Living in the Dark? Light up your Life
with
Home Decorating Lighting Principles
Home decorating lighting has a powerful influence over our moods and having a radiant room will make us feel happier and more alert. If you ever sat in your family room and found it difficult to read you know what I mean.
A nicely balanced illumination plan consists of three essential design elements.
General, Task & Accent ...
General, also referred to as ambient, allows us to navigate in our space. It’s role is to provide background illumination and the “feel good” factor.
It’s like bringing the sunshine into the home! (Maybe not that good) The glare free and indirect beam can be provided by ceiling fixtures for a general wash, chandeliers, ceiling fans, recessed down lights or wall sconces.
Home decorating lighting that is considered Task makes the difference between a brilliant room and one that is not. It is designed to provide strong localized brightness to see by when performing specific jobs like reading or cooking.
It’s stimulating and helps to prevent eye strain. Think about what jobs are done in each room of the home and carefully position targeted illumination according to your needs.
Accent radiance is decorative in nature and adds visual interest by drawing attention to the areas you want to highlight, rather than the fixture itself.
They encompass a whole range of lamp designs and chosen to compliment the decor and impact the room like a piece of art or sculpture.
They are beautiful without even turning them on!
When designing your home decorating lighting plan consider what the room’s activity will be and plan to include appropriate task, general, and dramatic sparkle by using a mix of sources. When possible have them put on dimmers for maximum control. (Especially in the dining room.)
An even distribution of home decorating lighting is key. You don’t want to wind up with an area that is too bright or other areas too dim. A room left in the dark will dampen your spirits. Study the natural sunlight coming into the home during the day, and from season to season to help boost the daytime light.
Formula for Proper Room Illumination
The room’s width x the room’s length x 1.5 = Proper amount of wattage for the room.
For example if your room is 10 x 15,
the formula would be 10 x 15 x 1.5 = 225 watts
or 4 lamps @ 60 watts each.
For a more concentrated coverage over a task area like a kitchen island, multiply by 2.5
Mix the Type of Bulbs for the Best Effect
Incandescent bulbs are the most common. They cast a warm yellowish glow, are inexpensive and readily available. They are used in lamps but not recessed or track fixtures. For those, you will need flood or spotlights.
Halogen bulbs cast a white glow. They can enhance the room’s colors but they tend to burn hot.
Fluorescent bulbs use the least amount of energy but can cause colors to fade. Look for the full spectrum fluorescent bulbs which closely mimic the natural sunlight.
Selecting the Right Size Chandelier
The chandelier over a table in the dining room should be 12" narrower than the table.
For example if your table is 44 x 72 you can use a chandelier that is 32".
Consider the visual look of the chandelier. If your chandelier is delicate and "airy" than go with the 32". If on the other hand the chandelier is “heavy” in feel than choose to go a little smaller.
If you have a long table you can hang two chandeliers. Select home decorating lighting fixtures that are one third the width of the table and center on each end of the table.
The height of the chandelier should be about 2 ½-3" for each foot of ceiling height.
For example if you have an 8' ceiling the height of the fixture should be 20-24"
(8 x 3 = 24)
The bottom of the chandelier should hang 30" above the table.
A chandelier is a decorative element to the dining room that enhances the beautiful furnishings. When the light is dimmed it creates a glowing atmosphere similar to candlelight.
A Fixture for the Foyer
If you have a large foyer with a high ceiling a handsome chandelier can be a focal point as you welcome visitors to your home.
If the foyer is small you can use a flush mount fixture installed at the ceiling and wall sconces.
Since we don’t have a table to go by, we’re going to measure the space.
For example, a foyer that measures 8 x 10,
add 8 + 10 = 18. That is the size of the chandelier’s diameter. Use this as a guide. If you absolutely are in love with a foyer fixture that is 22" go for it!
The same formula that we used to derive the height of the chandelier in the dining room applies here, but if you have a two story foyer you can go higher.
The bottom of the hanging fixture should be 7' from the floor. If you have a taller ceiling you can go to 7 ½', but not less than 7'.
Reading Lamps
Keep the bottom of the shade to your reading lamps approximately 38"-42" from the floor, and it should rest at the ear when seated.
Measure the table it will be sitting on before shopping for the lamp.
Task reading lamps should be placed a little behind the reader’s ear.
You want your reading lamps to produce wattage of 100. Most fixtures are geared for 60 watts, but you will find some equipped to take more. Opt for one that takes a three way bulb and use a 50/100/150.
Make sure the lamp is of decent weight in a heavily used area. Good quality lamps will be. Save the lightweights for areas with less traffic, and be sure to conceal the cords as much as possible to avoid tripping!
Other home decorating lighting used for ambient or decorative luster can really be any size you want, making sure the table for which it will be sitting is in proportion.
You don’t have to match your lamps, but make sure they have similar visual weight and height if they will be used on each side of a sofa or bed.
Floor Lamps
Traditional floor lamps provide light 3/4 the way down from the ceiling, and are very versatile because they can be moved from one room to the next when the mood strikes.
A free standing indirect floor lamp will highlight tall ceilings. It will cast a beam on the wall and ceiling, reflecting a soft luminous glow back into the room.
Sculptural low standing lamps cast light into the lower portion of the room at or below ½ the wall height. They can make your ceiling appear higher while providing an interesting glow to the room.
Wall sconces
Wall sconces are often seen in pairs and are a permanent part of the home decorating lighting scheme.
Select areas where you want the harmonious quality of light they offer, like in the hallway, highlighting a fireplace, or framing a piece of artwork.
Wall lights are generally 65" from the floor.
You can achieve great results creating a basic illumination plan with stylish floor and table lamps, built in wall and ceiling fixtures.
Start with a central fixture for a general wash, adding interest with wall lights. Include table and floor lamps for task and after the space is filled with an even distribution of light, accentuate for drama with your home decorating lighting that accents.
Return from Home Decorating Lighting to Interior Redesign
Return from Home Decorating Lighting to Shopping Journey
|
