subject: Modern Lighting For The Modern Home [print this page] God created man bare before men went on to embellish their looks with fashionable clothing. Light sources like bulbs, tube lights, LEDs, halogen bulbs are also bare lamps. However, there are manufacturers of lighting fixtures who, in a way, dress up the bare bulb and add beauty and elegance to the lighting as well as the wall. This is the concept of modern lighting. Lighting fixtures also have another purpose apart from this. They can focus or diffuse the light to suit a particular application. With appropriate materials like glass, fabric, paper and elements of colour, they can transform a living space, giving it a distinctive atmosphere and a mood.
Modern lighting uses appropriate fixtures to contribute to the overall quality of the lighting. For a living room one might have a combination of such lighting fixtures. When you are just sitting and idling away the time while watching TV then you need diffused lighting, low level intensity that is directed towards the walls. This is preferable since it does not bother your eye. If you plan to have a party and want the place to be full of light, you can consider having high intensity light fixtures that can be switched on in such a way that it brightens up the whole area. Rather than having bare bulbs or tubes, it is best to fix them in recessed fixtures with diffusers so the overall effect is pleasant and does not create a glaring effect causing fatigue to the eye.
Study areas can have high intensity focussed modern lighting so that there is adequate light for reading. Such light will also not disturb the others in the room.
Kitchens call for high intensity illumination uniform to all area, so recessed strip lighting with diffusers are ideal for kitchens. There could be options on recessed spot lights using small halogens to highlight particular areas or accentuate points in dcor.
Bedrooms may also follow the pattern of having soft, reflected lighting which is subdued and does not directly fall in the eye. A recessed spotlight angled to permit reading in bed could be useful. A floor standing lamp may be used for reading or for doing some work as well.
Passageways need adequate lighting but these do not need to be very strong. Bulbs encased in decorative wall fixtures will cast nice overall lighting all over the passage. Porch lighting should be considered in a similar manner, with an option of a high intensity light, should you need one.
Quality of the modern light can be influenced by the colour and type of material used. For example, a floor standing Japanese style lamp could have paper as the diffuser. This gives an overall warm glow. Similarly, if silk or similar materials are used for such lamps, they will give an overall ambience of cosiness and comfort. Frosted glass can diffuse the light. Tinted glass can create a wonderful mood depending on the shade. Pinks and yellows give a warm effect while blues and greens can be cool and restful.
Modern lighting offers so many options and it becomes imperative for every homemaker to have an interior with proper lighting.
