Home / Interior Design

 Print  /  Bookmark  /  Email

The Kyoto 3-Light Chandelier from Cherry Tree Design blends form, function and art. It provides ambient lighting and sets the tone for this room's design. Photo courtesy of American Lighting Association

Bright ideas for your home

Lighting may not be something you think about much. We have come to trust it will be there with a simple flip of a switch and at a moment's notice. However, lighting can do more than just illuminate a room; it can solidify your home's design.

There are three key components to creating a lighting design, according to experts at the American Lighting Association (ALA), a trade association representing the lighting industry.

General lighting provides a space with overall illumination. It should radiate a comfortable level of brightness, enabling one to see and walk about safely.

Task lighting helps you perform specific jobs, such as reading, cooking, homework or hobbies. It can be provided by recessed and track lighting, pendant lighting and lamps.

The ALA advises you select task lighting that is free of distracting glare and shadows. In addition, it should be bright enough to prevent eyestrain.

Accent lighting adds drama by creating visual interest. It should be used as an element of your decorating plan -- to highlight paintings, sculptures, a fireplace or other objects of interest. Accent lighting requires at least three times as much light on the focal point as the general lighting around it.

"Layering the lighting eliminates shadows and creates options for different functions in a room," says Melissa Watters of Orlando Lighting. "Lighting is not only for general illumination but also to create mood and atmosphere."

How much light is right?

To ensure that you have enough light in a space, you can incorporate general lighting in a number of stylish ways: chandeliers, ceiling or wall-mounted fixtures and recessed or track lights. You should also consider ways to control your light.

Ryan Dunn of Light Bulbs Unlimited in Winter Park suggests a dimmer to control the amount of light in the room. "A dimmer takes down the amount of electricity being delivered to the light bulb and enables you to be energy efficient without changing your device," he says.

Dining light

Dining rooms are typically poorly lit, considering how much time and money homeowners spend in this room. "In the dining room, you want a nice, bright, general task light," Dunn says.

"The most important thing is to hit the corners of the room. If you don't have an area to do center lighting, then you need light in the corners that will angle off the walls," Dunn notes. The corner light will create more bang for your buck because it reflects off the other walls and the ceiling. "Walls act like mirrors for light," he adds.

In the dining room, also consider track lighting in addition to recessed cans. Dunn recommends pendants or focusable track head fixtures. Accent lighting can be used to draw the eye to artwork or to areas like a well-dressed buffet.

This room is washed in a variety of lighting fixtures by Savoy House available from Lee Lighting. The design includes general, task and decorative accent lighting. Photo courtesy of Savoy House

Light living

When creating a lighting design for your living room, you'll want to include general illumination, task lighting for reading or homework and accent lighting to draw attention to decorative items of interest. "With a fireplace, you might want to do some spotlights to highlight the fireplace or the texture of it," says Mary Tucker, ALA certified lighting designer with Lamps Plus. "The other option is if you are going to actually decorate the fireplace with lighting, you might put sconces on either side of a painting."

If you have recessed lighting and enjoy watching television, Tucker suggests putting those lights on a dimmer. "That allows you to dim those down and gives you some background lighting."

Culinary delight

Once upon a time, the kitchen was a utilitarian place to prepare food. Today, it has become the nerve center of the home where family and friends gather to catch up and socialize. When putting together a lighting design, you'll need to factor in functionality with comfort.

"In a task area like the kitchen, you want about 3 to 4 watts per square foot," Watters says. "A standard can is 65 watts so, for example, a kitchen that is 10 feet by 10 feet would need approximately six cans.
Beyond general lighting, you will want additional task lighting over the sink and cooktop."

Undercabinet lighting is ideal for prepping food and can be aesthetically pleasing.

Finding a Fixture

		Chandeliers add sparkle and style while providing general light. They are used in bedrooms, dining rooms, foyers or over a living room grouping.
		Pendants provide both task and general lighting. Equipped with shades or globes to avoid glare, they are suspended from the ceiling.
		Wall-Mounted Fixtures can furnish general, task and accent lighting. Many are designed to match and supplement dining room chandeliers, or to provide hallway, bedroom or living room lighting.
		Portable Lamps deliver general, task and accent lighting, while giving you the flexibility to move the light. Table lamps, floor lamps and torchiers are available in a variety of styles.
		Track Lighting can provide general, task or accent lighting all at once in one flexible lighting system. You can move, swivel, rotate and aim the individual fixtures, giving you the versatility to change the lighting scheme.
		Recessed Lighting provides general, task or accent lighting inconspicuously. Installed in the ceiling, recessed fixtures can be used anywhere.
		Undercabinet/Undershelf Fixtures offer task and accent lighting. Under kitchen cabinets, they light a countertop. In a display cabinet, they show off prized possessions.
Photos courtesy of Lamps Plus

Print  /  Bookmark  /  Email