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| LIGHTING By Room Doctors Ambient lighting - the general illumination of a room - sets the stage and forms a backdrop for the other, more specific types of lighting such as task and accent. Adequate ambient lighting depends on the natural light available, the time of day and the activities of people in the room. Although a single, large overhead fixture may provide enough ambient lighting, incorporating light from multiple sources offers more flexibility and a better lighting strategy. Glare is the main enemy of good ambient lighting. Two excellent ways to produce glare-free light are with indirect lighting and with wall-washing techniques. Indirect lighting uses the room's surfaces - the floor, ceiling, and walls - to reflect ambient light produced by hidden light bulbs. These are usually encased in a fixture (such as a sconce or a soffit) that points light upward or delivers lighting downward (in this case, recessed downlight). Indirect lighting is a must when a room has appliances such as computers or televisions that depend on a glare-free environment to work best. You can enhance the effect of indirect lighting with light-colored room surfaces; however, to avoid glare, use non-glossy paints. When thinking indirect, consider wall-mounted sconces or recessed downlights. An interesting choice might be a torchiere, which directs light upwards and reflects it off the ceiling and walls for a softer, warmer effect. New super-efficient, low-wattage compact fluorescent bulbs produce the same amount of light as a 300-watt halogen bulb, but without the 1,000-degree-plus temperatures and the potential fire hazard that halogens can generate. Linear fluorescent, compact fluorescent and low-voltage halogen bulbs are good, energy-efficient choices for indirect fixtures. If you choose recessed downlighting, try using wide flood halogen PAR bulbs to replace incandescent reflector shaped bulbs. PAR (Parabolic Aluminized Reflector) bulbs can be either low-voltage halogen or incandescent. They are designed for track or recessed lighting, where the extra-tiny bulb's specific shape and coating make the light exceptionally controllable and far-reaching. Wall washing provides soft, glare-free and effective ambient lighting. By placing lights on the floor or ceiling at regular intervals, the walls appear to be gently "washed" and evenly illuminated. Just as with indirect lighting, light-colored walls enhance the effect of wall washing. Recessed directional downlights and sconces that use compact fluorescent, halogen and low-voltage halogen are perfect for this lighting technique. task lighting. Reading, writing and other visually intensive work requires lots of light that is bright as well as focused. That's why task lighting is specific to home work zones such as kitchen countertops, desks, craft tables and reading chairs - anywhere that someone who is doing a job needs sharp, non-shadowed light. Task lighting is not meant to illuminate the entire room - only a work surface. In the kitchen, for example, an illuminated range hood - or an over-the-range microwave with built-in ventilation and lighting - can provide task lighting for the cooktop work area. For extra task lighting, add slim fluorescent or low-voltage linear halogen fixtures under the front bottom edge of the wall cabinets to shine down on the countertops. Make certain the light is positioned in front of you so your body doesn't throw a shadow onto the workspace. You can also install a pendant light above an island or peninsula. Accent lighting is an effective and simple way to highlight or emphasize a room's special features - beautiful artwork, interesting architectural details or an attractive floral arrangement. Look around your living room. Should you showcase an arched ceiling or an antique desk? How about calling attention to the display of silver in your dining room? Then there's that interesting collection of plates in the kitchen . . To achieve effective accent lighting, consider these tips: Accent lighting usually comes from lower-voltage, directional light sources -sources that are specific and can be controlled. Recessed adjustable fixtures or track lights work well for this purpose. The most energy efficient types are halogen, low-voltage halogen, and halogen PAR lamps. White halogens are often combined with warmer incandescents to provide a refined highlight in a room filled with soft ambient lighting. It is best to keep accent lighting on separate switches or dimmers, apart from ambient lighting, That way, you can strike a balance between general room lighting and the item that is being accented. You can intensify the effect of accent lighting by reducing the ambient lighting in the rest of the room. Where you place your lamps is important. Try different locations to create the right setting, making sure to keep the lamp as close as possible to the item you're illuminating. What the spotlight is to accent lighting, the single fixture is to decorative lighting. Decorative light can help express your individualism. It can simply provide adequate ambient light - perhaps from a simple hanging fixture - or it can become a work of art that sets a mood. (Consider the different effects produced by a beautiful period Tiffany lamp or a trendy, artsy neon light.) When using decorative lighting, you can provide the ambient light you need with a ceiling-mounted fixture fitted with compact fluorescent bulbs in the center of a room. |
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