VEILING REFLECTIONS, OR GLARE, ARE REFLECTIONS THAT PREVENT THE VIEWER FROM SEEING WHAT THEY NEED TO SEE

Fixture placement can cause glare or prevent glare

Glare can be caused by daylight coming in through a window—glare and light control is an important function of window treatments

“Daylighting” is an entire field of study for commercial lighting experts. Effective use of daylight saves tons of pollutants and a great deal of electricity each year. Automatic systems can turn off un-needed areas of light in large offices to save energy--it all adds up.

WHAT WE CALL “LAMPS” ARE CALLED “PORTABLE LUMINAIRES” BY LIGHTING SPECIALISTS. LAMPS ARE OFTEN USED AS TASK LIGHTS. HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES:

These are generic names for lamp styles that have been around a long time

Pharmacy lamps are good reading lights, and as a floor lamp, do not require space for a table

These are all examples of floor lamps

These lamps are in many styles--note also the wide variety of shades

Adjustable task lamps (some look like Pixar lamps..)

AMBIENT OR GENERAL LIGHTING

A single ceiling fixture is the most common form of ambient lighting, but it’s seldom the best option.Ambient lighting is the category of lighting that is hardest to do well .

This room uses soffit, indirect, portable and overhead lighting

Which are ambient lighting sources?

Overhead—yes Lamp—no (it’s

task) Sconce—yes

For ambient, remember overhead, sconce, and cove,

Sconces are a great source of ambient light

They are also used for very good task lighting in a bathroom

Here is a bathroom

sconce “don’t”

And this is what most of us have in our bathrooms

•Vanity lights are most effective and flattering if mounted at this height: the center of the shade at eye level of the user

The fixtures should flank the mirror on left and right

Table lamps are good for task lighting, but are pretty stark for ambient lighting without any other source

Torchieres are an easy way to get ambient light, but they are not effective the way they are often used--as task light

While up-lights are used mostly for accent lighting, they can also contribute to ambient light

Backlighting a translucent object—such as a folding screen, a door, etc. can generate ambient light

Concealed cove lighting is an outstanding source of ambient lighting

A linear light source concealed on top of a canopy bed gives lovely ambient light without a visible source

Hide an ambient lighting source above an armoire or bookcase

Install lighting in a skylight well--for light that seems to be daylight—even at night!

Tray ceilings lend themselves very well to cove lighting details