LAMPS | INCANDESCENT LAMPS

The Incandescent lamp also known as electric lamp or Filament lamp, but better known as the Electric Bulb is a source of electric light that works by incandescence. An electric current passes through a thin filament, heating it to white hot until it produces light. The enclosing glass bulb prevents the oxygen in air from reaching the hot filament, which otherwise would be destroyed rapidly by oxidation. 

Incandescent light bulbs come in a range of shapes and sizes.


ADVANTAGES -
  • Availability: Incandescent bulbs are easily available in a wide range of sizes and voltages, from 1.5 volts to about 300 volts.
  • Extra equipment: They require no external regulating equipment and work well on either alternating current or direct current.
  • Colour Rendering: They produce warm light colour and have excellent colour rendering (Ra-!00) which means, the colours of objects under this light appear almost the same as in daylight.
  • Disposability: They are easily disposable as they do not contain any hazardous material to the environment.
USAGE:
For these reasons, the incandescent lamp is widely used in household and commercial lighting, for portable lighting, such as table lamps, some car headlamps and electric flashlights, and for decorative and advertising lighting.


DISADVANTAGES -
  • Luminous Efficacy: The Incandescent Bulbs have poor luminous efficacy - for every watt of energy consumed, only 12 to 14 lumens of visible light is produced. This is because approximately 90% of the power consumed by an incandescent light bulb is emitted as heat, rather than as visible light.
  • Life: They have a short life - just about 1000 hours, in comparison to other lamp types.
Because of their disadvantages, some jurisdictions are even attempting to ban the use of incandescent light bulb in favour of more energy-efficient lighting like CFL- Compact Fluorescent lamps and other gas-discharge devices, which give more visible light for the same amount of electrical energy input. 

Read more about the different types of LIGHTING LAMPS here:








LIGHTING TYPES | PORTABLES

Portable lamps are lights (or lamps) that can be picked up, moved and plugged in wherever there is an electrical outlet. Floor lamps, Torchieres and Table lamps are considered portable lamps. Many rooms and areas in your home will need light in certain areas for tasks such as homework, reading in a chair or reading in bed - more than a chandelier or other light fixtures can provide.  That’s where portables are important as they can provide the needed light for those activities.


Floor Lamps Definition:  A Floor Lamp is a tall lamp with one or more bulbs, that is designed to stand on the floor. Floor lamps are part of a larger group called portables.

Table Lamps Definition:  A table lamp is a portable light with one or more bulbs designed to stand freely on a table.Table lamps are one of three lighting options under the category of portable lamps.


Torchiere Definition:  Torchiere is a tall floor lamp with a bowl-shaped glass that directs the light upwards and diffuses the light from the sides. Torchiere (or Torchère) is derived from the French word 'torche', which means 'torch'.  A Torchiere is like a tall torch that points the light straight up but also provides a gentle illumination to the sides.  Torchieres are also, part of the portables.

A Torchiere, with a bowl-shaped, glass shade diffusing the light upwards and to the sides.

PORTABLE LAMPS - STYLES:

Floor lamps and Torchieres Styles: Floor lamps come in a tremendous variety of styles with beautiful variations in finish, shades and materials.  From sleek and modern to simple classic brass or glass, to more ornate styles.nd Kichler has a tremendous selection of  Torchieres are also available in a large variey of styles like modern, traditional, Tiffany and Art Glass.
Bent metal floor lamps

Table Lamps Styles: There are many styles of table lamps available - from simple, sleek lamp bases to more intricate designs to bold colors and even figures built into the design. In addition to the wide variety of lamp bases, there are several options for lamp shades like simple cone shapes to squares, bell shapes and more in linen, fabrics, satin or glass.

PORTABLE LAMPS - USAGE:

Floor Lamps Usage:  Floor lamps are a great source of general illumination and as such can really help light up dark corners and larger rooms.  Floor lamps can also act as an under layer of light, creating task lighting right where you need it, like next to your favorite reading chair or a floor lamp casting light down onto your desk.  Moreover, floor lamps can be moved right where you need them.

