LightingFor use in the course Interior Design,

Furnishings, Materials and Components

Reference: “Residential Housing and Interiors” (Good-Heart Wilcox)

Written by Helen HawverGeorgia CTAE Resource Network

2010

a) Analyze product information and evaluate manufacturers, products, and materials considering care, maintenance, safety, and environmental protection issues.b) Describe how a room design is impacted by natural light, artificial light, types of window treatments, and orientation to sunlight.c) Describe and identify types and usage of artificial light,

including incandescent, fluorescent, and halogen.d) Describe and identify ceiling, cove, portable, recessed,

strip, track, and wall lighting fixtures.

FCS-IFMC-5 Students will discuss the basic principles of lighting design and itsapplication for residential and commercial projects.

Natural LightSunlight that enters the house through windows, doors, skylights, etc.Natural Light is the first light source to considerNorth or East—Cool, bluish cast

Place bedrooms east Northern provides even light

South or West—Warm, orange tones Southern provides steady light

Amount of light is controlled by size, number, and arrangement of windows…also type of window treatments and placement of windowsCan produce harsh shadows and glare

Homework

Record the following information about lighting for each of the following:

your bedroom, living room and kitchen How many windows does the room have? What color does the natural light give off in the afternoon? What color does the natural light give off in the morning? Are there any downfalls to the natural lighting in each room?

(glare, heat, etc) Which rooms are on the South or West sides of your home?

Which are on the North or East sides? What window treatments are used in each room

If there are not any treatments, what suggestions would you make?

Window Treatments to Control Natural Light

Draperies Used to control the

amount of light in a horizontal slide fashion

– Align draw - open and close at the center

– One-way draw -draperies pull as one unit across the entire window area

– Tier drapes - use a number of short drapes to control the amount of light in a room

– Sheer casement drapes - are opaque light filters

These drapes are center draw to allow for control of light and access to the French doors

Window Treatments to Control Natural Light

This window has drapes and sheer curtains that allow light to enter

Curtains Shirred

– Allow for light to filter through

Café Curtains– Used to cover half a

window from the middle to the bottom

– Allows for light to come into the room from the top of the window

Window Treatments to Control Natural Light

Shades– Used to control light– Can completely block light

when closed There are many types

Roller Shades Roman Shades Austrian Shades Pleated shades

Window Treatments to Control Natural Light

Blinds– Horizontal blinds and

vertical blinds include nearly complete control of light

Window Treatments to Control Natural Light

Shutters– Provide control of light

Sliding panels and screens

– Can be used for different levels of lighting in a room

– Completely block light or allow a filter

Other treatments– Stained glass and

etchings

Artificial Light

Predictable and ControllableAvailable from three sources: Incandescent, Halogen, and Fluorescent

Incandescent LightLight bulb most people use.Burns about 700-1000 hours.Produced when electricity passes through a fine tungsten filament in a vacuum bulb, causing the wire to heat and glow.The light produced is yellow-white.

Flatters skin tones

Continued…Two types of sources: General Service

Available in a variety of shapes and wattages Large: bright light 3 way: levels of light – High to Low intensity Small: decorative light

Pear shaped bulb is the most common Clear bulbs allow light to shine at full strength, but produce a

glare Frosted bulbs disperse light more evenly, decrease glare, soften

shadows and remain cooler Reflectorized bulb (a cone shaped bulb used for flood lights and

spot lights) Have a silver coating inside of them Some of these bulbs were discontinued due to the Energy Policy

Act of 1992

Continued…

Incandescent lights are inexpensive and easy to replace They do not hum, flicker, or interfere with electrical devices

Halogen Lighting Have tungsten filaments that produce bright, white light, matching the quality of pure daylight

Makes colors look the best Available in variety of sizes,

shapes and wattages

Have longer life and use less energy, but are expensiveLight is more similar to that of sunlight.

Fluorescent LightingProduced in a glass tube by releasing electricity through a mercury vapor to make invisible ultraviolet rays

A coating of chemicals on the inside of the tube transforms the rays into light

Available as tubes, screw in bulbs and compact bulbs

Compacts are becoming popular because they use less electricity, last longer and fit a standard socket

Lasts up to ten times longer than an incandescent bulb.Use less electricity and do not produce damaging heat.Not as homey and comfortable.

