subject: Lighting up your home step-by-step [print this page] Lighting up your home step-by-step Lighting up your home step-by-step
Lighting design can be tricky when you're not sure where to start, but there's no need to panic. Here is a step-by-step guide in how to light up you home.
1. Hallway
Starting with the hallway and stairs is always a good plan, for it is the first place that a visitor usually enters. The lighting needs to be attractive and have a welcoming feel to it; ambient lighting provides a soft warm and cosy atmosphere with an even balance throughout the hall. A good way of highlighting pictures and coat hooks is with spotlights on track or with individual picture lights (Accent Lighting). This provides excellent focus and directs guests down the hall.
2. Kitchen
The next big area to light is the kitchen, which is a very task focused area with food preparations and cleaning constantly taking place. A high level of clean bright light is required for such tasks to be performed easily. There are many sources to accomplish this, such as fluorescent lights, track lighting or recessed lighting systems, which all have significant benefits. Fluorescent fixtures are usually installed singularly due to their size and space restrictions but do provide great levels of ambient lighting suitable for the kitchen. Low voltage systems are more flexible and compact; using Halogen bulbs they provide a high level of white light and come in mains voltage and low voltage versions.
3. Living room
The main focal point of the home is the living room and it requires flexible lighting to accommodate for all members of the family and different uses. Whether it's reading or watching television, these require different levels of light, the room should be comfortable. The lighting should be flexible enough to provide for the range of tasks, situations and desired aesthetic effects. Creative lighting layers will enable you to provide for most activities in the living room whilst still having flexibility. Since this room is not as task focused as the kitchen or the bathroom so a more diffused and decorative light can be used through a central fixture. Using either a chandelier or a glass up lighter will provide this. The fixture you choose should be energy efficient as it will most likely be left on for long periods of time.
4. Bathroom
The bathroom is a functional room and the lighting elements should be focused around the mirror. Providing mirror lights serves for cleaning, make-up, shaving and dressing. The light should be evenly distributed without shadows and free from glare. Lighting in the ceiling may work well for general lighting but does not serve well for tasks based here. Placing lights at both sides of the mirror works best because it provides light across the face and avoids shadows under the chin. Fluorescent lighting is ideal for tasks and provides high levels of illumination with less heat and lower operating cost than normal GLS fittings. GLS or halogen, offer greater decorative possibilities and if well spaced and diffused, can be used very effectively.
5. Bedroom
The bedroom requires very different lighting because it can be a place of sanctuary away from the stresses and strains of the world. A central fixture with a dimmer can provide great levels of light which can be used when choosing clothes to wear and when you're grooming during the morning. This can be supported with track lighting which can provide a source of direct light into wardrobes and can be controlled by a separate witch so that you can have absolute control and flexibility.
