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Bath, Kitchen & Whole House Inside and Outside

Lighting

Lighting can make a big difference in the interior environment of your home. Good lighting used properly helps you to see better and perform tasks more easily. It also provides safety, security and a sense of comfort. Lighting and lighting controls also provide you with the flexibility to adjust and adapt the mood and ambiance of your home.

Lighting fixtures are ideal, and often inexpensive, accessories to supplement the interior design of your home. With an unlimited range of styles, shapes, colors and sizes, lighting fixtures can add sparkle and a final, finishing touch to your décor.

Properly used lighting should complement your lifestyle and meet your family's needs. When planning your home's lighting, keep these tips in mind:

· Identify the activities that occur in each room (reading, food preparation, hobby work, grooming, laundry, homework, etc.).

· Identify the mood or ambiance that you want to create in each space.

· Identify any decorative elements you wish to emphasize, such as artwork or wall textures.

· Identify areas with dark wall colors and finishes. These areas absorb more light than those with lighter finishes, so supplemental lighting may be required.

Kitchen

Today's kitchen, the center of family activity, wins hands-down as the modern home's busiest room. Lighting requirements depend on the size and complexity of the kitchen space. While the kitchen is primarily a work area, it may also be used for dining or as a gathering place for family and friends. Small kitchens may require only a central ceiling fixture and task lighting tucked under a cabinet. More elaborate kitchens will demand a blend of general, task and accent lighting.

Featured Article: A Recipe for Great Kitchen Lighting

Lighting Techniques for the Kitchen

For lighting in the center of the ceiling, a large, surface fluorescent provides the most light for the least cost. Look for fixtures with the ENERGY STAR label. These fixtures are the most energy-efficient, and they use fluorescent bulbs that are rated very high in color rendering, which means that colors and people will look their best.

General lighting can also be achieved with either recessed lighting or a central, decorative chandelier. Recessed lighting is best placed around the perimeter of the room and approximately 30" away from the wall. Chandeliers can be used in addition to other lighting in the space. In the kitchen, it is best to use chandeliers with semi-transparent glass shades instead of fabric shades because the glass is much easier to clean.

Undercabinet lighting will quickly and easily illuminate your countertops. It is available in a variety of choices, including slim, energy-efficient fluorescents, miniature track lights and low-voltage linear systems.

Place undercabinet fixtures at the front of your cabinet – not against the wall – so the light will be distributed evenly over the area below.

Also, consider putting your undercabinet lighting on a dimmer separate from other lighting in your kitchen. The different levels of light can add depth and dramatic impact to your space, and dimming is an easy way to save energy.

Over the sink or range, recessed downlights assure even illumination. Install them to create adequate task lighting for cooking, baking and scouring pots and pans.

Today's recessed fixtures are available with a variety of trims, including metallic, so you can add a bit of flair as well as function. Plus, not all recessed fixtures are round! Square downlights have gained popularity with homeowners searching for a unique design look.

An alternative to recessed lights is a track or rail system, which may be preferable if you are remodeling and do not have easy access to the space above the kitchen.

Lighting over the kitchen table is multipurpose – used for dining, homework, hobbies or family business. A decorative pendant will provide sufficient task lighting while also adding a touch of style and personality to your space.

Mount pendant fixtures 30" above the table top. If your table is round, the fixture should ideally be 12" narrower than the diameter of the table. For square and rectangular tables, choose a fixture that is 12" narrower than the smallest side.

Consider installing a dimming system so you can lower the light for ambiance during dining and entertaining.

Island counters and breakfast bars demand a combination of task and general lighting. A very good solution is to add a group of miniature pendants.

Mount each pendant so that the bottom of the shade is approximately 66" above the floor so it is possible to look across the room below the pendants. If the shades are not very deep and there is seating at the kitchen island or peninsula, install the pendants a few inches lower (60" above the floor).

In general, you should install one pendant for every two feet of counter space and try to use an odd number of pendants to create better balance. Thin, narrow pendants, however, might look more pleasing with the addition of one or two extra fixtures.

