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What’s The Right Type Of Lighting For Rooms In Your Home by Bonnie P Carrier
General Lighting, Task Lighting, Accent Lighting are you a little confused when trying to decide what type of lighting should go where? The following break down of the three most common categories will shed some helpful light on the subject.
- Task Lighting: Task lighting focuses on a specific spot, such as the baking center, and makes working much more comfortable. This type of lighting is best achieved with a mix of sources, such as ceiling- or wall-mounted fixtures augmented with under-cabinet lighting. Position light sources so the worker's shadow isn't cast on the work surface. Because of their high light output and small size, compact fluorescent bulbs and halogen track lights work well for task lighting.
- General Lighting: General lighting is used to cast a comfortable level of brightness throughout the kitchen. It is best achieved with a mix of sources, such as a central ceiling-mounted fixture and recessed spotlights around the perimeter. Dark-color kitchens need more general lighting than bright-color rooms. To achieve adequate light levels using recessed can lights, allow one for every 20 to 25 square feet.
- Accent Lighting: Accent lighting is designed to spotlight a rooms best features. It can be used to highlight a painting or to bring out the texture of a wall. Effects are best achieved with track lights, recessed lights, and wall-mounted fixtures -- any beam that's stronger than the general lighting. Incorporate a dimmer to create a multitude of moods
Bulb Selector:
Many sizes and styles of bulbs can be found at a good electrical supply house, but most fall into one of three categories:
- Incandescent: Casts a warm, pleasant light and shows fabrics and paints in their true colors but can make the room uncomfortably warm if too many are used.
- Fluorescent: Compact versions that fit standard fixtures cost more than incandescents to buy but use only one-third the electricity. For kitchens, specify warm white (not cool white) tubes for best color rendition.
- Tungsten-halogen: This low-voltage incandescent bulb provides an intense beam that's ideal for spotlighting objects. They last longer and use less electricity than standard incandescents but cost more up front and produce lots of heat.
To recap:
- General Lighting is used to light an entire area most commonly done with some type of overhead fixture.
- Task Lighting is to illuminate a particular task done with under counter fixtures of table lamps.
- Accent Lighting is just that, to accent something in particular like a piece of art. This is done with track lighting or recessed ceiling lights that can then be positioned to shine on the intended object.
About The Author: Bonnie P. Carrier is the creator of Savvy Home Decorating - The Information Center. She is the mother to two grown daughters and a very spoiled Blue Merle Sheltie named Toby. www.savvy-home-decorating.com
This article is shareware. Give this article away for free on your site, or include it as part of any paid package as long as the entire article and author’s bio. is left intact including this notice. Copyright © 2007 bonnie carrier.
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