Home Lighting Guide

By Dar Lighting

Lighting your home.
There is an awful lot to consider when lighting up your home. It is important to bear in mind what each room is to be used for and to light it accordingly...for example, a dining room would not need as strong a light as a study or reading room and there are many different types of spotlight and picture lights on the market that would highlight features if required. If at all possible it is a good idea to combine different sorts of lighting in the room and in rooms that are used for different purposes, a dimmer switch is a great idea. Colours of the room are also an important factor to be considered. Lighter walls will reflect light whereas darker rooms absorb it, meaning more light is required.
Everyone has their own opinion on how much light they should have in their own homes...but if in doubt there is an accepted method of working it out. Simply measure the room in square meters and multiply it by 25 if you are using incandescent bulbs, 15 if using Halogen or 19 for fluorescents. The final figure gives you the recommended amount of Watts for your room. This is however only a guide.

Room Lighting
Every room in your home has different functions and it is a good idea to light them accordingly. In the kitchen, for example, it is important to have good lighting. Fluorescent tubes work well in kitchens as they provide good light without shadows and Halogen lights would also be beneficial.
In the Living Room, a single centre light can cause glaring or be too bright and create shadows. Up lighters create a softer effect and floor-standing lamps supply excellent additional light for reading. Spotlights and picture lights are also very good at providing extra lighting with a pleasant effect. The fitting of a dimmer switch would enable the lighting to be adjusted to that required at any one time, providing both a low light for relaxing and a stronger light for reading etc. Bathroom lighting is something that takes a lot of consideration, as there are strict regulations on what can be used. Most bathrooms have a mirror fitted, which reflect light well. And can have lights fitted at the side to provide additional light as required. Some mirrors have lights in them or attached to them for this purpose. For general lighting though, an enclosed flush ceiling fitting with a high output is used. It is important to ensure that the fitted lights in bathrooms provide sufficient lighting as portable lights, or lamps, are not permitted in bathrooms. Spotlights can be used to highlight features and lights specially designed for the shower are now available. A qualified electrician should always be used when fitting bathroom lighting.
Lighting in Bedrooms is also something that is not given enough attention. It is necessary to have good illumination but different factors need to be taken into account. Dressing tables benefit from lighted mirrors, or lamps placed next to the mirror, offering very good light where necessary. In a double room, individually controlled bedside lights are useful as these can enable either partner to choose when they need their only light. This is extremely useful if one partner has to get up earlier than the other, or one likes to read.
In Children's bedrooms night-lights can be used. These are available as "plug in" types or a dimmer can be fitted to the main overhead light. For the main light there are many different, fun, fittings available these days but it is important to ensure that they are safe.
Many people have a computer room or study these days and the lighting in these rooms must be given serious thought as well. For computer work it is best to light the wall behind the monitor as this will not tire your eyes as quickly and for desk work, a good all round lighting is needed even if you are using a desk lamp. Many good desk lights are available which have adjustable heights and light angles.

Lighting Tips
* The style of the lighting fittings affects ambience as well as determine the amount of illumination they provide.
* Consider the period and style of your decor when selecting fittings, as you would for any accessories.
* If you opt for an eye-catching fitting such as a large chandelier or unusual pendant, don't add competing focal points.
* Many decorative fittings can produce glare if turned on high: they don't need to carry the lighting load
* If other ambient and task lights levels are appropriately set.
* To make a small room look larger, try up lighting a pale ceiling.
* To make a large room feel more intimate, try using spare down lighting, high-contrast or pinpoint accent schemes, or low, diffused wall sconces.
* Adequate ambient light is the key to creating a comfortable living space.
* Indirect cove and soffit lighting or wall washer's fittings are a good choice.
* Plan lighting controls to be accessible as you move about the house.
* It may be convenient to have fittings switched from more than one place.
* Light-coloured countertops, work surfaces, and walls add brightness because they reflect light.
* Light at a mirror should shine on the person, not the mirror glass.

How Much Light?
Determine the correct light levels for a home environment is a very complicated subject and depends to a degree on the individual's perception and requirements. This formula, however, can be used as a rule of thumb.
Measure the room size in square metres and multiply this by 25 (for incandescent lamps) 15 (for halogen lamps) or 19 (if using compact fluorescent lamps). This will give you the total watts required to light the room.

Dining Room Lighting
The main lighting source here will be over the dining table. The use of a dimmer will allow the table to be used for jobs such as reading and yet give low mood lighting for dining.
Don't hang a pendant so low that your diners have to peer round it. If you have a glass dining table, make sure the light is fitted with a diffuser so that your diners are not looking at a reflection of the light bulb.

Living room Lighting
Avoid using one central light source, which will create hard, shadows and possibly glare. Instead aim to use plenty of different lighting sources to create pools of light; this will give a more interesting effect.
Your main eating area, an adjustable reading light beside or behind your chair, which can be switched while seated, will prove invaluable. Two or three table lights or free standing floor lights placed around the perimeter will give the room a more spacious feeling.
Picture lights or spot lights can be used to illuminate bookcases, pictures or any other interesting objects.
Wall and pendants on a dimmer switch can raise the level of illumination in a room without needing to adjust any of the other light sources but beware of glare if they are mounted too high. Indirect lighting from wall washers (light fittings designed to light the wall and ceiling often made in ceramic or plaster) will create dramatic effects.
Remember that the light given from wall washers will be coloured by the surfaces on which they are mounted.
Floor lights can be very effective at adding general lighting to a dark area where it is not easy to fit wall lights, ceiling lights, or table lights.
A floor up lighter gives a bright wash on the ceiling. Some are fitted with dimmers and others have a second flexible arm for reading.

Kitchen Lighting
We spend most of our time in the kitchen and it has multiple functions, many of which require care to avoid accidents.
A higher level of lighting is required here. Fluorescent tubes under wall mounted units cast an efficient light over work surfaces and prevent shadows. They also ensure you are not blocking out the very light in which you need to work.
A central light is also important in a kitchen to provide a general level of lighting and, if you have the space, the use of halogen spotlights mounted on the wall will help to add accent.
If you have glass fronted display cabinets in your kitchen the use of small halogen lights specifically designed for the purpose will add interest.
If your ceiling is low or you want to avoid a central light, consider the use of a number of down lights, which create a glare free and pleasing effect whilst remaining functional.

Bedroom room Lighting
This is an area so often neglected. Consider the number of functions required of a bedroom.
  For Dressing you need plenty of general lighting or, if your partner has to rise at a different time, do you need a lower level pool of lighting in which won't disturb them? A well positioned down lighter will help here.
Many people read in bed and with a double room, it is useful to have bedside lighting, which are individually switched. Adjustable reading lamps are ideal if you want to read while your partner sleeps. For convenience and safety you should aim to have all of the bedroom lighting controlled from the bed.

Dressing tables used for make-up will need more specific lighting and the use of two slender table lamps either side of a mirror gives a good working light without glare and will add to the cosy effects of the room.
 Try to create pools of lighting to reduce any hard contrasts. Adding a table lamp or lighting up pictures will be very effective.

Children's rooms
In Children's bedrooms night-lights can be used. These are available as "plug in" types or a dimmer can be fitted to the main overhead light. For the main light there are many different, fun, fittings available these days but it is important to ensure that they are safe.

Computer room or study
Many people have a computer room or study these days and the lighting in these rooms must be given serious thought as well. For computer work it is best to light the wall behind the monitor as this will not tire your eyes as quickly and for desk work, a good all round lighting is needed even if you are using a desk lamp. Many good desk lights are available which have adjustable heights and light angles.