| How does lighting effect your emotions? Visit Design Psychology |
There are three categories of
lighting
1. General Lighting
2. Task Lighting
3. Accent Lighting
lighting
1. General Lighting
2. Task Lighting
3. Accent Lighting
| General Lighting |
| Task Lighting |
| Accent Lighting |
Also known as ambient
lighting, general lighting is
essential in any lighting
plan. It provides overall
illumination enabling one to
see and walk about safely. It
can be accomplished with
chandeliers, ceiling or wall
mounted fixtures, recessed
or track lights, and with
lanterns outside your home
lighting, general lighting is
essential in any lighting
plan. It provides overall
illumination enabling one to
see and walk about safely. It
can be accomplished with
chandeliers, ceiling or wall
mounted fixtures, recessed
or track lights, and with
lanterns outside your home
Helps you perform specific
tasks such as reading,
sewing, cooking, homework,
hobbies, games, or balancing
your check book. It can be
provided by recessed and
track lighting, pendant
lighting and portable lamps.
Task lighting should be free
of distracting glare and
shadows and should be
bright enough to prevent
eyestrain.
tasks such as reading,
sewing, cooking, homework,
hobbies, games, or balancing
your check book. It can be
provided by recessed and
track lighting, pendant
lighting and portable lamps.
Task lighting should be free
of distracting glare and
shadows and should be
bright enough to prevent
eyestrain.
Adds drama to a room by
creating visual interest. As
part of your decorating
scheme, it can be used to
spotlight paintings, house
plants, sculpture and other
prized possessions, or to
highlight the texture of a wall,
drapery or outdoor
landscaping. Accent lighting
requires at least three times
as much light on the focal
point as the general lighting
around it. This is usually
provided by track, recessed
or wall mounted fixtures.
creating visual interest. As
part of your decorating
scheme, it can be used to
spotlight paintings, house
plants, sculpture and other
prized possessions, or to
highlight the texture of a wall,
drapery or outdoor
landscaping. Accent lighting
requires at least three times
as much light on the focal
point as the general lighting
around it. This is usually
provided by track, recessed
or wall mounted fixtures.
More lighting Tips
*Change your fluorescent light bulbs about once a year. They may still be working but they
are not working at full potential and will eventually burn out the ballast.
*To save energy, change the bulb on light outside your door to a compact fluorescent. On a
light that normally has a 100 watt bulb in it and is lit 12 hours a night you can actually save
$30.00 a year on that one bulb.
*In Bathrooms it's best to have a light over vanity as well as an overhead light so you don't
cast shadows on your face when you look in the mirror.
*Change your fluorescent light bulbs about once a year. They may still be working but they
are not working at full potential and will eventually burn out the ballast.
*To save energy, change the bulb on light outside your door to a compact fluorescent. On a
light that normally has a 100 watt bulb in it and is lit 12 hours a night you can actually save
$30.00 a year on that one bulb.
*In Bathrooms it's best to have a light over vanity as well as an overhead light so you don't
cast shadows on your face when you look in the mirror.
| Lighting and Your Emotions Do you feel unhappy in your home and you don't know why? Read the Article Here |
Kitchen's today are not just places to cook a meal. In most homes, the
kitchen functions as the heart of the home, a place where the family
gathers, kid's do their homework and adults pay the bills. Many kitchen's
today will incorporate a desk into the layout. It is a room where lighting
is extremely important and can add to the beauty of the room as well as
it's ambiance and functionality.
A good lighting scheme in a kitchen will include the three major lighting
types.
General lighting to light the space. Task lighting for specific functions.
Accent lighting to bring out the beauty. Also important is the zoning or
switching of the lights. High hat lighting is often used
kitchen functions as the heart of the home, a place where the family
gathers, kid's do their homework and adults pay the bills. Many kitchen's
today will incorporate a desk into the layout. It is a room where lighting
is extremely important and can add to the beauty of the room as well as
it's ambiance and functionality.
A good lighting scheme in a kitchen will include the three major lighting
types.
General lighting to light the space. Task lighting for specific functions.
Accent lighting to bring out the beauty. Also important is the zoning or
switching of the lights. High hat lighting is often used
| Below is an example of a basic kitchen floor plan which we will add lighting to |
| Here we have a basic kitchen layout. What we want to achieve here is to locate the important aspects for lighting. First we have the room for general lighting. Using recessed lights or high hats we can light both the room and concentrate that light on the counter tops for good working light. So let's add some high hats |
| Here we have High Hat recessed lighting added to the design. The red circles in the diagram. These are approximately where you want the high hats located. By placing the center at about the edge of the counter top you achieve maximum light on counter tops while preventing shadows that would occur if they were to far back. Most times lights can be placed in this manner but occasionally there may be an obstacle such as a ceiling joist in the way. The lights over the island can be pendants or high hats. In this diagram I would have 3 zones switched. One would be the lights over perimeter counter tops. Another would be the three over the island and the sink light on a switch by itself. Dimmers on all switches would provide the most flexibility in lighting the room. Now let's add some under cabinet lighting |
| Find all your lighting needs at Lighting Universe |
| In this drawing we have Under Cabinet lighting added to the design. They are the yellow strips in the diagram. This is the task lighting for the kitchen and is also accent lighting. It can really bring out a tile back splash. Depending on the type of light used, these can be switched as a group or they can have switches on the fixtures themselves, or both. If it is within budget, it is best to try and cover all parts of the counter with this type of light. |
| Below are some examples of a recently completed job similar to this layout |
| In this photo you can see how the under cabinet lighting brings out the back splash. In this kitchen we used a low voltage linear system. |
| Now look at the same area with no under cabinet light. The difference is dramatic. Without the light that beautiful tile back splash looks very ordinary. |
| Another view with the lights in a corner section. |
| This is a view of the entire kitchen. Notice the ceiling lights, much like the diagram, around the perimeter with two over the island (one is out of photo). |
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| (C)Copyright 2003 Forte Electric Inc. |
The first and most important tip is lighting can make or break a room. It can provide
atmosphere, set a mood and accent a style. Lighting can bring out the best qualities
in a room while hiding those that are not attractive. A stunning tile floor or a
beautiful painting loses all of it's lustre when it's in the dark.
atmosphere, set a mood and accent a style. Lighting can bring out the best qualities
in a room while hiding those that are not attractive. A stunning tile floor or a
beautiful painting loses all of it's lustre when it's in the dark.
| Lighting Tips |
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