Pendants light fixtures hang from the ceiling can be used to provide general or task illumination, depending on how they are finished off. The bulb can be covered with translucent globes for diffused ambient illumination that radiates throughout the room, or trained in a specific direction with shaped shades for task lighting. Small pendants can be used at various points in a room, or even grouped together, for more illumination and for their combined decorative effect. They can be all the same or related in terms of color or styling.

Chandeliers light fixtures, which are pendants with branches that hold bulbs (or in some cases, candles) as well as decorative ornamentation, are the most dramatic type of ceiling fixtures. The quality of light produced varies with the number, type , and strength of the bulbs, the style of the fixture (some have many branches or sport individual shades over each bulb), and whether or not the fixture is equipped with a dimmer. A chandelier is the focal point of the space or room it occupies and must be chosen accordingly.

Downlights are minimal ceiling light fixtures that are inconspicuously mounted on or in the ceiling to cast light directly down on a surface. They can be surface mounted, recessed, partially recessed, and used to provide all three types of lighting, but are particularly effective at focal illumination. The beam of light downlights emit can vary in width, depending on the shape of the fixture and type of bulb that is used; recessed lighting produces the narrowest beam. Downlights are often used over work counters for task lighting, or to accent or emphasize a particular area or feature of a room. While they are ideal for low ceilings where pendant lights would be unsuitable, fully recessed lighting requires a half-foot of space above the ceiling to accommodate the fixture and provide proper ventilation.

Spotlights, like downlights, are minimal fixtures that are available in a wide variety of shapes and styles, but they are extremely adjustable and are used to focus on, or emphasize, specific spots in a space. They can be installed or mounted on walls, floors, ceilings, or standing polls, set in tracks, or used individually with clips for greatest flexibility. They are best for accent lighting, as the bulb and fixture are designed to work together to give a precise, controlled beam of light that can be tilted, swiveled, or angled to wherever it is needed. However, in large, open spaces, spotlights can be used for general illumination by positioning them to create overlapping pools of light. This technique produces ambient lighting that is a bit more interesting than the uniform level of illumination provided by basic ceiling and pendant light fixtures.

Track lighting is often referred to as its own type of lighting, but it is actually a combination of spotlighs and downlights installed in a flexible arrangement on a ceiling-mounted track. Track lighting can be used for general, task, and accent lighting because it is possible to swivel, rotate, or point the individual lighting fixtures in any direction; often, the same track incorporates all three types of illumination. Track lighting comes in two forms. Some tracks are fixed and come with specific light fixtures already attached, while others are merely free-form power lines that can be used to anchor a number of types of fixtures along its length.

Uplights work best in rooms with high ceilings, where they make an ideal source for general illumination. Uplights can use the ceiling as a giant reflector to create a softly diffused ambient light in a space, provided the ceiling is painted white or a light color (dark colors absorb light). The height of an uplight determines the intensity and quality of the light it yields as it reflects off the ceiling; those close to the ceiling produce a concentrated light, while those that are lower produce light that is softly diffused. In general, the greater the distance between the uplight and the ceiling, the greater the area illuminated.

Lamps usually consist of a base or stand that supports a socket, the bulb, and a shad. The power cord is concealed by the base, and the shade and substance of the shade determine the quality and quantity of light the lamp emits. The beauty and versatility of the lamps lie in this simple design, for the base and shade can be made of myriad materials, take virtually any form, and be rendered in any decorative style. Also, the shade can direct the light of the bulb in any direction, though most focus the light downward to create a softly diffused pool of illumination. The wider the shade, the broader the pool of illumination.

Once you know the types of illumination needed in a room, it is possible to select the suitable light fixtures and lamps. While it isn’t necessary to master the complex calculations of the professional designer, a working familiarity with the different types of lights and fixtures is helpful in making an informed choice. Consider the quality of light each fixtures gives off, its aesthetic appearance, how sturdy it is, and the type of light it emits. Also keep in mind that no light can serve every purpose or meet every need.

Lighting fixtures come in every form, shape, size, and style imaginable, and are made of myriad materials. In fact, the possibilities are endless; and there is no such thing as one right choice. However, all these options boil down to three general categories and, when lighting a space, it is usually necessary to choose fixtures from each of these groups to create schemes that balance function with aesthetics.