A floor lamp next to a sofa is good for reading

Torchiere Usage:  In tochieres, since the light is directed upwards, you never have to worry about glare.  In addition, you can use higher wattage bulbs so you can light up a larger area with just one lamp.  Because of this, torchieres are a great source of general lighting and also have the advantage that you can place them wherever you have a dark spot.  Torchieres can work well and look great in the living room, den, bedroom and the family room.
 A torchiere looks beautiful and diffuses the light upwards

Table Lamps Usage:  Table lamps not only provide illumination, the attractiveness of the lamps makes them key design elements as well. Table lamps provide task lighting near a desk or next to your favorite reading chair.  They also provide general illumination to fill in dark areas where your overhead lighting may not reach.  Table lamps also make great accent pieces and can be used as accent lighting for key design features in your home.

SELECTING THE RIGHT PORTABLE:
When selecting the Portable Lamps - Floor Lamps, Torchieres or Table Lamps for your house keep these dimensions in mind.
  • The bottom of the lampshade should be approximately 42 inches from the floor’s surface.  
  • Desk lamps should be 16 inches above the work surface and 13 inches from the front of a desk.
  • Torchieres, used to light dark corners, can be from 66 to 72 inches from the floor.
Read about other LIGHTING TYPES such as:


    LIGHTING TYPES | BATH / VANITY LIGHT

    Lighting installed above a mirror in which light bulbs form a bar or row is known as Bath Lights or Vanity Lights.

    Vanity means a 'fashionable knickknack' or a 'bathroom cabinet containing a sink'. In lighting these two  meanings are combined to create a Vanity light or Bath light that is used above and on the sides of the mirror, and provides excellent lighting for your daily routine and makes a fashion statement in the area over your sink. 


    BATH LIGHTS STYLES:
    • Vanity lights and bathroom lighting are available in a variety of styles and sizes so that you can find the fixture just right for you.You have plenty more to choose from, than a simple strip of bulbs for the vanity. - from the clean and simple strips of vanity lights, to intricately carved bath lights. In addition, most of the bath lights belong to coordinated families so you can keep the same look and style throughout your home.
    • Bath Lights with one light, two lights, three lights and four lights are very common. Longer ones with six, seven, eight or even twelve lights are also available for large mirrors and bathrooms. Many bath lights can be installed with the glass pointing up or down.
    • There are also, Bath Lights with five or six lights having three or four overhead lights and two mini pendants on each side.  The advantage of this type of Bath Light is that a soft light from above and both sides illuminates the face in a flattering way, while using only one electrical outlet.

     BATH LIGHTS USAGE:
    • Bath lights provide great 'general illumination' in the Bathroom and often work well in conjunction with ceiling lighting.  They are also perfect 'task lighting' for the activities you do in front of the mirror.
    • When applying makeup or shaving or brushing your teeth, you need to see a clear reflection in the Bathroom or Powder room mirrors. To avoid shadows, and to fully surround your face with flattering light, install a fixture at least 24” wide over the mirror, plus two wall sconces (one on each side of the mirror) at least 28” apart and 5 ft. above the floor. 
    • For a double sink vanity, use a light that is almost as wide as the mirror.  The light should be mounted 78” from the floor, centered over the mirror.
    • For a really large Bathroom, besides the vanity/mirror lighting, you will probably need an additional flush mount or semi flush fixture with recess lighting in the shower areas. 

    LIGHTING TYPES | PENDANTS

    A Pendant is an ornamental, hanging, ceiling fixture with no multiple arms (like that of a chandelier). Since it looks like an ornament for your home, it is known as a pendant.

    TYPES OF PENDANTS:

    There are three basic types of pendant lighting and they give you an amazing amount of flexibility:  

  • Conventional Pendant: First are pendants where the open side of the shade or glass faces down.
    • Inverted Pendant: Second would be inverted pendants where the open side of the glass faces up.  
    • Mini Pendant: And third is a mini pendant which, as you would imagine means a smaller version of the pendant or ornament.
    PENDANT USAGE:
    Pendants can be used to great effect for 'general lighting' as well as 'task lighting'.  
    • Conventional Pendants: A pendant in the Foyer can be a great introduction to your home.  If you have a Foyer window in your home, centering a pendant in the window also adds elegance to your home from the street.  
    • Inverted pendants: are also an excellent choice over the table in a breakfast nook, dinette or kitchen island. They can provide both general illumination or create focused task lighting depending on your need.  For this reason, Inverted Pendant lighting is also a good choice over game tables or desks.  Even over a bedside table, Inverted Pendants have an advantage over table lamps in that, they free up space on small or crowded tables.
    • Mini Pendants: open up a whole new world of design options.  A single mini pendant can be used to create 'ambient light' in an area or to provide 'task lighting' in a key spot.  Using multiple mini pendants, either hung at the same height or staggered, can create a beautiful lighting display as well as provide excellent 'task lighting'.  This is a good option over kitchen islands, counters or bar areas. 
    PENDANT STYLES:

    Pendant lighting, whether it is conventional pendants, inverted pendants or mini pendants come in a wide variety of styles and colours.  Pendants come in matching families, so coordinating the lighting in your home becomes easier.

