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Lighting
Fundamentals
The
only joy in the world is to begin – Cesare Pavese
It surrounds you. It moves
you. But you may have never thought about it before.
It is lighting and we use
it throughout our lives. Lighting is an integral part of any space.
It conveys a mood. Enhances beauty. Extends a warm welcome. Adds drama.
Provides safety and security. Inspires creativity. Lighting can do all
this, and more. If we needed light only to see by, a simple candle would
do the job.
Proper lighting creates atmosphere,
highlights architectural details and furnishings, and helps us to safely
and efficiently perform our daily tasks. Lighting should be planned
to complement our lifestyle. After all, your home is a reflection of
you, and lighting is a large part of that statement. From the kitchen
to the bathroom, every room in your house is host to a wide range of
activities and tasks. The kitchen may serve as an office, dining room
and school room. The bath could act as a playroom, dressing room, and
sauna room.
Decisions must be made as
to how much light is required. Where it should be placed. Which fixture
and lamp to use. And finally, which controls are required. The Illuminating
Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) recommends different levels
of illumination based on age, accuracy required, and tasks to be performed.
Surface characteristics must be carefully considered. These technical
essentials can be difficult to decipher.
Not only should a room function
properly for all its various uses, it must also engage you. Who wants
to live in an unalluring space? If you plan your lighting, the room
will radiate your personal style. This is accomplished when you decide
which elements to emphasize, the atmosphere you want to create and tasks
you would like to perform. By integrating the technical as well as the
decorative in your lighting fixtures and controls, you will be able
to create a range of effects and make your house a home.
Lighting is an investment;
learn as much as you can about it to maximize your benefits. If you
begin your lighting plan early in the building process, you will lessen
the chance of forgetting something. Generally, planning is probably
the single best way to save you money.
We want to help you! We have
assembled this guide to help you through the process of lighting your
home and to introduce you to some theory, fixtures and ideas. We offer
some things to think about and steps to follow. Remember - this is only
an overview. For complete specifications you should meet with one of
our residential lighting consultants. They are professionally trained
and qualified to layout and suggest lighting combinations. Good luck
and happy lighting!
Good Lighting Fundamentals
Basically, there are three
types of lighting that work together to illuminate your home: General
(or Ambient), Accent, and Task (or Function). A good lighting plan combines
all three types to light an area according to function and style.
General Lighting provides
an area with overall illumination. It enables you to move about easily
and safely, defines a space and customarily provides a comfortable visual
environment. It is fundamental to your lighting plan. General Lighting
can be accomplished with pendants, chandeliers, ceiling or wall mounted
fixtures, recessed or track lights and with lanterns outside your home.
Accent Lighting directs additional
light to a specific area, adding drama and creating visual interest.
It will focus attention on art, prized possessions, and architectural
features. However, be selective: if you light everything, nothing will
stand out. Wall washing and grazing are two popular techniques typically
used to draw your eyes to the perimeter of the room and create space
and texture.
Accent Lighting requires
at least three times as much light on the focal point as the general
lighting around it. This is usually achieved by track, recessed or wall-mounted
fixtures. A line of low voltage lighting systems can be used in coves,
shelves, niches, glass cabinets, and valances to create a beautiful
accent.
What is more
agreeable than one’s home? - Marcus Tullius Cicero
As the name implies, Task
Lighting is light to work by: it illuminates areas where work is performed.
The type, angle and amount of light should be determined based on the
work involved. A reading area and hobby bench require different light.
All Task Lighting should be bright enough to prevent eyestrain and be
free of glare and shadows. It can be provided by recessed and track
lighting, pendant lighting, portable lamps and under cabinet lights.
There are many different
fixtures that will deliver the light you need. Faced with so many decisions,
it helps to see the lights in our residential lighting showroom.
Hall/Foyer
Fixtures: Use chain-hung or close-to-ceiling fixtures to
create a comfortable and warm entrance. These fixtures will guide you
through the house with a good general light. They also provide a smooth
transition between outdoor and indoor light levels.
Pendants
or Chandeliers: A hanging fixture creates a dramatic focal
point in a room. It can be used to draw attention to a table, piano,
alcove, bar, or counter. The soft illumination provides a general glow
that invites conversation and entertaining. A chandelier typically provides
general light, while a pendant can provide both general and task lighting.
Ceiling
Fixtures: Ceiling lights are perfect for foyers, kitchens,
hallways, bedrooms, and spaces where general light is needed and a fixture
cannot hang down. The effect is practical as well as attractive.
Sconces
or Wall-Mounted Fixtures: Sconces not only brighten your
wall, but also make your room feel soft and spacious. If the light is
directed up, the sconce or wall-mounted fixture enhances the illusion
of high ceilings. Wall-mounted fixtures furnish general, task and accent
lighting.
Bath
Lighting: Begin proper lighting in your bathroom at the
mirror. It is important to light the face, not the mirror. The light
should be soft and shadow free. Bath lighting should always be controlled
by a dimmer, supporting task lighting for grooming or soft ambient light
for waking up. The lighting around the mirror should supplement the
general lighting provided by ceiling fixtures.
Portable
Lamps: The most flexible of all light fixtures, portable
lamps can provide general, accent and task lighting anywhere you want
it! Table lamps, floor lamps, and torchieres can be easily blended into
your decor or can provide impact on their own. A wide range of portable
lamps is available for any purpose.
Paddle
Fans: Paddle fans supply comfort in all seasons. In the
warmer seasons, they are the perfect cooling device, producing a breeze
and circulating it downward. In the cooler seasons, paddle fans are
put in reverse motion, pushing warm air back down to the living area.
Light kits add a good ambient light source.
Track
Lighting: Because it is so versatile, track lighting can
provide general, task or accent lighting. The individual fixtures can
be moved, rotated or aimed in any direction along the track. Track is
going high tech, too, and offers many stylish versions.
Recessed:
There is no more unobtrusive way to light your home than with recessed
lights. Installed in the ceiling with only the trim showing, they are
perfect for general lighting, task lighting, displaying artwork, and
creating the illusion of more space. Downlights are flush with the ceiling
and can fully integrate with the building construction.
Undercabinet:
Kitchen countertops are typically difficult to light from the ceiling
--undercabinet lighting is the answer. They keep you from working in
your own shadow and highlight the wide range of countertop materials.
Undercabinet lighting, fluorescent and halogen, can also be used in
display cases and workshops or wherever you need it!
Outdoor
Lighting: Outdoor fixtures, decorative or landscape, provides
soft illumination for visitors as well as improve security. They enhance
the beauty of your property and add value to your home. Wall lanterns,
recessed, chain-hung or close-to-ceiling fixtures are all options for
outdoor lighting. Save energy with motion- or heat-sensors, timers and
photocell fixtures.
Landscape
lighting: Enjoy your gardens even after the sun has gone
down. Shed light on high use areas such as decks, paths and grills to
insure ease of movement. You can highlight your favorite flowers and
shrubs; dramatize trees, pools, and fountains; and accent statues or
other decorative elements. As well as providing good lighting on steps,
walks, and driveways for safety and security, landscape lighting is
appealing and practical.
Who knows the
flower best? -- the one who reads about it in a book, or the one who
finds it wild on the mountainside? - Alexandra David-Neel
Lighting
Controls: An often overlooked, but very important, element
of your lighting plan are the controls. Because such a wide variety
of activities takes place in every room of your home, it becomes crucial
that you be able to adjust the intensity of the light to suit the task
at hand. A dimmer or control system will do it! Controls allow you to
alter the mood of a room with the touch of a button. They conserve energy
and increase bulb life. And today, lighting controls can handle a single
fixture or a whole house.