The following are a couple of popular lighting fixtures. To read more about them, you can click on the following sub-topics.

• Freestanding Lighting Fixtures
• Ceiling Lighting Fixtures
• Wall-Mounted Lighting Fixtures

]]> http://perfectlightfixtures.com/lighting-fixtures/finding-the-perfect-lighting-fixtures/feed/ 0 http://perfectlightfixtures.com/lighting-fixtures/what-to-consider-when-planning-a-lighting-scheme-for-a-room/ http://perfectlightfixtures.com/lighting-fixtures/what-to-consider-when-planning-a-lighting-scheme-for-a-room/#comments Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:18:35 +0000 Kenny http://perfectlightfixtures.com/?p=65 The following are a couple of points which you can refer when planning the lighting scheme for a room. Besides, there are also questions which you can ask yourself when planning the lighting scheme. If you can find answer the questions, then you definitely will have a clearer view of what lighting fixtures to use.

Activities: The questions you can ask are what activities are being carried out in the room, and where will each specific action take place?

Highlights: What features in the room need emphasis? Are there any stunning architectural elements, such as magnificent mantels or intricate ceilings, that should be bathed in light to show them off.

Deficits: What needs to be concealed? Faults, such as ugly architectural ornamentation or badly plastered walls, should not be emphasized with light.

Ambience: What is the desired mood for the room? Dramatic or soothing? Businesslike or cheery and bright? The choice dictates the intensity and positioning of the light sources in the room.

Balance: Should the entire room be brightly lit or would pockets of brightness and shadow be desirable? If the latter, make sure these pockets balance each other and do not detract from the from the room’s functionality.

Flexibility: To accommodate different activities in the room, make sure the level of general illumination is adequate and employ free-standing light fixtures that can be moved at will.

Variety: A lighting plan that uses all the same light fixtures or lamps can be both boring and inadequate, as it is unlikely that one type of item can satisfy all requirements. Use a diversity of light sources in a room, and choose attractive and creative options.

Decorative style: Make sure the light fixtures complement or match the decorative style of a room. If a light source is particularly stunning in itself, such as an intricate chandelier or an artist-made lamp, it can even be the focal point of the space.

In conclusion, do take your time to sort out the above mentioned points before installing any light fixtures. It’s not that complicated of a task, and the only thing you need to do is answer some questions asked above and there you go, you will have a rough idea of what to do for the lighting scheme.

]]> http://perfectlightfixtures.com/lighting-fixtures/what-to-consider-when-planning-a-lighting-scheme-for-a-room/feed/ 0 http://perfectlightfixtures.com/lighting-fixtures/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-a-light-fixture/ http://perfectlightfixtures.com/lighting-fixtures/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-a-light-fixture/#comments Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:27:09 +0000 Kenny http://perfectlightfixtures.com/?p=62 To get the most out of a light fixture, position it optimally with regard to its purpose. For instance, a pendant fixture intended to provide ambient or background illumination casts a broader path of light the closer it is to the ceiling, but if it is meant to provide task lighting, it must be set lower. Here are some lighting fixture guidelines in which you can follow:

Lamps used for reading: Both floor lamps and table lamps next to chairs have the same requirements. The bottom of the light fixture should be about 40 inches to 42 inches above the floor, which is slightly below eye level for a seated reader of average height. Lamps behind chairs should be taller; the distance from the floor to the base of the light fixture should be minimum of 47 inches. The lamp should be placed approximately 10 inches behind shoulder of the reader. Next to beds, the base of a lampshade should be 20 inches above the pillow.

Task lighting: The height of light fixtures and lamps varies by task, but rules of thumb are available. A pendant fixture should be about 30 inches above the top of a dining table, but if a room is over 8 feet tall, add 3 inches per foot above 8 feet to this figure. Light sources used for light-intensive tasks, such as working, writing, sewing, drawing or working with tools, should be 14 to 15 inches above the center of the work, which should be positioned 10 inches to 14 inches in front of the worker.