    PENDANT LIGHTING FOR KITCHEN:
    • Besides the general lighting guidelines, the kitchen islands, areas over the sink and counter tops call for more concentrated lighting since they are essentially, work areas. 
    • To calculate the amount of wattage needed over these workareas, multiply the area’s square footage by 2.5. The product you get is the required wattage.  
    • A decorative pendant with 2 or 3 shades (depending on the size of the island) can be installed over your island for sufficient light and to add a decorative element to that area.
    PENDANT LIGHTING FOR DINING AREA:
    • Normally, a decorative pendant or a Chandelier with  a downlight will do the job while providing plenty of light on the table surface.  
    • Use a dimmer to soften the light for mood dining when entertaining and to brighten for homework, hobbies, etc. when needed.  
    • The bottom of the pendant should be at least 30” above the table to prevent accidental bumping of heads and for the right amount and spread of light.  
    • Normally, 100 watts is sufficient for this area.


    LIGHTING TYPES | WALL LIGHTS

    A Wall Light is an indoor,decorative lighting fixture with a flat side to be hung on a wall. In earlier times, Wall Lights were known as Sconces and even today this word is used. Sconce  means a wall bracket that holds a candle or group of candles. Today, in lighting, it means a wall mounted electric light fixture patterned on a candle sconce.

    Wall Sconces are incredibly versatile and can be used for ambient, task or accent lighting. When used correctly, Wall Sconces not only provide illumination and safety, they also create an air of sophistication and elegance throughout your home. 

    WALL LIGHT STYLES:  Wall lights come in a variety of styles -  traditional or modern, casual or transitional. They also come in matching families so they can coordinate with the other lighting fixtures in your home.
    WALL LIGHTS USAGE:
    • Hallways: Wall Sconces are often found in long Hallways where they provide the general illumination for foot traffic.
    • Dining room: Wall Sconces are also very popular in the Dining room where, coordinated with the chandelier, they add a layer of 'ambient light' and an appealing decorating effect.
    • Bathroom: Wall Sconces can also add key 'accent lighting' in the Bathroom.  With sconces hung on either side of your mirror you can create a bright, even light that is just perfect for safe shaving or for applying make-up.
    • Fireplace or Bedside: Other great applications for wall lighting are on either side of the bed or flanking your fireplace. The possibilities with Wall Sconces are immense.
    LIGHTING THE HALLWAY USING WALL SCONCES:
    • When putting Wall lights in your hallway, they should be spaced 6 – 8 ft. apart. This will give additional light to any overhead light you may be using.
    • The Sconces should be hung at a height of roughly 5 ft. from the floor. 

    LIGHTING THE BATHROOM USING WALL SCONCES:
    • In your bathroom or powder room mirrors,  you need to have a clear reflection, so that you can apply makeup properly or shave without cutting yourself. To avoid shadows, and to fully surround your face with flattering light, install a Mirror light at least 24” wide over the mirror, plus two Wall Sconces (one on each side of the mirror) at least 28” apart and 5 ft. above the floor.
    • If you have a double wash basin vanity, use a light that is almost as wide as the mirror. Then, the light should be mounted 6'6" from the floor, centered over the mirror.


    LIGHTING TYPES | CEILING LIGHTS

    Ceiling Lights are commonly used for providing good 'general illumination' and are very practical in high traffic areas as well as rooms with lower ceilings. Ceiling lights are as attractive as they are practical. 

