Light up the Room!
Headaches, lethargy, stubbed toes and bruised shins: These can sometimes be blamed on a poorly lit room. Don't get left in the dark - learn to create a successful lighting scheme in any room. Here's how.
Planning is step one. Think about all the ways in which the room will be used, as those activities will determine the types of light required. Will it be used for reading? Watching TV? Studying? Cooking? Relaxing? As well, think about who will be using the room - the older we get, the more light we need.
Also note any features in the room you'd like to emphasize, such as a fireplace, painting or bookshelf. You may find it helpful to draw a room plan showing the location of those features, as well as the location of the room's furniture and fixed features (its doors, windows and electrical outlets), so that you know exactly where your lamps and wall sconces can - and can't - be placed.
Now it's time to apply your light in layers. The first layer, referred to as ambient light, serves to provide soft, non-focal lighting throughout the room, eliminating shadows and allowing you to safely navigate the space. This is your base light layer, on top of which accent and task lighting will be layered. Typically, a room's source of ambient light is a single overhead fixture, but wall sconces, floor lamps, track and recessed lighting can do the trick in a more flattering manner.
The next layer is accent lighting, which is focused light intended to draw attention to special features, be they architectural (built-in shelving) or decorative (a wall hanging), and add drama to a room. Accent lighting examples include an uplight placed on the floor to highlight a sculpture, adjustable track lights aimed at a bookcase, or a pendant illuminating a mosaic tabletop. A caution: Apply accent lighting sparingly - highlighting too many of a room's features makes it feel chaotic.
Your last layer is task lighting, which provides highly focused light allowing you to carry out specific tasks like reading, sewing, grooming or preparing food. Shadow and glare are the enemies of task lighting, which helps prevent eyestrain and injury. This type of lighting is most needed in bathrooms, kitchens and offices. Think here of sconces on either side of a bathroom mirror, under-cabinet lighting to brighten kitchen counters and directional lamps for desks and reading chairs.
Go Green in Calgary If you're concerned about the environment, there are a few ways you can make your lighting scheme a little more eco-friendly. If you need to purchase new light fixtures, opt for those made from natural or recycled materials like glass, metal, wood, plastic and cloth. Outfit your fixtures with compact florescent (CFL) or LED bulbs, which last longer and use a great deal less energy than incandescent bulbs do, and incorporate dimmers, which can help you save energy and extend the life of your light bulbs.
Joe Samson, a Calgary REALTOR® who has been helping clients to achieve their goals in the Calgary real estate market for many years now. Please visit some of his other web pages such as Evergreen real estate.
To Your Real Estate Success!
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Last updated on: 2012-05-17 00:22:34
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