Wall-mounted light fixtures: Heights vary and depend on the way the light fixture is designed and the height and size of the wall, but, in general, they should be placed above eye level. They should also be fairly flat, not protruding more than 4 inches from a wall, unless they are placed well above the level where they can be bumped by heads (which is at least 80 inches above the floor).

Track-lighting: The beauty of this type of lighting is its flexibility; the light fixtures can be moved along the track to where they are needed and positioned at any angle to become a downlight, sportlight, or accent light for art and collectibles. To accent an item on a wall, position the fixtures at a 30-degree angle.

Just consider all the activities that take place in this room, from reading, writing and watching television to rummaging around for what to wear and dressing. All these activities, save sleeping, require a specific source of light and if two people are sharing the space, it calls for sources of light that are flexible enough to be adjusted to two activities at once. For instance, if one person wants to read or must get dressed while the other is sleeping, the lighting in the room should be deftly planned to accommodate such subtle or specialized adjustments. All this reinforces the idea that a bedroom needs both general illumination and task lighting. Often, accent lighting also comes into play as a decorative element.

So where to start? In fact, the traditional ceiling hung or mounted fixture is entirely inappropriate in the bedroom for many reasons. In this particular room, points of activity tend to be suited around the perimeter of the room rather than anchored in the center. Beds are usually positioned against the walls rather than in the center of a bedrooms; a reading area is often incorporated into the bed set-up with task lighting or sequestered in intimate corners with the aid of easy chairs and lamps; and dressers or bureaus are also placed against walls. All this necessitates lighting sources that are tied to the layout of the room and the needs of its users. Also, if there are translucent shades or drapes in a bedroom, ceiling mounted light fixtures can unwittingly silhouette intimate moments.

Ultimately, because of the nature of the bedroom and its most important activity, namely sleeping, this is one area of the home where flexibility is paramount. So it pays to increase the variability of light sources in the space by outfitting them all with dimmer switches. To read in bed, besides typical bedsides lamps, swing-arm light fixture can be mounted to the wall, or for the most maneuverability, affixed directly to the bedpost with screw-tightened vises so they can ride up and down for the best positioning. Or consider spotlights or reading lamps on clips that can be used on a headboard or bed frame. And finally, don’t forget to have two main light switches in the room: one by the door and one by the bed, since there is nothing more irritating than getting out of bed when you’re almost asleep to turn off the lights.

Just as lighting draws attention to actors on a stage, it must highlight and accommodate the various parts of the set in these sorts of rooms. At the same time, the lighting must play up the room’s best asset. It is necessary to focus adequate amounts of the right kind of light on various furniture groupings and, at the same time, complement and enhance he décor of the room. Reconciling these needs requires a combination of the three types of lighting (namely, general, task, and accent lighting).

In dining areas or those portions of multipurpose spaces that are used for dining, the chandelier is still the fixture of choice for good reason. Not only it is suitable and often even superior source of light, it is an exceptional decorative asset that can go a long way toward expressing the specific style of a room. A frothy crystal version adds elegance and grandeur to a space, while a rustic wrought-iron fixture can convey intimacy and warmth. Today, pendant fixtures are available in a broad range of styles and are used with the same frequency as the chandelier.

It is important to keep several considerations in mind when selecting a hanging light fixture for a dining area. The light fixture should complement the size and shape of the dining table as well as the décor of the room. Before electricity was commonplace, such lamps were fitted with candles and hung high over a table to eliminate the danger of fire, but now, a hanging fixture should be suspended about 30 inches (762 millimeters) above the table. If the light fixture has an open shade and bare bulbs, it should be suspended as high as necessary to avoid harsh glare in diners’ eyes, or a bulb with a silvered crown should be used to reduce glare. Also, the diameter of a hanging light should be at least a foot shorter than the table below it, and when the ceiling height is over 8 feet (2.4 meters), balance the space by raising the light fixture 3 inches (76.2 millimeters) for every additional foot of ceiling space. Tame dramatic but too-dazzling pendant fixtures and chandeliers with a dimmer control.

Finally, remember that no rule dictates the use of a hanging fixture. Recessed cans or tracks equipped with down lights can also be used to adequately light a dining table, which can be accented with flickering candles to change the ambience or mood.