    CEILING LIGHTS DEFINITION:
    These are light fixtures that are attached directly to the ceiling. There are two basic types of Ceiling lights, namely flush mounts and semi-flush mounts.
    • Flush mounts are Ceiling lights that attach to the ceiling with little to no gap between the light fixture and the ceiling.
    • Semi-Flush mounts are Ceiling lights that attach to the ceiling with a stem or part that creates a gap between the ceiling and the light.
    Both types of Ceiling lights are very versatile and can be used in almost every room of the house as they  provide great general lighting where you need it. Either the slim profile of a flush mounted ceiling light  or a semi-flush ceiling light are both great and stylish for low ceilings.

    CEILING LIGHTS STYLES:

    Beyond the basics of flush mount and semi-flush ceiling lights there is a great selection of styles available from sleek modern pieces to ornate, decorative ones, perfect for a more traditional style. With semi-flush ceiling lights, when you have a little extra room, the full range of styles really becomes apparent. Ceiling lights are generally part of family collections which makes it easy for you to match the Ceiling lights to the rest of the lighting in your home.  

    CEILING LIGHTS USAGE:

    Both flush and semi-flush mount Ceiling lights can be used effectively in Bedrooms, Hallways, Laundry and Utility rooms as well as Dens, Kitchens, Closets, Bathrooms and Foyers.  In fact, they can be used anywhere you need good lighting. A clean simple Ceiling light can work great in the utility room or hallway while a Ceiling light with a little more character can be used in the Bedroom or to provide general lighting in the Bathroom. Ceiling lights also work well in areas of the house that often get less focus.   And in the closet, the right ceiling light can make finding things easy.
    SELECTING THE CEILING LIGHTS FOR A HALLWAY:

    To calculate the number of Ceiling lights required in the Hallway, refer to these guidelines given here:
    • There should be a Ceiling light every 8-10 feet for safety and a nice general illumination. Either flush mounts or semi-flush fixtures can be used depending on the ceiling height. 
    • Remember that the bottom of the light fixture should be at least 7 feet from the floor.
    • If you have a long hallway, you may want some wall sconces for added light and beauty.  The rule again is that sconces should be hung roughly 5 feet from the floor, spaced 6-8 feet apart along the wall.
    SELECTING THE CEILING LIGHTS FOR A KITCHEN: 

    Given here are some guidelines for the number of ceiling lights required in a Kitchen:
    • The number of Ceiling lights in a Kitchen depends on the size of your kitchen area.  Most people start with a 2-light or 4-light decorative fluorescent in the center of the ceiling.  It’s less costly, uses less energy and provides very good general light output.
    • Roughly, a Kitchen of 100 square feet or less can use a 2-light fluorescent. 
    • A kitchen upto 250 square feet needs a 4-light fluorescent.  
    • And a Kitchen larger than 250 square feet will need more than 4-lights.

    SELECTING THE CEILING LIGHTS FOR A BATHROOM:

    In a Bathroom, besides the vanity/ mirror lighting, you will probably need an additional flush mount or semi flush Ceiling light and if possible, recess lighting in shower areas.

    Read about other LIGHTING TYPES such as:

    LIGHTING TYPES | CHANDELIER

    Chandeliers are without doubt, the most dainty, elegant and beautiful among lighting fixtures. The right chandelier can add dimension and transform a room. Chandeliers most definitely add elegance to a space and can be eye-catching, even when they are not lit. 

    CHANDELIER DEFINITION:  Chandelier is a branched, multi-arm, decorative, often ornate light fixture that holds a number of bulbs and is suspended from a ceiling. The word chandelier is from the old French meaning “candle holder”.   Obviously a lot has changed since then. While the basic form has stayed the same, the advent of electricity has allowed for more creativity in both design and placement. 

    CHANDELIER STYLES:

    Chandeliers are available in a wide variety of styles, from simple, modern Chandeliers to more ornate, traditional Chandeliers.  Today’s Chandeliers have moved beyond the functional need of providing illumination and have become a beautiful focal point during the day as well as at night.

    CHANDELIER USAGE:

    Chandeliers were generally used in Dining rooms and in the Foyer but with the new variety of sizes and styles available, Chandeliers and mini Chandeliers (Chandelettes) are showing up all over the house. These days you can find Chandeliers in all kinds of places like over your vanity or over the desk, in the breakfast nook, as a bed side light, etc. Of course, today’s large rooms are often highlighted with a beautiful Chandelier.