Cabinets provide excellent opportunities for a layer of accent lighting in the kitchen.

If your cabinets have glass fronts, consider installing a low-voltage linear system or LED downlights or strips inside to highlight your china or collectibles.

Add lighting to the spaces above and below your cabinets to give a more upscale look and create the illusion of more space. A variety of light sources can be used to illuminate these cove and toe-kick spaces, including LED strips.

Be sure to place the light source as far away from the wall as possible to provide the most even illumination.

Bathroom

More spacious and multifunctional than ever before, the once-utilitarian bathroom has evolved into a private retreat for relaxation, escape and self-indulgence. The right lighting can make a bathroom even more gracious.

Whether built new or recently remodeled, bathrooms today demand intricate lighting solutions. Task lighting must be bright enough to do its job, but also work well with indirect accent lighting to soften the room's ambiance and provide a warm glow. Decorative and ornate light fixtures and lamps provide elegance and sophistication. Shower light brighten up enclosed stalls. Reading lamps by the toilet provide more focused light.

Lighting Techniques for the Bathroom

For small mirrors, decorative wall fixtures placed on each side of the mirror will provide the even, shadow-free facial illumination necessary for daily grooming tasks. For best results, mount fixtures at least 28" apart and 60" off the floor.

Newer techniques of bathroom lighting even include using small pendants on either side of the mirror.

For large mirrors, a strip of horizontal vanity lights will ensure that each person has sufficient light. Mount the strip 78" off the floor. The best lighting solution is achieved with fixtures that include a shade for each bulb.

Also add a dimmer to your vanity light. You will be amazed at how often you will use it and how much comfort it adds to the use of your bathroom.

Shower and tub lighting should be bright enough for cleaning, shaving and reading shampoo labels. Choose recessed downlights designed for use in wet areas. Shielded fixtures will protect reclining bathers' eyes from glare.

An adjustable accent light aiming from outside the tub is dramatic, glare-free and great for those who bring books to the bath.

Juno Lighting Group
Undercabinet lighting can make middle-of-the-night trips to the bathroom safer and easier. Install a low-voltage linear lighting or LED system in the toe spaces beneath the vanities and cabinets.

Consider installing an occupancy sensor wall switch so the lights come on when you need them and switch off when not in use to save energy.

In the center of the ceiling, a decorative light fixture that blends with the rest of your decor provides an elegant touch while providing adequate light for safety, cleaning and moving about. It also balances the brightness of other bathroom lights.

Ceiling mount fixtures, small chandeliers and decorative vent fans with integrated lighting are a few of the options for modern bathrooms.

Separate toilet compartments require local lighting. A single recessed downlight or surface fixture installed over the commode provides good light for water closet reading. The surface fixture will provide a general quality of light, while the recessed downlight will provide a concentrated light.

Setting the Scene: Put Your Outdoor Living Space in the Best Light

Curb appeal is essential, whether you are selling or buying a home, or giving a warm welcome to friends and family. According to the American Lighting Association (ALA), consumers should look for outdoor lighting products in a family of sizes so they can maintain a theme throughout their residence.

“When people are looking to upgrade their outdoor lighting, starting with the front of the house usually helps guide them through the complete outdoor lighting package,” explains Toby Boyd of Philips Professional Luminaires, which manufactures the Philips HADCO Landscape and Hanover Lantern lines. “Remember, when guests visit, the first thing they notice when they arrive is the front of the home – and it’s also the last thing they see when they leave.”

In choosing a new lighting package, size is as important as style and color. As a rule of thumb, if only one fixture is going to be used at the entrance, Boyd recommends it measures one-third the height of the door. If installing two fixtures, make each about one-quarter the size of the door.

However, the key to good illumination is not only the size of the fixture, according to Joe Rey-Barreau, education consultant for the ALA and an associate professor at the University of Kentucky’s School of Interior Design. “Size is most important for aesthetic reasons,” he explains, adding, “Any outdoor lantern should be rated for a minimum of 75 watts of incandescent or 20 watts of compact fluorescent lighting. If there are fixtures on either side of the door, these recommendations would apply to both lanterns.”

