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About Lighting - Lighting can dramatically affect how the interior of your home looks and feels. Lighting can add drama, set tone, and enhance the way you look and feel. Good lighting is a very cost effective way to redecorate and extenuate the beauty of your home. A flexible lighting system allows you to create different effects as you change your décor and room settings. When properly applied, lighting makes tasks easier to perform, increases security while providing decorative effects. The three basics types of lighting are General Lighting, Accent Lighting, and Task Lighting.
General Lighting - Provides overall illumination for casual viewing, comfort, and home safety. It softens contrasts between brightly lighted task areas and surroundings. General ambient light also reduces glare and provides comfortable, warm illumination. The use of inexpensive wall dimmers is and effective way to create drama.
Accent Lighting - Highlights the color of furnishings, artwork, plants, wall hangings, and wall textures. To be dramatic, accent lighting should be at least 3 times as intense as the surrounding illumination.
Task Lighting - Necessary for specific activities such as cooking, reading, school work, hobbies, shaving, applying make up, etc. It prevents eyestrain and adds safety to performing tasks. Position task lights to minimize shadows on work. Lighting should be sufficient to prevent eyestrain, and position to avoid direct or reflected glare.
The foyer conveys the first impression of the interior of the home. It is often viewed from the exterior and makes a transition to the rest of the home.
General Lighting - Size the decorative fixture to the space. Two story foyers will require a larger fixture. If the fixture can be seen from above, make sure to select a fixture which looks attractive from second story viewing. Stairways and Halls must have good general lighting for safety. Choose matching close to ceiling fixtures for hallways and smaller chain-hung fixtures for stairways.
Accent Lighting - Use matching wall sconces that match the hanging foyer fixture. Always mount a sconce above eye level (approx. 66" from center of the fixture to the floor) so lamp source is not visible. Make wall hangings come to life by illuminating with light from track or recessed downlights.
Enhance room ambiance, dramatize wall textures, accent artwork, or just provide general illumination in the Den, Living room, family room, Playroom, or Bedrooms.
General Lighting - Recessed lighting is one of the ways to light a general area, because the light source is concealed and saves ceiling height. Close to ceiling fixtures can provide ample lighting as well.
Accent Lighting - Track fixtures help to make rooms come alive by accenting artwork, plant, statue, etc. Wall washing can be achieved by using wall sconces. Puck lights create a dramatic look in bookcases, etc.
Task Lighting - Visual tasks such as reading, playing games or hobbies; can use track lighting, swag lamps, floor and/or table lamps.
Lighting in the dining room focuses around the table.
General Lighting - A chandelier or pendant can be a general lighting element, as well as the focal point of the home. Wall sconces can provide additional lighting while helping to create the illusion of a larger space. The size of the chandelier will depend on size of the table, ceiling height, and room size. The bottom of a pendant or chandelier should be approx. 30" above the table.
Accent Lighting - The use of recessed fixtures aimed on the table and chandelier helps to provide additional light on the table as well as bring out the brilliance of the chandelier. Matching wall sconces either side of a china cabinet is a nice touch. Puck lights or fluorescent lighting inside or on top of valences adds drama.
The kitchen is often the busiest room in the house. Not only is food prepared here, but many activities such as eating, entertaining, homework, etc.
General Lighting - Fluorescent fixtures, track or halogen lighting in the center of a work space is a common choice. Above the sink area recessed lighting or track lighting is effective. Where there is an island; pendants, track lighting work well.
Accent Lighting - Fluorescent lighting above valances adds a dramatic look.
Task Lighting - The use of under cabinet lighting helps to reduce shadows on the counter, while adding critical light to the work area. For dinettes, a pendant above the table is ideal for task lighting.
The key lighting task in the bathroom area is at the mirror to provide shadow-free lighting on the face.
General Lighting - Close to the ceiling and shower lights help to supplement vanity lights in larger bathrooms.
Task Lighting - One fixture above the mirror is a good way of lighting the bathroom. The length of fixture and amount of light bulbs will depend on the size of room and length of the vanity. Halogen or color corrected fluorescent lighting are great in bathrooms where make-up is being applied.
Outdoor lighting is essential to enhancing the beauty of your home while adding security.
General Lighting - Select a design and size to complement your house. Size the fixture to the door an surrounding space. Recessed lighting in the sofits are also a great way to up your house. Post lanterns are an excellent way to light up walkways.
Security Lighting Motion sensor lights add security to the home by coming on when motion is detected. Halogen yard lights are also a great idea for security and outdoor entertaining.