    CHANDELIER'S LIGHT:
    • General illumination: Chandeliers are a great source of 'general illumination'. With the use of a dimmer switch, you can create the mood and atmosphere you want, whether it be a gentle cascade of light over a romantic dinner party or a bright light on a lively family dinner. In fact, many Chandeliers are also designed with a down light, so they also work as 'task lighting' for activities such as doing homework or paying bills at the table.
    • Wattage: When choosing a Chandelier, make sure that the Chandelier has enough wattage to light up the room adequately. For this, multiply the length of the room by the width of the room.  Then, multiply that number by 1.5.  The answer you get is the amount of wattage you need to light the room properly for general illumination. For  example:  In a room, 12 ft. x 16 ft., multiply 12 x 16 = 192.  Then multiply 192 x 1.5 = 288 watts.  This means an 8-light chandelier using 40-watt bulbs will give 320 watts, which is more than the light needed.
    • If you’re not comfortable with the amount of light given by a Chandelier, you can add sconces, portable lamps or recessed lights on the walls to add more light to the room.
    SELECTING THE RIGHT CHANDELIER FOR THE FOYER: 

    Placing a Chandelier in a Lobby or Foyer is an excellent way of demarking the interior of the house from the exterior.
    • Style: Chandeliers hung in the Foyer/Lobby can be broad and longer than ones used in Dining rooms.
    • Size: To find the right size of the Chandelier for a Foyer, add together the length and width of the Foyer in feet. The sum you get is the diameter in inches, that you will need for the Foyer Chandelier. For example:  Consider a Foyer 12 feet by 6 feet.  Added together this equals 18 feet.  Therefore, the Foyer Chandelier’s diameter should be approximately 18” in width. If the Foyer is extra large, you can include wall sconces in the Foyer. Install them against the wall approximately 5 ft.  from the floor, 6 – 8 ft. apart.
    • Height: The height of the Foyer Chandelier depends on the height of your foyer ceiling.  Always keep in mind that the bottom of the Chandelier should be at least 7 ft. from the floor.  That may mean you need a flushmount (mounts directly against the ceiling), a semi-flush (also known as close-to-ceiling fixture, which hangs a few inches below the ceiling) or, if you have a tall ceiling, a 2-tier or 3-tier Chandelier. If there is a window above the front doors, center the Chandelier so it can be seen from outside.

    SELECTING THE RIGHT CHANDELIER FOR THE DINING ROOM: A Chandelier being hung in the Dining room must be placed above the middle of the dining table and the room.
    • Size: As in the Foyer, the dimensions of the  Dining room dictate the diameter of the Chandelier.  If that doesn’t appear to fit because of the size of your dining table, then select a Chandelier with a diameter equal to ½ the table width or for ease, buy a Chandelier that is about a foot smaller than the width of your dining table.
    • Height: The bottom of the chandelier should be no lower than 30 inches above the tabletop to prevent heads from bumping and for good illumination. Light from the Chandelier bulbs that are just above a person can be hot and uncomfortable. So do not use bulbs with high wattage, as they will cause excessive heat.
    • Dimmers: Although dimmers can be used in every room, they are an absolute must in a Dining room which is used for various activities.  So, if you want an intimate dinner party, then dim the lights, but when the children are at the table doing their homework, bring up the wattage! 

    SELECTING THE RIGHT CHANDELIER FOR OTHER ROOMS: When choosing a Chandelier for rooms, numbers play an important role. Use the numbers given here to help you decide what size Chandelier is right for your room.
    • If the room is smaller than 10' by 10', a 17" to 20" diameter Chandelier would be the right size.
    • If the room is about 12' x 12', a 26" or 27" Chandelier would look right.
    • If the room is about 14' x 14', choose a 24" to 36" Chandelier.
    • Total wattage of all bulbs should be 200 watts to 400 watts to provide sufficient light.
    Read about other LIGHTING TYPES such as:


      LIGHTING DESIGN | ARCHITECT EXPLAINS

      People are becoming increasingly interested in decorating their home in their own personal style. They want to create the perfect atmosphere and ambience in every room. This can be achieved by the right use of colour, lighting, furniture and furnishings. 

      LIGHTING: 

      Proper, well designed lighting is absolutely essential for a room to be functionally and aesthetically perfect. Different types of lighting can create different moods, add beauty to your home and of course prevent you from bumping into the furniture. And changing your lighting can also be a very cost effective way to update, change the style or remodel your home.


