, which signals relaxation. This natural cycle helps regulate our circadian rhythm, the internal clock that controls when we sleep and wake. Unfortunately, most LED lights emit blue light even when dimmed, which can disrupt that rhythm and make it harder to fall asleep.

Solution: Dim to Warm

“Dim to warm” technology allows lights to shift from neutral white during the day to warm tones when dimmed in the evening, reducing blue light exposure and supporting a healthy circadian rhythm for better rest.

Seeing Is Believing 

As one of our customers expressed, “It is difficult to understand the difference this kind of light can make unless you’ve seen it.” We understand that. The good news is that existing fixtures or recessed lights can often be retrofitted in minutes. You can start with just one room and experience firsthand the dramatic difference thoughtful lighting can make.



Let X Electric provide you with lighting that will transform your home and how you feel in it with beautiful and biocentric light. Call us at (931) 248-5938 or visit our website at xelectric.com.