Designing With Lighting
Now that you have information on different types of lighting , it is time to understand how this important element should be used in differnt spaces of your home.
When designing a lighting plan for a living room or family room, you need to consider the variety of activities that occur there.
Start with ambience of the room. You will need to include general lighting for entertaining and watching television, task lighting for reading or sewing, and accent lighting for artwork, plants, and interesting architectural features. Dimming controls are ideal for the living room because they allow you to design the lighting to suit each mood and activity.
Fireplaces made of brick or stone can be emphasized with recessed downlights installed in the ceiling over the mantle to create an intriguing grazing effect across the surface. Wall sconces on each side of the fireplace are an attractive addition that draws attention to the fireplace area, while providing general lighting for the living room.
Light in the Dining Area. Normally a decorative pendent or a fixture with down light will do the job. Dimmer is must to control the amount of light. Bottom of the pendent should be atleast 2 1/2 feet above the table. Normally 100 watts of light is sufficient for these areas.
Reading requires task lighting that comes from behind the reader's shoulder. This can be accomplished by placing a floor lamp either at the right or the left of the reading chair. The bottom of the shade should be located at eye level i.e shade of the floor lamp should be approximately 42" from the floor to avoid glare. Same is true if you are using table lamps. Desk Lamp should be 16" above the work surface.
Paintings can be highlighted with low-voltage, tungsten-halogen picture lights. These frame-mounted lights spread a beam of bright, white light across the face of the painting.
House plants can be accented by aiming an uplight can at the wall behind the plant, creating a dramatic silhouette of the plant against the wall.
Bars can be lighted from above with recessed or track fixtures, or with miniature, low-voltage pendants that hover intimately over the bar. At 30" above the bar surface is advisable for any hanging fixture.
Glass shelves and glassware can be accented by two recessed adjustable fixtures. The use of low-voltage fixtures with tungsten-halogen bulbs will emit a bright white light that will make glassware sparkle.
TV, video games, and computers require low-level general lighting that does not wash out the screen's image nor reflect into the viewer's eyes. Miniature track lighting can be installed under shelves to provide both general and accent lighting. Choose from accent spots, mini-lights, and compact or linear fluorescent light sources.
Game tables require bright, even overhead lighting. Shaded pendants equipped with either incandescent bulbs or energy-efficient compact fluorescent tubes are one solution or install two recessed downlights over each half of the table.
Torchieres are used to light the dark corners. They should be 66 to 72" from the floor.
Stairs should be lighted from top to bottom to prevent accidents, with switches at both ends for convenience. If hall and foyer fixtures do not illuminate the entire stairway, you can install a chain-hung or close-to-ceiling fixture above the top step.
Hallway There should be light every 8 to 10 feet. Depending on the height of the ceiling Flush or semi flush fixtures can be used.
When lighting a home office, try to create a comfortable environment that is free of harsh contrasts and distracting glare. For this you will need task lighting for reading, writing, and computer work as well as general lighting for the surrounding area. Accent lighting may also be used to emphasize your prized possessions.
Ceiling fixtures, containing energy-efficient fluorescent tubes, will provide plenty of well-diffused general lighting, while eliminating shadows on the desk. Place the fixtures over head and to the right and left of the desk so the light comes over the shoulder. Lighting placed in front of a desk will cause troublesome reflections.
In the bathroom, you need plenty of even, shadow-free lighting for shaving, grooming, and applying makeup. In small bathrooms, mirror lights will illuminate the entire room, but in larger bathrooms, an additional ceiling fixture is needed for general lighting. Top mounted lighting cast shadows down on the face. In order to see your true self, you need lighting on each side of your face. Use fixtures such as wraps, a top mounted lighting fixture that comes with matching mini pendent lights on each side and only needs a single outlet box to work.
For small mirrors, decorative wall brackets on each side will illuminate both sides of your face evenly. You can also mount a wall bracket across the top of the mirror. Fixtures equipped with incandescent bulbs behind glass or plastic diffusers provide the most flattering light. If you opt for more energy-efficient fluorescents, choose warm white tones .They come closest to the color of incandescents.
Theatrical lighting strips around your bathroom mirror will give you the same excellent lighting the stars enjoy in their Broadway dressing rooms.
