Interior Lighting part 1

Interior Lighting

Posted By: Designer Mjanja Blog on 24th of October 2013

Interior designers are often called upon to give input about lighting in residential environments. In trying to tackle a lighting dilemma, many fixtures get specified in living areas, kitchens and baths that waste energy and do not get light where it is needed most. These ineffective specifications are often repeated as homeowners are unsure of lighting solutions and tricks of the trade. Sometimes knowing what to do can help make you look like a pro. This article highlights the common lighting mistakes to avoid and gives some tips on how to do it right.  Over doing Recessed Down lights This is one of the most common errors that lighting design professionals see. Builder spec versions of can lights are quite affordable and people often assume that laying them out in a regular grid gets light everywhere. Unfortunately, this is not so. The optics of inexpensive can lights often allow only slightly more than half the lumen output of the lamp to escape. In addition, can lights, unless they are adjustable or wall wash fixtures, typically don't put sufficient light on vertical surfaces, which is where the eye perceives light. With an array of cans, we might waste nearly half our watts and still have a space that feels like a cave because the walls are dark. Kitchen Task lights  There are many better ways to light the counter, and one of them is to use fluorescent or LED task lights under the upper cabinets. If your kitchen design lacks upper cabinets over some work surfaces, don't worry. This is a situation where wall-mounted or ceiling recessed adjustable fixtures with the right lamp make all the difference. Adding several low voltage halogen fixtures with a narrow flood beam distribution and focusing them on the task area will do the trick. Remember to choose your fluorescent or LED color temperature wisely. Down lights without Side lights Standing directly under a down light, without any light at the sides of the face, creates exaggerated and unflattering shadows. In the bathroom, using a down light over the sink is fine to accent the expensive polished nickel faucet you've specified, but it is insufficient for tasks like shaving, tweezing, and applying makeup. For this, we need light at the sides of the mirror at eye level to minimize shadows and provide even distribution. This can be achieved with sconces flanking the mirror.