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The importance of lighting design is often overlooked when planning a home
renovation or when building a home. It is an essential part of our everyday lives.
When we have enough light, we don't really think about it. When we have
improper lighting it is annoying, sometimes dangerous and even unhealthy, as
some recent studies have shown. Lighting design can also make or break a great
looking room.
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So much time and effort is spent, as well as money, choosing beautiful products,
tile, furniture and wall decor. Without the proper illumination all this lustre is left in
the dark

In the Lighting Tips section we discuss the 3 basic types of lighting. These are
General, Task and Accent lighting. Each has its own place in a room. Some
rooms may only require general lighting, while other rooms may require all three
types. For this reason each room needs to be planned independently when it
comes to the lighting design. Below are some examples.
First floor lighting plan and diagram
The above drawing is an approximately 1300 sq ft floor space. The squares with
circles inside are recessed lights. In the bedrooms we have a ceiling fan and 4
recessed lights. Separate switches control each. If the fan was to have a light we
would add another switch to give different lighting design options. Take note of
the flow of switches.

By using 3 way and 4 way switches there is a smooth flow when negotiating the
rooms. You can enter from any direction and turn on or off the light or lights for
that area.

In the kitchen the lighting is switched in different sections to allow different levels
of light. How the lighting is switched is an important part of any lighting scheme.

Another important aspect of lighting is the switching scheme. By controlling the
lights with switching and dimming, many moods and effects can be created. One
way to do this is by conventional means, another is through the use of todays
smart technology.

I can't emphasize enough the importance of control. What I want to achieve for
my customers when planning a lighting design is two key factors. One is to have
the ability to light the room well and with full coverage. The other is to give them
control over that light so they can use the light differently for different needs. A
very good example of this is a TV or media room.
In the above plan using a room about 15 x 20 we are using 10 recessed lights on
three dimmers. The advantage to this type of control is while watching a movie we
can keep the back three lights on dimmed. This allows an acceptable level of light
to enter, exit or move about the room, without interfering with your view of the
TV. In a room like this we can use 4" cans but 5" or 6" would be just as suitable.

When planning a lighting design another important factor to consider is this. As we
age our eyes need a great deal more of light to see properly. It is a fact that at age
50 our eyes need twice as much light as they did when we were twenty. When
planning a lighting scheme, we want to take this into consideration. This is yet
another example why lighting control is so critical. By giving a room the flexibility
of various degrees of illumination it can fit our needs, even if our needs change.
(C)Copyright 2003 Forte Electric Inc.
Forte Electric
Lighting Design