Design Tips from Your Resident Interior Designer Carol Fisher
Lighting
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ighting is so important in good design. It is an element that can make or change the mood of a room, it can help make your work easier, create ambiance and call attention to important objects or focal points. It also provides safety, security and a sense of comfort. Lighting, as well as lighting controls, provides the flexibility to adjust and adapt the mood and ambiance of your home. Here are some tips for planning an effective lighting scheme: Identify the activities that occur in each room (reading, cooking, grooming, laundry, homework, etc.). • Identify the mood or ambience desired. • Identify the decorative elements you wish to emphasize. • Keep in mind dark colors absorb much light, so dark wall colors and finishes need supplementary light. • Identify areas serving more than one purpose and those that require more than one type of lighting. Good lighting is not something most people think much about until they don’t have it. Living in a well-lit room is much more pleasurable than trying to do anything – except perhaps watch a movie – in a dark, shadowy space. One room where good lighting is critical is the kitchen. Improve your kitchen’s functionality by adding to your task lighting. Many kitchens have plenty of overhead light, but are often lacking when it comes to task lighting. Eliminate shadows by including two sources of light, such as overhead and undercabinet lighting, or pendants and recessed lighting. For added flexibility, you may want to install track lighting to direct light onto specific areas. The key here is light layering. When it comes to bedroom and bathroom lighting, comfort and ambiance take priority. Bathroom lighting should be both hardworking and mood-enhancing. Lights placed at a bathroom vanity and aimed out toward the face can help brighten grooming tasks. Be sure to include dimmers and look for places to add secondary, ambient light. For example, inexpensive, easy-to-install cove or toe lighting can greatly enhance this small, but important space. The key to good bathroom lighting is the use of dimmers. Enhance your bedroom lighting by increasing the amount of light next to the bed. Often bedside lamps are either too small or are not adjustable, which does not provide light where you need it. Go for a larger size with increased lumen capacity. Or, perhaps a wall sconce with a swing arm that can be brought closer for reading will provide the best light for you. A primary objective for bedroom lighting should be flexibility. When lighting your entry area, don’t just concentrate on the inside lighting. The lighting outside your entry area, as well as the way the inside light is seen from outside your home, combine to create your home’s welcoming appeal. Be sure to direct some of the outside light downward to illuminate walking paths. In the living area, whether enjoying family time or entertaining, proper lighting makes every activity more enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing. An important element to a perfectly lit living area is proportion. Add the number of feet in your room’s length, width and height. That number (in feet) should be approximately the same as the number of inches of your light fixture’s height. Also, that fixture should hang 78-84 inches from the floor (as measured from the bottom of the fixture). Lighting is a large topic, so more lighting tips in the next issue….stay tuned!
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