      BASIC LIGHTING TYPES:

      There are different lighting needs in any living or work space, that need specific lighting solutions.There are three basic types of lighting - general lighting, task lighting and accent lighting, A good lighting plan will incorporate all three basic lighting types to create layers of light to provide illumination, make tasks easier and highlight key design features.
      • General Lighting: It is also known as ambient lighting and provides an area with overall illumination. It is a basic form of lighting to replace sunlight and enables you to see and walk around safely by radiating a comfortable level of brightness. General Lighting can be accomplished with chandeliers, ceiling or wall-mounted fixtures, recessed or track lights, and with lanterns outside your home.
      • Task Lighting: It is focused light that helps you perform specific tasks such as reading, sewing, cooking, homework, hobbies, games or keeping your accouints. Task lighting needs to be bright enough to prevent eye strain and should be free of distracting glare and shadows. It can be provided by recessed and track lighting, pendant lighting and portable lamps.
      • Accent Lighting: Accent Lighting highlights des ign features in and around your home and adds drama to a room by creating visual interest. It is generally used to spotlight paintings, house plants, sculpture, prized possessions or to highlight the texture of a wall, drapery or outdoor landscaping. Accent lighting requires at least three times as much light on the focal point as the general lighting around it. This usually is provided by track, recessed or wall-mounted fixtures.
      LIGHTING FIXTURE TYPES:

      The lighting is provided by Light fixtures. A Light Fixture is an electrical device used to create artificial light or illumination. Here is a list of the most commonly used light fixtures in a house.
      • Ceiling Lights - These are light fixtures that are attached directly to the ceiling, with or without a gap between the fixture and ceiling.
      • Chandelier - A multi-arm, decorative, often ornate ceiling light fixture that holds a number of bulbs.
      • Pendant - An ornamental hanging fixture with no multiple arms.
      • Wall Sconces - An indoor decorative lighting fixture with a flat side to be hung on a wall.
      • Bath Lights / Vanity Lighting - Lighting typically installed above a mirror in which light bulbs form a bar or row.
      • Floor Lamp - A light fixture with one or more bulbs, designed to stand on the floor.
      • Torchiere - A tall floor lamp with a bowl-shaped glass that diffuses the light or directs it upward.
      • Table Lamp - A plug-in portable light with one or more bulbs, designed to stand freely on a table.

      PLANNING FOR THE LIGHTING:
      When planning the lighting for either a new construction or for your existing home, here are the basic things you need to think about:
      • The Budget: There is a lot of lighting available today and one can easily get carried away. So first keep the budget in mind. How much are you ready to splurge for all your lighting?
      • Style and taste: Take a look around your home. What décor makes you the most comfortable? Look through magazines and find pictures of rooms that appeal to you. If possible, have colour chips or fabric samples ready when you make your lighting purchase.
      • Decide the type of lighting for different areas: You will need general lighting for most areas, mood lighting for dining, entertaining, bedrooms etc., task lighting for doing homework or food preparation and accent lighting for spotlighting a sculpture or painting. Some areas will serve multiple purposes so you may need different types of lighting in a single location.
      • Keep the size of the room in mind: Take a look at the size of the room. If you have a 10’ ceiling in your dining room, a 3 tier 21 light chandelier won’t work for you. Likewise, if you have a double sink vanity in the bathroom with 3 mirrors an 18” bath bar won’t be adequate.
      • Note the position of the windows: Natural light plays a large role in the type of lighting you need. Look at where the windows are and how much light they let in and whether large plants or trees may partially block the sunlight. It is always important to consider both daytime and nightime lighting when choosing lights for your room or home.
      • Where’s the Electricity? For exisiting houses and remodeling jobs, you should know where the outlets and electrical boxes are, so that you can plan accordingly - the less re-wiring you have to do, the better.

