Page 46 - Indulge April/May 2016
P. 46
| indulge • april/may 2016 Almost any room can be transformed into a picturesque space by lighting
it based on its architectural makeup and focusing on its aesthetic
features and blind spots. According to the American Lighting Association,
appropriate interior lighting will diminish shadows, accentuate textures
and draw attention to just the right areas.
Until relatively recently, conventional lighting techniques relied
on a select few types of lighting to effectively layer the lighting in
a room. Now LED lighting — deemed safer, sturdier and more
durable than CFL light bulbs by the Department of Energy — is
becoming a go-to lighting source for all areas of the home.
Three layers of light
Layered lighting makes use of three main lighting functions:
general, accent and task lighting. A wide wash of light is usually
exerted by a ceiling light for general illumination.
A decorative layer of light might come from sconces or a table
lamp. For specific tasks, pendants and undercabinet lighting are a
couple of examples of appropriate lighting. The concept of layering the
three lighting types remains true, but the idea behind layering itself is
changing as much as the light sources themselves are.
Shine on your preferences
A constant in any residential lighting project is making sure it results
in an area in which you will actually want to spend your time, says Terry
McGowan, ALA director of engineering.
To guarantee that you enjoy a room, the lighting should be easy to navigate
and easy on the eyes. This is usually the job of ambient (general) lighting. To
complement all-purpose lighting, LED lights have traditionally been used in the
subsequent layers of accent and task lighting. It is with accent lighting that LED
lights may be the most useful.
For example, “track lighting is often used for accent lighting so the lighted
area can be easily adjusted in size, color or direction,” says McGowan. “Note
that some new types of LED track lighting can be adjusted by hand to change
the color or size of the light beam, and there are even fixture types with built-in
adjusting systems that can be operated by a remote control or a cell phone app.
“For all layers,” McGowan continues, “consider controls that not only turn the
lighting on and off, but dim it as well. LEDs can be easily dimmed, and, almost as
easily, their color can be controlled so that the lighting can match the time of day or
the preferred appearance of the space.”
Using adjustable lights ensures that a room can uphold a unique design element,
yet will not be overly flooded with light.
it based on its architectural makeup and focusing on its aesthetic
features and blind spots. According to the American Lighting Association,
appropriate interior lighting will diminish shadows, accentuate textures
and draw attention to just the right areas.
Until relatively recently, conventional lighting techniques relied
on a select few types of lighting to effectively layer the lighting in
a room. Now LED lighting — deemed safer, sturdier and more
durable than CFL light bulbs by the Department of Energy — is
becoming a go-to lighting source for all areas of the home.
Three layers of light
Layered lighting makes use of three main lighting functions:
general, accent and task lighting. A wide wash of light is usually
exerted by a ceiling light for general illumination.
A decorative layer of light might come from sconces or a table
lamp. For specific tasks, pendants and undercabinet lighting are a
couple of examples of appropriate lighting. The concept of layering the
three lighting types remains true, but the idea behind layering itself is
changing as much as the light sources themselves are.
Shine on your preferences
A constant in any residential lighting project is making sure it results
in an area in which you will actually want to spend your time, says Terry
McGowan, ALA director of engineering.
To guarantee that you enjoy a room, the lighting should be easy to navigate
and easy on the eyes. This is usually the job of ambient (general) lighting. To
complement all-purpose lighting, LED lights have traditionally been used in the
subsequent layers of accent and task lighting. It is with accent lighting that LED
lights may be the most useful.
For example, “track lighting is often used for accent lighting so the lighted
area can be easily adjusted in size, color or direction,” says McGowan. “Note
that some new types of LED track lighting can be adjusted by hand to change
the color or size of the light beam, and there are even fixture types with built-in
adjusting systems that can be operated by a remote control or a cell phone app.
“For all layers,” McGowan continues, “consider controls that not only turn the
lighting on and off, but dim it as well. LEDs can be easily dimmed, and, almost as
easily, their color can be controlled so that the lighting can match the time of day or
the preferred appearance of the space.”
Using adjustable lights ensures that a room can uphold a unique design element,
yet will not be overly flooded with light.
