Page 6 - Ultimate Bath & Kitchen Planning Guide

DREAMING ABOUT NEW LIGHTING?
Types of Lighting
Understand the function of various types of lighting fixtures available and the direct effect they have on how you use your space and the feeling they give to the room.
LIGHTING
From providing the illumination you need to complete daily tasks, to setting the mood for a romantic dinner, lighting serves multiple purposes and has a deep impact on the design of your home. This means you will need several types of lighting in a complete lighting layout.
TASK LIGHTING
Task lighting is needed in the “working areas” of the home. The kitchen and bathroom benefit the most when the proper light is in place so there is no glare or shadows, and the light is bright enough to see easily without straining your eyes. Having a suitable lighting layout includes the positioning of the recessed lights based on the height of the cabinets.
GENERAL OR AMBIENT LIGHTING
General lighting fills spaces with a soft level of overall light. This level of illumination allows enough light to be able to use the space. Ambient light levels will change with time of day and season; the levels should let you enjoy the room without being too dimly lit or with too much glare.
ACCENT LIGHTING
Accent lighting is a requirement when you want to feature any design element in your space. Artwork and architectural details stand out when accent lighting is focused to draw attention to them.
FEATURE LIGHTING
The point where art and light collide is often found in the feature pieces selected for a home. Whether it is a grand entry chandelier or a stunning series of fixtures suspended over a table or island, these pieces are important to your home’s design in both form and function.
TipsforaFunctionalLightingLayout:
• Lighting control is key for customizing the levels of light in your space. With a dimmer, you’re in full control. Put the lights on full for cleaning up, then dim the light to 30 percent to create a comfortable mood.
• Know your light source, then select the proper dimmer or dimming system. Every dimmer does not work with every light source.
• When hanging a fixture over a table or island, the perfect height from the surface will often be between 30”-36” and will depend on the volume and style of the fixture.
• To make a statement: instead of using one chandelier over a table, think about a series of two to three pieces positioned over the table.
PAGE 4 ULTIMATE LIGHTING PLANNING GUIDE