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| Lighting Effects |
Check out this comprehensive guide to home lighting.
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Creative lighting can make a dramatic difference in the appearance and atmosphere of any room. And with a bewildering amount of light globes and fittings to choose from, achieving the right look for a room can be a tricky process.
When you are looking for the right globe, you not only have to consider the atmosphere and function of the room you're lighting, but also the money and energy you can save in the long term. A home office, for example, requires a functional approach, but a more relaxed atmosphere is desirable for bedrooms and lounge rooms.
There are three main principles behind effective home lighting:
1
Background or general lighting. This should illuminate rooms to a level that allows for safe movement, ie. wall lights, ceiling pendants and recessed down-lights. The best tool for background lighting is a dimmer, which can be easily installed by an electrician and makes unflattering light a little more versatile.
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Task lighting. This provides additional light for working or reading.
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Decorative lighting. This covers two types of light; those that are decorations in themselves (i.e. candles, a chandelier or a table lamp) and those that bring attention to a decorative feature (i.e. a spotlight highlighting a painting).
Examples of Different Types Of Lighting
There are many different globes to chose from:
Incandescent lamps
Incandescent lamps are the most familiar light type source with countless applications in homes, shops and other commercial settings. Light is produced by passing electric current through a thin wire filament. In this category are several globes which all achieve a slightly different effect.
Reflectors
Reflectors are partly covered in a silver coating, so that the light only escapes out of the clear glass. Examples in this category are spotline, floodline and bowl reflectors.
Halogen lamps
Unlike standard incandescent lamps, halogen lamps use a gas that allows the lamp to burn more brightly without sacrificing its life. This increases their efficiency at converting electricity into light, and allows halogen lamps to typically give out more light using less energy and from a smaller physical size.
Compared to equivalent incandescent lamps, halogen lamps have a longer life
(up to six times), provide a crisper, whiter light, and provide a better beam control, allowing light to be directed with a greater accuracy.
Fluorescent Lamps
These save on electricity bills by using 20 percent less energy than normal incandescent globes and can last eight to 10 times as long. They are also beneficial for the environment as they reduce the demand on fossil fuels. They are best used in areas where lights are left on for long periods such as kitchens and living rooms.
Lighting Tips
1
When lights need to be left on for more than two hours a day, fluorescent lights are the most energy efficient. In situations where lights are frequently switched on and off, incandescent lamps are the best choice. Switching fluorescent lamps frequently (two to three times per hour) may damage the lamp and shorten its life.
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To provide suitable light for living rooms and bedrooms, it's recommended that you use around 15w per square metre for incandescent lamps, four times this amount in kitchens and study areas and twice this for dining areas, bathrooms and reading areas. Fluorescent lamps are more efficient than incandescent globes, so if you are using this type of lighting you can take around 25 percent off these recommended values.
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Use your lights more efficiently by cleaning the dust and grime off them.
4
Lighting in living areas should be flexible yet functional, to cope with a diverse range of activities. Nowadays, the dining table can also serve as a desk for tax returns, or school homework, as well as a dressmaking or games table.
Dimmers are recommended for background lighting so that the lighting isn't too bright. Central pendant lights give good overall light but rarely provide sufficient light to work by in all parts of the room. Table lamps can provide areas of concentrated light for reading or sewing.
Watching television in the dark will strain your eyes, so make sure there is
sufficient low level lighting to soften the contrast, a light source behind the television is a good idea, as it softens the focus for the eyes.
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The main idea in the kitchen is to have light on every work surface, sink, stove or bench top. There are few things more dangerous than working in your own shadow - the single light in the centre of the ceiling simply will not do the job. Light in the centre of the room from fluorescent lighting can be supplemented by recessed halogen downlights which are ideal and will not gather dust and grease.
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The bathroom is a lighting challenge; bright for shaving or applying make-up
but gentler when you're having a relaxing bath or recovering from a late night.
With a dimmer fitted this problem can be solved. Try to avoid spotlights in the bathroom as people are tempted to adjust the position of the lights when their hands may be wet.
With mirrors, the light should be in front of you, to throw light onto your face, not behind, which tends to cast an unflattering shadow. It can be above or beside the mirror, but it should give an even lighting effect to both sides. However, a down light fitted above and a single on both sides of a mirror is just as effective.
Safety TipOperate lights by a switch outside the bathroom, or a cord pull switch inside the room. Use enclosed splash proof fittings where possible.
7
Bedrooms need to have a relaxing, intimate atmosphere, but there must be
enough light for reading, dressing and applying make-up. Dimmers again are useful and some form of light lamp is a necessity in most bedrooms. When choosing a lamp shade, look for ones that cast the light downwards onto the pages of the book, rather than shine straight into your eyes.
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In the nursery, aim for good overall lighting and avoid light that could shine directly into childrens' eyes when they're in their cot or bed. Most small children prefer some kind of night light. Use a dimmer switch so that at night the level of light can be lowered for minimum disturbance. A time delay switch works well in this situation. The new energy saver lamps are recommended in these situations because you can leave the light on all night at minimal cost. Wait until children start school before adding bedside and desk lamps.
Safety TipIn rooms for small children, all sockets should be childproof and lighting fixtures should be kept well out of reach.
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More Info
For further information contact Don Blau, manager of the Light Site,
137 Alexander St., Crows Nest, Sydney.
Ph: (02) 9436 4516.
For more information on GE Lighting products contact,
GE Lighting,
125 Long Street,
Smithfield, Sydney NSW 2164.
Ph: 1800 33 4352, Fax: 1800 44 4352.
For more information on any Phillips Lighting products,
Ph: 13 14 01.
Electrical services provided by Adam of Smada Electrical Services.
Contact him on: mob 0413 870 739.
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Disclaimer
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