Home lighting 101

An effective way to maximize the appearance and functionality of your space is to use several light fixtures or lamps jointly. These light sources can help balance a room by minimizing reflections and shadows while adding depth and dimension. Using this approach also helps make a room as versatile as possible. It’s important to have a well-conceived lighting plan from the get-go to help make a space suitable for the activities that take place there.

General or ambient lighting:

General lighting is the most widely used of the four types of lighting. It provides overall lighting for your space while offering a comfortable level of brightness without glare. Ambient lighting can be generated by chandeliers, ceiling lights, wall sconces, track lighting, recessed fittings and even table or floor lamps. It’s essential to set up a central source of light in all rooms to establish a good lighting plan. Ambient lighting forms the basis on which you can add other types of lighting.

Work lighting:

Work lighting shines light on areas of a room where everyday activities such as reading, studying, cooking or applying makeup take place. In order to enjoy better lighting, avoid visual fatigue and be at your most effective, work lighting should be free of any reflections and shadows. Such a lighting scheme can be achieved by installing recessed fittings, track lighting, single pendant lights above the island or sink, linear or ring light fixtures under cabinets, wall sconces above the bathroom vanity as well as desk lamps.

Accent lighting:

Whether it’s used as accent or directional lighting, this type of lighting highlights certain architectural objects or elements, such as plants, paintings, sculptures or carved cupboard doors. Accent lighting should never be a room’s focal point. Rather, it’s intended as a subtle source of light. Recessed fittings, track lighting, chandeliers with dimmers, under-cabinet lighting and wall sconces all provide accent lighting.

Decorative lighting:

Decorative lighting could be considered an art form. Thanks to the many choices of decorative glass and fabric lamps and light fixtures, decorative lighting adds a style of its own as well as the finishing touch to your room. In fact, you can change a space’s ambience simply by adding such a decorative flourish. Keep in mind that, for the sake of functionality, this type of lighting must be used in combination with other types of lighting.

Here is the magic formula for determining the wattage required with respect to the size of your room:

If your room has a ceiling height of eight feet, the multiplication factor is 1.5.

If your room has a ceiling height of nine feet, the multiplication factor is 2.5.

If your room has a ceiling height of ten feet, the multiplication factor is 3.5. And so on.

If your room is 12 feet by 16 feet: 12 x 16 = 192.

Then, 192 X the multiplication factor = number of watts required.

Example: 192 X 1.5 = 288 watts.

Feeling enlightened yet?

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