Few of us realize all this when setting out to light our living areas. Traditionally, a standard-issue lighting plan has evolved for each of the public spaces in our homes. The living room contains several seating or activity areas, as it is a multipurpose space for most of us, and these are generally lit with floor lamps. An additional form of general illumination is usually present overhead, either in the form of tracks, a central ceiling fixture, or recessed cans. In dining areas, the dramatic pendant fixture or chandelier reigns supreme. In bedrooms, the bed or an easy chair off to one side is usually flanked with reading lamps, while the entire room is illuminated with a ceiling fixture. While this standard approach is tempting, it is not the most effective way to light a room.

In a perfect world, we would be able to address the lighting needs of a room before it is furnished, or even while its blueprints are still in on the drawing board, but in reality, it is impossible for most of us to start from scratch. We move in and out of residences with more frequency than ever before, sometimes physically altering them by installing the sort of lighting we need when we get there. Often, we address immediate lighting needs with store-bought fixtures, yet carefully planned alterations to lighting at any stage can radically improve a room from both a functional and an aesthetic perspective. When those rooms are the ones we use most of the time, these changes become even more meaningful.

Environmental psychologists evaluate the stimuli that must be processed in a room by those using it, which is relevant to how a space should be lit. Rooms that are crowded, asymmetrical, disorderly, unconventional or unfamiliar have a lot of stimuli and are considered high load, while rooms that are straightforward, symmetrical, conventional, familiar, and organized are less arousing and are considered low load. Tasks are gauged in the same way. Doing something demanding, such as reading a challenging book or writing a complex essay, is a high load task, while tasks that are simple or routine, such as paying bills or cleaning the house, are low-load tasks. Lower-load tasks require higher-load settings for optimum performance, and vice versa. Lighting can be used to increase or decreased stimulation by creating an emotional setting in a room that affects the performance of tasks. In fact, the proportions of the three types of lighting (background illumination, task lighting, and accent lighting) determine the emotional content of a room.

A space lighted with a large proportion of background illumination, evenly diffused, and a small amount of focused task lighting or decorative accent lighting, is a low contrast, low-stimulation space that is behaviorally neutral, as it is minimally stimulating. This type of environment is ideal for performing visual tasks such as reading or working. But too much diffuse light produces a boring, shadowless environment, which can evoke psychological reaction experienced on a cloudy day.

A space lighted with a small amount of diffuse light and a larger amount of focal light is a high-contrast environment featuring strong patterns of light and shade. This type of lighting plan increases stimulation and is intended to evoke specific moods and emotions. A room lit in this manner can also dominate the people in it; the contrast produces visual direction and focus by directing their attention and holding their interest.

Overall, people need lower-loaded settings for difficult, complex tasks or to feel contended, comfortable, and relaxed, and higher-loaded spaces for casual, pleasant activities or socializing, as a high degree of contrast encourages participation and stimulates enjoyment.

Window treatments
Window treatments have a huge impact on light and can be used to manipulate the mood in a room. Translucent drapes which filter natural light and produce a diffused effect, come in many weights and should be chosen with regard to the property. Slatted blinds offer optimum light control, ranging from total transparency to full screening and also create dramatic patterns of light and shade they are opened at various angles.

More than one light sources
If there are several light sources in a room and you are unhappy with the overall effect, change the bulbs, which may be too bright or too dim for their surroundings. If a light fixtures or lamp emits too much glare, replace its standard bulb with a reflector bulb.

Changing the light in a room
To change the lighting in a room, change the shades in a fixture. Translucent materials allow more light into a room, which makes it seem brighter, while darker shades can glow softly when the light is turned on, lending drama to the space.

To imbue a space with color
The purpose of doing this is to create a specific mood. The way to do it is to bathe a white wall with a washer fitted with a colored filter. Before doing this, research the psychological effect of the intended color. Yellow is cheery hue that promotes feelings of well-being and increase efficiency. Blue is a soothing hue that calms nerves and induces sleep. Red is stimulating and dynamic and enhances the action wherever it is used. Green is a harmonious color that reminds us of nature and can be warm, refreshing and earthy. Purple can be calming or exciting, depending on whether it leans more toward blue or red.

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