Interior Design 11 Lighting

Lighting 101 Good lighting, in a home or business, is one of those things that's invisible - if it's done well. You only notice the lighting of a room if it's too bright or too dim, not if it's just right. Whether its florescent or incandescent lighting being used, the occupants of a room shouldnt notice-- they'll notice only that the room feels comfortable, and that they want to come back again.

Consider Function Task Lighting- Illumination in certain areas of the room is needed for specific tasks, such as reading, writing or playing a musical instrument. Ambient Lighting- Sufficient overall illumination is needed so people can simply see where they're going and so they don't trip over that great furniture that you have carefully placed in the room.

Consider Function How can we separate the function of the lighting from the function of the room? ANSWER: The two should work together.

Example If the function of a home study is to provide a place for reading, working on the computer, and sitting at a desk, you want to have lighting that will help with those functions; you'd want some kind of soft ambient lighting, with reading lamps strategically placed.

Consider Mood There's much more to lighting a room than just determining whether you have enough light for your sewing project- lighting can also influence the mood of a space or room

Consider Mood: General Illumination General illumination can strongly influence the mood of a room: A brightly lit room projects a positive, upbeat mood. A darker room is more intimate and romantic. One mistake many people make in lighting their homes is to have only one extreme or the other: so much light that you need sunglasses, or just a dim candle.

Consider Mood: Lighting Fixtures Lighting fixtures themselves express a mood: Fixtures can be traditional, contemporary, lavish and ornate, some are starkly simple. As with the furniture you select, the style of the lighting fixtures should be suitable in mood to the rest of the decor.

Consider Mood: Accenting Light Accents of light in specific parts of a room can be added for no functional reason, but simply because they will add a dramatic touch. For example, you might shine light up through the foliage of a tropical plant, producing an interesting interplay of lights and shadows. Lighting a piece of art is also an important light accent that can add to the mood of a room.

Consider Harmony Just as with colour, choosing lighting that compliments and interacts with each element of the room is importantthe types of lighting should work together.

Lamps When discussing lighting in interior design, it is important to note the following: a desk lamp, a chandelier, track lighting, etc are referred to as fixtures Lamps in interior design are referring to the light bulbs used in the fixtures

Types of Lamps Incandescent lamps are the ones that you're most accustomed to seeing used in residential lighting and have really only one major advantage over fluorescent lamps: the light they produce has a warm cast that is soft, natural, and flattering to skin tones. A few disadvantages of incandescent lighting compared to fluorescent lamps: they are hotter, burn out faster, and use much more electricity for the same brightness.

Types of Lamps When choosing an incandescent lamp, the most important thing to consider is the wattage, the colour and the shape. Wattages of your incandescent bulbs control the brightness of the light. The more variety you have in wattage, the more you'll be able to set the brightness of the room with precision. Colours of bulbs as many manufacturers now produce ones that are tinted or frosted in orange or pink, which make skin tones more appealing. Shapes can be found a large variety, including globes and flame tips, which are created to look like the flame on a candle and are used primarily in candelabras.

Types of Lamps Florescent lamps have three important advantages over other lamps they produce cool light they don't produce heat. they are long-lasting, burning for up to ten times as long as incandescent lamps. they are much more cost-effective because they produce three to four times as much light for each unit of electricity. The disadvantage to fluorescent lamps is that they produce a light with a green-blue cast that is unflattering and harsh.

New Options Due to their ultra-efficiency, florescent bulbs are being manufactured to be more residentially friendlyeven fitting into fixtures not usually used outside of the home.

Types of Lamps Halogen bulbs are a new form of incandescent lightthey use similar mechanics of regular incandescent bulbs but with a different filament and the used of halogen gas that actually keeps the bulb burning longer. The disadvantage of a halogen bulb is that it burns hotter than normal bulbs, which means that even touching it with the oils of your hands could cause the glass to break. Halogen light also is brighter than the typical incandescent lamps.