The lighting guide
January 19, 2009
By John Francis Power
There is nothing worse than a room which isn’t well lit. Having to squint over a book in your lounge or eat in semi-darkness in a poorly lit kitchen is frustrating and does your eyesight no favours either.
Thankfully, there are numerous ways of brightening up those problem rooms that are always lacking in light. If you don’t mind getting professional help to rewire a room, anything is possible in terms of new or additional light fixtures.
Ellen Duggan, joint managing director of Kilkenny-based Willie Duggan Lighting, says that getting your measurements for the room and lighting accordingly is very important. “It depends on the size of the room. How many lighting points you have is what you want to know as well.”
For the kitchen, lighting which facilitates cooking and cleaning while avoids being over powering is vital. An overhead fitting with multiple bulbs, such as the Multi Ball pendant from Bo Concept , can provide the central lighting for a kitchen.
Installing down lighters above workspaces and countertops will provide much needed light in areas that are stuck in the shade. So it is crucial that when planning a kitchen these electrical details are accounted for.
It is also a good idea to install a dimmer switch so that you can control the level brightness in your rooms. Ellen had this advice when choosing lighting for your kitchen: “Don’t get track lights because you will always be standing in your shadow.” If installing low voltage spotlights a good rule of thumb is one light for every 3-4sq metres of floor space.
If your bedroom needs brightening up a carefully placed lamp could just do the trick . Pallucco.net offers a range of lamps to suit a traditional bedroom, while Arclight has a selection of more modern, minimalist designs. Something as simple as a large well-placed mirror can also really enhance your bedroom’s atmosphere by reflecting light and making the room seem bigger in the daylight and adding drama to the shadows during the evening.
Of all the rooms in the house, the hall is usually the narrowest and most claustrophobic. With this in mind, proper lighting can make a hall appear airy and spacious. Or, in the case of the landing area, accentuate the height of your adjoining floors using a sculptural pendant or lights in a stair rail. A modern design such as the Radon wall lamp by www.funktionalley.com could be just the thing to brighten your hall.
You should also make as much use of natural light as you can. Sky-lights and glass-paneled doors will maximize light and save you money on your electricity bill!
As the place where you start your day with a shave or shower, ample bathroom lighting is important. Placing small light fixtures on each side of your bathroom mirror is a good way to improve functionality and ensure you don’t nick yourself while shaving or apply your make-up all wrong. Remember though that because of the amount of moisture in a bath or shower room it is advisable to check whether your light fixture are compliant with safety codes.
So whichever room’s lack of light is getting you down, it needn’t cost the world or take a huge effort to improve the situation. And you can be sure that doing so will brighten up your day in more ways than one.
Source book
http://www.williedugganlighting.com
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