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Creative lighting for interior design
Some benighted souls are in the dark when it comes to lighting design. Even the best designed and decorated room won't shine if it isn't lit properly. We asked an interior designer and a lighting expert to help shed some light on how to effectively illuminate a home. Lighting design isn't about picking the right fixture. Instead, it is about choosing the right combination of light sources. Most experts use a layered approach that sees a variety of light sources to accommodate the needs of a home's occupants. They suggest people view their lighting as one of three layers -- ambient, task and accent. By choosing the proper lights for each layer, homeowners can create memorable home designs. AMBIENT LIGHTING The first layer, ambient lighting, is also referred to as general lighting. It can be as simple as a central ceiling fixture in a room. While it provides basic visibility, it is visually unexciting and can be a source of glare. "People should consider replacing a single fixture with a number of recessed ceiling lights on a dimmer," says Leah Rourke, principal interior designer at Rourke Group Design. "Instead of glare, the light is now softer and diffused, giving the room a warmer glow." She says ambient lights can create a mood, for example a light that grazes a wall, casting light and shadow, adds visual texture to a room. Some of her clients have chosen to forgo the traditional dining-room chandelier in favour of a bank of recessed ceiling lights. It's less expensive and requires less housekeeping by the homeowner. The deletion of a dining-room fixture also works well with the popular open-concept layout found in new homes. "With the source of illumination on the ceiling, there is now nothing to block views for guests at the table," she says. Ambient lighting can also take the form of a wall sconce in a hallway, a floor lamp in a living room or bedside lamps in the bedroom. In some cases, one layer of light is more than adequate. The amount of light given off by some fixtures, such as floor lamps, can be adjusted by choosing different fabrics and materials for the shades. While most lighting design revolves around electrical fixtures, something as simple as a candle can also create a unique mood. "Candles are very flattering," says Rourke. "There's nothing like them to create a romantic mood." TASK LIGHTING Fixtures for task lighting, the second layer, are determined by the activities in the particular room. "One of the most important questions we ask clients is how they use their space," says Don Stott, business development manager at Illuminations Lighting Solutions. "Will they be reading their newspaper, watching television or playing with their children?" Task lighting can be in the form of table or desk lamps, under-cabinet lamps, track lamps, pendants and vanity lights. The activity taking place in the room determines the choice of fixtures and placement. "But usually people don't just use one place for one thing," says Stott. "The light level needs to be high for some activities, like children playing on the floor, yet need to be low later to watch television." The age of the occupants need to be taken into account as well. By middle-age, people usually need twice as much light to see than they did when they were in their youth. Their eyes are also more sensitive to glare, which means light should be plentiful, but adequately shielded. Task lighting in a kitchen is very important as food preparation and recipe reading are both tasks that require accuracy. In the case of under cabinet counter lights, Rourke recommends they be installed close to the front edge so as to minimize shadows. Track lighting with pods lighting up work stations in a kitchen are a popular way to add task lighting to the main lights of a kitchen. Using task lights instead of ambient lighting can also help save energy because the lights illuminate specific areas where work is taking place -- not the whole room. Adjustable floor lamps used for reading in the living room is another example of task lighting. ACCENT LIGHTING In the third and final layer, accent lights are used to highlight artwork, furniture or architectural features. Conversely, they can also be used to draw the eye away from less-pleasing parts of a house. This layer is also used to purposely create shadows, which can add drama to a room, or to help hide features or items at night. Every homeowner has unique tastes and items they are proud of showcasing. Picture lights, directed track lights and uplights all fall into this category. Sometimes the lights themselves are the accent, with a number of pieces of illuminated art in the form of glass lamps and lanterns. Classic Tiffany lamps offer colour as well as a certain ambience to a room. "Lights can create different effects when done right," says Rourke. "I always suggest to my clients that they can go outside the box and have fun experimenting with light." http://www.timescolonist.com/life/Creative+lighting+interior+design/3928193/story.html |
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