Complete your front yard lighting scheme with pathway and area fixtures that illuminate the walkway for safety. “Subtlety is key here,” Boyd emphasizes. “You do not want it to appear as if you are lighting an airport runway. Staggering the lights on each side of the walkway will help accomplish this.”

To maintain the aesthetic, do not opt for the pathway lighting kits from mass merchants. The solar- and LED-powered models sold there might seem like a bargain, but the light output is not adequate.

“Because LED is such a new and developing technology, the lower-cost products also tend to be low quality,” Rey-Barreau explains. “I’d strongly recommend consumers visit a lighting showroom where they can see a wider variety of models and styles plus evaluate the quality of the light.” At many ALA-member lighting showrooms, educated employees can show how the fixture will look in realistic settings.

Boyd agrees. “The rule of thumb differs for the front door compared to the fixtures used to illuminate landscaping around the home. The entryway focuses on style, size and color based on the theme you want to project. When lighting landscape applications, however, seeing what the fixture does at night is more important than seeing the fixture in the light of day,” he says.

Consulting with an ALA-accredited lighting specialist will yield maximum results because they will determine what is most important to you – such as patio, deck or pool area lighting or highlighting landscape features. “Some homeowners want a particular tree, statue or fountain to be the focal point,” Boyd says. A lighting professional will make sure there are ample light levels for every aspect.

Finding the Right Style for Your Home

With backyard “rooms” becoming a common way of extending living space, the lines are blurring between indoor and outdoor styles for furniture and lighting. Similarly, al fresco dining is more popular than ever and the addition of fireplaces and gas heaters has led to year-round enjoyment. As a result, the latest exterior lighting fixtures are designed to complement their interior counterparts, allowing homeowners to create a uniform appearance inside and out.

“As a general trend, cleaner looks are being seen across all styles – not just in contemporary collections,” says James Thomas, senior designer for Progress Lighting, a division of Hubbell, manufacturer of outdoor and landscape fixtures. “Today’s fixtures have less fluting and detail, and highlight more of a simplified style. Many companies are starting to offer versatile fixtures that can be used indoors as well as outdoors. For example, Progress Lighting’s new Parker model can be used with end caps if placed outside, but the top and bottom can be removed for indoor use as a wall sconce.”

Can Energy-Efficient Lighting Look Attractive?

By now many homeowners have replaced at least one incandescent bulb in their homes with a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), and some have done the same outside.

“The choices in CFL bulbs today require decisions about shape, color and light output,” Rey-Barreau says. “An outdoor lantern should have no less than 20-watt capacity for a CFL source, but those colors range from a visually warm color to a very visually cold hue. It is best to always choose the warm colors for residential applications because it more closely matches the incandescent lighting in other parts of the house.”

The shape is a major consideration only if the bulb can be seen. If that’s the case, search for a CFL bulb that is in the familiar shape of a typical incandescent (this is referred to as an A-lamp). This type has the same relative efficiencies as the spiral shape, but has a covering over the spiral that makes it resemble an incandescent. You might not find this variety at a home center, but most lighting stores have it.

Additionally, many light fixtures are designed to hide the bulb. “Energy-efficient outdoor fixtures are available in many styles. Manufacturers typically use different glass patterns – such as frosted, antique distressed or seeded – to disguise the outline of the CFL,” Thomas adds. “There are also fixtures that offer more room to fit both a CFL or incandescent bulb, combined with a glass treatment, so consumers can choose which type of light source they want to use.”

If the light cast by CFLs and LEDs is not appealing to you, Thomas suggests using low-voltage halogen systems, daylight sensors and timers, which all provide ways for consumers to reduce energy consumption. “Because these technologies can be used with a variety of fixtures, people still have the flexibility to determine which designs best fit their homes and preferences,” he says.