Continued…

Improvements have been made concerning the quality of light fluorescent bulbs produceThe light is dispersed over a larger area than incandescent lights, cause less glare, and require less energyThere are not many types to choose from, they are expensive, and there is a delay in turning on the light and when light is seen

Types of LightingGeneral/Ambient

Overall lighting Provides an even level of brightness Fundamental to a house Can be direct (strongest illumination)

or indirect (reflects light back into a room)

Task Lighting a small space to perform a

specific task; reading, cooking, eating.

Accent/Decorative Used to draw attention to specific

areas or objects.

This church has all three types:General is found in the ceiling, task is found through the track lights that light up the podium area and accent is found on the walls to highlight the area.

Can you find the three types of lighting in this kitchen?

Continued…

In a room, a balance of general and task lighting is neededAccent lighting adds dramaThe amount of illumination produced by a room’s light source is measured in foot-candles (the amount of illumination produced by a standard plumber’s candle at a distance of one foot)Halogen and fluorescent light sources provide more light per watt than incandescentLight is reflected from smooth surfaces and light colors, but absorbed by textured surfaces and dark colors

Continued…

Colored light is less intense than white light Warm light, such as red and yellow, will make a room appear warmer and brighterCool colored lights, such as blue or blue green, will make a room appear openWhite light shows a room at its truest color values and produces the most illumination

Homework!

Go home and take a tally of all the general, task and accent sources in your home. Also, make note of what rooms these sources are found.

Selection and Placement

Lighting fixtures Should provide adequate light for activities and blend with

décor Size and scale of the fixtures should be proportionate to

other items in a room and blend with the room Easy to clean and easy to replace bulbs Structural fixtures are permanently built into the home

Luminous ceilings are made of transparent or translucent panels lighted from above

Can be part of or the whole ceiling, uses fluorescent bulbs and is general lighting

Continued… Recessed lights are small, circular

lights that are installed in the ceiling Can be flush or project from

ceiling Accent or general

Track lighting is mounted in a metal strip that allows fixtures to be placed anywhere along the strip Can swivel or rotate

Lighting can be changed as needed

Continued…Living rooms should have general lighting from several sources Recessed or track lights can wash entire areas with light to

highlight Task lighting should be provided for reading and

conversation Accent lighting should highlight collectables and paintings

Family and recreation rooms Flexible lighting

3 way bulbs

Continued…Dining rooms need local lighting over the table

Hanging lights or chandeliers Use a dimmer to control lighting

Task lighting for serving area Accent lighting for china cabinet

Bedrooms need diffused general lighting as well as task lighting Adequate lighting for closet and grooming areas

Home offices need to be free of harsh contrasts and distracting glares

Task and accent

Bathrooms usually have strip lighting around the mirrors for task lighting

Continued…

Portable fixtures can be changed and moved Lamps are the most common

1 lamp=task 2 lamps=general

Must fit the function, be the proper height, and fitted with the correct shade

Attachable under-cabinet and under-shelf fixtures provide task and accent lighting Usually fluorescent

Lighting Areas of the HomeEntryways and foyers

Must be well lighted as to locate the lock and see the house number and guestBathrooms

General and task lightingKitchens

Safety and efficiency Task lighting, under the cabinet, and hanging lights

Utility areas General

Special purpose rooms Lighting to fit the task

Stairs and hall Safety lighting, bright enough to illuminate each step, switches at top and bottom

of stairs Recessed lights are popular in a hallway

Continued…

Exteriors Outside of home Enhance the style of a house and provide safety Patios, pools, and terraces require light for activities

Lighting controls Used to control the intensity and effect of light Changes the mood of the room Technology has allowed us to control light systems with

remotes, computers and phones

Types of Lighting FixturesRecessed (Can Lights)Track LightsCeiling fixtures

Flush Semi Flush Chandeliers Hanging Lights

Floor LampsNovelty Fixtures

Usually seen as nightlights

Wall SconcesUnder the Cabinet

This “lava lamp” would be considered a

novelty light

Can you name the fixtures in this bathroom? What about their purposes?

Information for the next slides taken from:

http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/researchareas/energyEnvironment.asphttp://environment.about.com/od/greenlivingdesign/a/light_bulbs.htm http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=LB

Lighting and Environmental Issues

Obviously, the main environmental concern with lighting is electricity use

Windows and skylights should be utilized as much as possible to cut down on the use of electricity.

Many new lighting products have been released including compact fluorescent bulbs and LED lights

LED’s (light-emitting diodes) are basically conductors that are converted to light. The result is a bright, sharp light. They have a long life and use little electricity.

Compact fluorescents work much like a true fluorescent bulb using gas vapors that turn into visible light. They produce less heat and last up to ten times longer than regular bulbs.