When designing a lighting plan for a living room or family room, you need to consider the variety of activities that occur there.
Start with ambience of the room. You will need to include general lighting for entertaining and watching television, task lighting for reading or sewing, and accent lighting for artwork, plants, and interesting architectural features. Dimming controls are ideal for the living room because they allow you to design the lighting to suit each mood and activity.
Fireplaces made of brick or stone can be emphasized with recessed downlights installed in the ceiling over the mantle to create an intriguing grazing effect across the surface. Wall sconces on each side of the fireplace are an attractive addition that draws attention to the fireplace area, while providing general lighting for the living room.
Light in the Dining Area. Normally a decorative pendent or a fixture with down light will do the job. Dimmer is must to control the amount of light. Bottom of the pendent should be atleast 2 1/2 feet above the table. Normally 100 watts of light is sufficient for these areas.
Reading requires task lighting that comes from behind the reader's shoulder. This can be accomplished by placing a floor lamp either at the right or the left of the reading chair. The bottom of the shade should be located at eye level i.e shade of the floor lamp should be approximately 42" from the floor to avoid glare. Same is true if you are using table lamps. Desk Lamp should be 16" above the work surface.
Paintings can be highlighted with low-voltage, tungsten-halogen picture lights. These frame-mounted lights spread a beam of bright, white light across the face of the painting.
House plants can be accented by aiming an uplight can at the wall behind the plant, creating a dramatic silhouette of the plant against the wall.
Bars can be lighted from above with recessed or track fixtures, or with miniature, low-voltage pendants that hover intimately over the bar. At 30" above the bar surface is advisable for any hanging fixture.
Glass shelves and glassware can be accented by two recessed adjustable fixtures. The use of low-voltage fixtures with tungsten-halogen bulbs will emit a bright white light that will make glassware sparkle.
TV, video games, and computers require low-level general lighting that does not wash out the screen's image nor reflect into the viewer's eyes. Miniature track lighting can be installed under shelves to provide both general and accent lighting. Choose from accent spots, mini-lights, and compact or linear fluorescent light sources.
Game tables require bright, even overhead lighting. Shaded pendants equipped with either incandescent bulbs or energy-efficient compact fluorescent tubes are one solution or install two recessed downlights over each half of the table.
Torchieres are used to light the dark corners. They should be 66 to 72" from the floor.
Stairs should be lighted from top to bottom to prevent accidents, with switches at both ends for convenience. If hall and foyer fixtures do not illuminate the entire stairway, you can install a chain-hung or close-to-ceiling fixture above the top step.
Hallway There should be light every 8 to 10 feet. Depending on the height of the ceiling Flush or semi flush fixtures can be used.
When lighting a home office, try to create a comfortable environment that is free of harsh contrasts and distracting glare. For this you will need task lighting for reading, writing, and computer work as well as general lighting for the surrounding area. Accent lighting may also be used to emphasize your prized possessions.
Ceiling fixtures, containing energy-efficient fluorescent tubes, will provide plenty of well-diffused general lighting, while eliminating shadows on the desk. Place the fixtures over head and to the right and left of the desk so the light comes over the shoulder. Lighting placed in front of a desk will cause troublesome reflections.
In the bathroom, you need plenty of even, shadow-free lighting for shaving, grooming, and applying makeup. In small bathrooms, mirror lights will illuminate the entire room, but in larger bathrooms, an additional ceiling fixture is needed for general lighting. Top mounted lighting cast shadows down on the face. In order to see your true self, you need lighting on each side of your face. Use fixtures such as wraps, a top mounted lighting fixture that comes with matching mini pendent lights on each side and only needs a single outlet box to work.
For small mirrors, decorative wall brackets on each side will illuminate both sides of your face evenly. You can also mount a wall bracket across the top of the mirror. Fixtures equipped with incandescent bulbs behind glass or plastic diffusers provide the most flattering light. If you opt for more energy-efficient fluorescents, choose warm white tones .They come closest to the color of incandescents.
Theatrical lighting strips around your bathroom mirror will give you the same excellent lighting the stars enjoy in their Broadway dressing rooms.
