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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