1) What will that area be used for?
Your activities are the deciding factor on the type of
lighting you will need. The three main types of lights are:
+ Ambient (or general) lighting provides the area’s main
illumination.
+ Task lighting is used to focus light on areas where
specific activities are carried out, such as cooking or homework.
+ Accent lighting is A decorative light to emphasize on
certain features in a room, like an art piece.
Choose a suitable mix of these lights for all areas in your
home.
2) What is the mood you want to create?
This boils down to the color temperature of the lights used
in the room. For example, a cool white light of 4,000 kelvins (light
measurement unit) is appropriate for the living room, and a warmer colored
light of 3,000 kelvins is best suited for the rest areas so you there is a
sense of cosines. Plan out rest and work zones and then decide on where the
warm and cool lights should go.
3) Whose using the room?
The members of your household may have different perceptions
of lighting. An older person’s perception of the brightness of a room is much
dimmer than that of a younger person. So install dimmer switches for your light
fixtures if you live in a multi-generational home. In this way, the light
intensity can be easily adjusted depending on the user.
4) How will the room be designed?
+ Floor and surface finishes all influence the amount of
light you need. These factors can swallow or reflect what light you have, so
choose carefully.
+ Ceiling height impacts the way you illuminate the room.
With higher ceilings, higher wattage lights can be spaced further apart.
+ Walls that are dark-colored or those with finishes such as
cement screed, stone or raw brick tend to absorb light. White or glazed tiled
walls will reflect light, making the room appear brighter.
Other points to consider:
+ Color rendering
Color rendering is the ability of the light to replicate the
colors of objects seen in ideal lighting conditions (i.e. daylight). You’d
notice skin tones looking duller under fluorescent lighting, and this is due to
its lower color rendering index (CIR). Incandescent lights have a CIR of 100,
which makes the surroundings appear more natural. Lighting experts recommend
incandescent lights for ideal home lighting.
+ Glare control
Glare controls usually come in the form of reflectors, diffuses
or shades.
Ultimately, home lighting is personal and subjective, you
decide if you want to live in a dark, moody cave or a brightly-lit abode!
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