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To adequately fill a room
with light, ambient and task lighting are needed. Ambient light
comes from a single source, like natural light, whereas task
lighting is used to light a specific area such as a desk, workbench,
reading chair or kitchen surface.
Adding a little light
to your respective living areas seems like a simple task, provided
that you consider some of the factors affecting which lamp fixture
you should buy.
How to Choose the Right
Lamp
Many people choose a lamp without first taking measurements and
considering both the style and the purpose of the lamp. Size,
brightness, and look are very important when purchasing any type
of home lighting, but lamp fixtures are especially particular
because they serve the dual purpose of providing light and decorating
the room. Before you go hunting for a new lamp, be prepared with
a few helpful hints.
The size of the lamp is
possibly the most important matter to determine. This is somewhat
dependent on how the lamp will be used.
Will this lamp sit on
the floor or on a table? Will it be used for reading? Where will
the lamp be positioned in the room? If the lamp is going to be
placed on a table, it must have the right proportions so that
the lamp shade does not overlap the edges of the table. This
not only prevents the lamp shade from being bumped, but also
allows for a few more objects to be placed on the table for display.
The materials and styles
of lamps are the most flexible options. The style of the lamp
does not have to completely match that of the room. As long as
the finish of the fixture is complimentary or matching to the
surface the lamp will rest on, the material can be chosen by
taste. To narrow the search, decide on a contemporary or traditional
style and proceed by finding the right size and proportion.
Picking the right lamp
fixture may be the final factor in the success of your home lighting.
Lamps are crucial decorative pieces that must provide the light
you need while tying the room design together. Take the time
to measure precisely and choose wisely.
Earlier we alluded to
the fact that there is specific lighting and fixtures available
for almost any task in the home. This month we're going to talk
about the most common lighting task at home: Reading
Lighting For Reading
The older we get, the
more we are prone to eyestrain, blurring vision and headaches
as a result of inadequate lighting while reading.
So, the first and primary
consideration is selecting a fixture that will provide the right
amount of illumination.
The rooms in your home
where you do most of your reading should have lighting that illuminates
the area in a general way that makes the room feel attractive
and inviting. Where possible, combine general light with directed
or task lighting. The lighting selected for reading should be
considered supplemental and an addition to the general lighting
used in the room.
Ambient or natural lighting
was originally used for providing simulated natural sunlight
to help with the growth of indoor plants. This natural lighting
is easy on the eyes, brings out the true colors of what it illuminates,
and relieves eyestrain.
The most common type of
ambient light is the incandescent bulb.
Most people do not realize
that the best type of directed lighting for reading is provided
by a gooseneck lamp. While a table lamp may be more attractive,
it has the disadvantages of not being able to direct the light
to where it is needed and, in general, is not adjustable. Lighting
manufacturers have gotten savvy to the need for designing and
manufacturing stylish and attractive gooseneck lamps and you
can find one to meet your own particular decorating tastes with
very little trouble.
Directed or task lighting
provided by a gooseneck lamp should be positioned behind your
reading chair or couch. The lamp should be positioned behind
you according to whether you are left or right handed to avoid
overshadowing as you read. Right-handed individuals should position
the lamp behind their left shoulder while left-handed persons
should do the opposite.
Many people find it relaxing
to read prior to falling asleep. There are some special considerations
to keep in mind if you are one of these people.
Many sleeping areas use
overhead lighting fixtures as their primary source of illumination.
First, overhead lighting in the bedroom usually doesn't provide
enough brightness to read comfortably and second, overhead lighting
provides too much overall room lighting for anyone getting ready
to go to sleep.
Here are a few suggestions.
· Use a small table
lamp positioned on your side of the bed making sure that the
shade is low enough to avoid glare.
· Use lamps that
are attached to a mechanism that can be swung into just the right
position over the reader (a variation on the gooseneck lamp).
· Use a floor lamp
with three-way bulbs to decrease the intensity of the illumination.
· Position a fixture
on the wall directly above the reader that will cast only enough
light to illuminate the book or other reading material.
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