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12 Considerations When Choosing Contemporary Lighting
When redecorating a room, or even an entire house, contemporary
lighting is a major concern. Dimly lit areas are uninviting and
even depressing since human beings naturally crave the light.
Some rooms, of course, invite subdued lighting ... a bedroom
doesn't need glaring light whereas a dramatic entryway or living
room might be stunning with bold, dramatic spotlight.
The older the home, the greater the challenge when planning for
modern lighting. Here are twelve issues to contemplate when
planning your lighting update.
1. Consider your natural lighting first. In what direction are
your windows facing? Northern light is usually cooler and whiter
whereas daylight from southern-facing windows will be warmer and
yellower. This is perfect for plants, but not as satisfactory to
artists, who prefer the truer white of the north. Northern light
is a more even hue and is more shadow-free, which isn't as
comfortable in a relaxing den.
2. How is the light affected by your architecture and
landscaping? Do you have trees that shade the light, or bushes
that block the lower parts of the windows and decrease the
over-all quantity of illumination? Does a roofline cast a shadow
in an important area of a room? Can you increase the quality and
quantity of accessible light without spending a fortune?
3. What activities take place in your rooms? Do some of them
require more light than others? A desk that hosts homework or
needlework requires strong and steady light that covers the
entire work area. However, someone relaxing on a recliner and
watching TV at the end of a busy day does not want this kind of
focused brightness.
4. Do you need variable lighting? You might require a bright
light focused on a dining room table while it is being set and
dinner is served. However, once all diners are seated and have
loaded their plates, a softer lighting is more appropriate and a
dimmer switch will nicely provide for multiple intensities.
5. Are there details in your room upon which you wish to focus
attention? Perhaps you own a spectacular fireplace or
exceptional art? In that case, spot lighting might be
appropriate. There might be other necessary, but
not-so-attractive areas, that you might wish to downplay by
muting the light. Or you might own a spectacular view that is
especially enchanting at night. In that case, lights reflecting
from the windows will make it more difficult, or even
impossible, to see out.
6. Can you add light to a room by changing your decorating
scheme? We recently brightened a dark-paneled den by painting
all the woodwork and cabinets a creamy white and adding 2"
white wood blinds. With this relatively simple change, the
entire room has taken on an entirely new appearance and
brightened dramatically.
7. How do your window treatments affect the
light? Some homes
with heavy drapes are either "on" or "off":
that is, either the drapes are closed, making the room dark and
frequently gloomy, or they are open and sunlight isn't filtered
in any way. Blinds or certain shades can diffuse light while
still allowing a large percentage of it to access and brighten a
room.
8. Decorating features in your home may add light or take it
away. For instance, a mirror will add a sense of spaciousness
and illumination whereas outside shutters or awnings may block
the sun's rays. It might be wonderful to shut out harsh sunlight
on a 95 degree summer day, but in the middle of winter we want
every sliver of light we can grab.
9. What about the natural traffic pattern of your room? A floor
lamp placed so that people must detour around it isn't the
wisest use of your light sources. Is an off/on switch
conveniently located near all entrances? Groping around on the
wall in the dark isn't favored by most people. If this is your
situation, a simple sensor that turns on lights when a human
enters a room is a clever solution.
10. Which areas are underlit and which are overlit? In my
bedroom, for example, there is an exceedingly bright overhead
light as part of a ceiling fan. It is great when finding an
appropriate color of socks to wear in the morning, but
completely unsuitable for reading in bed before going to sleep.
A pool table needs strong lighting whereas a romantic seating
area in a garden room does not.
11. What kind of lighting does your room need? Fluorescent
fixtures might be perfect above a kitchen island but would be
repulsive directly above an eating area. Schools and other
institutions might welcome such unflattering lighting, but
incandescent lighting might be more appropriate at home.
12. What is the condition of your wiring? Old and outdated
wiring often cannot accommodate sleek new lighting systems
without some work. Updating wiring can be expensive and
disruptive, but it is also the opportunity to add new switches
and cause updates for new computers, high speed Internet
connections or high-tech TV or sound systems.
If you consider all these situations before spending a single
penny updating to more contemporary lighting, your end result is
certain to be more satisfying to everyone who lives in your
home.
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