Subtleand unobtrusive lighting produce the best results. Whether it is the home or office or the
business spot the lighting should neither be too bright nor too dim. It should
be invisible.
Residential
illumination is a special kind of its own. It demands personalization in social
spaces like the living room as well as in private spaces like the bed room. A
flick of a switch which turns darkness into light, can change a room from
romantic to dramatic, to relaxing and even
more energizing.
If
the lighting plan is effective, it helps integrate the entire visual
environment by creating an appealing ambience for the persons residing, there
and establishes guidelines to avoid visual chaos and fragmentation.
Illumination
that is concealed and placed carefully can make quality lighting an integral
part of aesthetics and an essential function of architecture.
The
home lighting is not just the conventional placement of wall lights, pendant
lights or chandeliers. The following
points had to be borne in mind and be followed for an effective lighting plan.
The
lighting illumination for the living room has to be in such a way that, it
should provide a relaxing and inviting space, by blending general and accent
lights, punctuated with task lights.
-
An adequate general illumination level should be established
-
Individual lighting arrangements should be made for highlighting art work,
plants and bar counter.
-
If an entire wall is illuminated with overhead fixtures, it will provide
background for room furnishings.
-
The decor can be enhanced and doubled up as accent lighting by using decorative
fixtures.
-
Architectural features like niches and mantels could be played up.
The
lighting in the dining room should be such that it should create an atmosphere
that elevates the mood of the diners and also flatters the food before them,
simultaneously it should be conducive to pleasure and conversation.
-
The visual emphasis has to be kept off
the ceilings and the wall. And it should
be focused on the décor of food and guests, with the help of ceiling
downlights.
-
Any meal can be given a special touch by placing candles and a few lamps in
decorative holders.
-
Special lighting emphasis should be offered to the service areas andchinaware/silverware.
The
kitchen illumination should be in such a way that it provides the right
combination of beauty, safety and comfort for the user.
-
The general lighting should be well distributed, uniform and as shadowless as
possible.
-
If fluorescent fixtures are used they reduce the energy consumption without
sacrificing illumination.
-
For counter tops, under cabinet task lighting is ideal.
-
Over the sink and cooking range, recess luminaries could be placed over.
-
If low voltage, mini lights are placed over under and inside cabinets, the
kitchen cabinets and be well accentuated.
Bed
room being an area of gentle and tender emotions, it should have a subtle aura,
helped by combination of general and task lighting with the overlay of accent
sources.
-
Downlights should be avoided over the bed for they are a direct source of
glare.
-
For reading at bedside, a table lamp or wall light may be placed on a swivel
adjustable arm.
-
The closet, the room within a room should be lighted up.
-
The uplighters always cut glare and wash the ceiling, providing soothing
ambient lighting.
-
Dimmers can be useful to play with the intensity of light as per the mood
required to be created.
The
best arrangement of lighting for the bath room will be a combination of general
and task illuminance.
-
If light sources are provided on either side of the mirror the shadow on the
face will be minimized.
-Lighting in the bathing area can have a soft glow.
-
The light fittings should be vapour proof and water tight.
-
The light fitting in these areas should neither impede circulation nor cause a
glare.
-
As these are transition spaces, intermediate illuminance levels could be
created.
-
For these areas, a two-way switch on either ends should be installed.
No comments:
Post a Comment