      DESIGNING THE LIGHTING:

      When designing the lighting layout, take into account, the architecture of entire space, specific task needs for different rooms, placement of basic furniture, special decorative accessories and the overall colour of the room.
      • Light up the front entrance: The front entrance is the most important in the house, as it is known as the place where most of the energy comes into the home. To make your friends feel welcome, your entrance should have a warm, inviting and friendly atmosphere. Light up the entrance or porch to offer guests a warm welcome. As the light will be on for a significant period of time, use CFLs instead of incandescent bulbs.
      • Create an atmosphere: A single central light source in a room provides flat and boring illumination. Mix light sources and use table lamps or torchieres along with different types of bulbs to create a more dynamic and interesting atmosphere that will complement the colour schemes.
      • Take into account the function of each room: There are different lighting needs in any living or workspace, that need specific lighting solutions. For example, those who work or read a lot, make sure that there is sufficient task light to concentrate comfortably. On the other hand, to create the right romantic mood in your bedroom, use lights with a dimmer switch to vary the atmosphere. Dimmers can also be used in the dining room, so that you can adjust the lighting for an intimate meal or a  more lively dinner party.
      • Light Layers: The light you use to cut vegetables won’t be the right light for a cocktail party just as the light you use for reading the newspaper is unlikely to be the right one for watching movies on the big screen TV. You need to look at what activities actually happen in a room and design layers of light using General, Accent and Task lighting accordingly. The idea is to give the lighting in your home as much flexibility as possible.
      • Take the kitchen for example. You will need a top layer of general lighting provided by overhead lighting, which will make the day-to-day activities possible. You will also need a middle layer of task lighting, utilizing under cabinets to highlight your work areas. And you should add a bottom layer of accent lighting to add sparkle to a china cabinet or for an ambience glow under the toe kick. Make sure you can turn on the different layers independently by using independent switches so that depending on your activity and the mood you want to create, you can switch on the different layers.
      • Experiment: Good lighting can make or break a room and it needn't be complicated or expensive. Simply change a bulb or two and apply a few lighting techniques to brighten areas, soften colours, develop atmosphere and create positive vibes.

      LIGHTING | DICTIONARY

      Many people find the technical terms associated with Lighting, difficult to understand. I have explained these terms here in easy-to-understand language. 

      Absorption - Refers to a measure of the amount of light absorbed by an object, instead of being reflected. Dark colored and matte surfaces are least likely to reflect light.

      • Accent Lighting - Lighting directed at a particular object in order to focus attention upon it.
      • ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) - ADA-compliant fixtures cannot extend more than 4” from the wall.
      • Ambient (General) Lighting - The soft indirect light that fills the volume of a room with illumination. It softens shadows on people's faces and creates an inviting glow in the room.
      • Amperage - The amount of electrical current through a conductive source.
      • Angle of Reflectance - The angle at which a light source hits a reflective surface equals the angle at which the resulting glare is reflected back.
      • ARM - A decorative-shaped tube or casting that is used to support a socket. An arm usually has socket wires running through it.
      • Back Plate -  The part of a fixture that mounts to a wall or vertical surface.
      • Ballast - Device that Provides the proper starting and operating electrical condition to power one or more fluorescent or HID lamps. There are two types of ballasts available, magnetic and electronic.
      • Bulb – What everyone calls it except the lighting industry which calls it a ‘Lamp’.
      • Canopy - The decorative plate that attaches to the ceiling to cover the junction box.
      • Chandelier - A multi-arm, decorative, often ornate ceiling light fixture that holds a number of bulbs.
      • Collection – A group of matching fixtures and/or lamps that together can bring a unified look to a home or room.
      • Color Temperature – The appearance of white light, in terms of warmth or coolness. Warm color corresponds to lower color temperatures and cool colors to warm color temperatures.
      • CRI (Color Rendering Index) – A measure of how light sources render colors. The higher (to 100) the CRI, the better the color rendering, given the color temperature of the lamp.
      • Diffuser – A covering or shade over a light or lamp that generally softens or scatters the light and is usually used to eliminate hot spots and glare. Can be made from a variety of materials (glass, plastic, fabric, etc.) and in a variety of colors.
      • Dimmer - A control that regulates light levels.
      • Dimming Ballast - a ballast designed to allow the use of dimmers.
      • Efficacy - Measurement of the efficiency of a light source.
      • Extension (EXT.) -  The depth of a wall light fixture (sconce or bath). The measurement from the wall to the farthest point away from the wall.
      • Family (Collection) - A group of matching fixtures and/or lamps that together can bring a unified look to a home or room.
      • Filters - Glass or metal accessory used to alter beam patterns or introduce/change colors.
      • Finial - A small finishing ornament at the crown or bottom of a fixture.
      • Fixture – A light that is permanently attached or wired directly into a junction box.  Chandeliers, bath lights and wall sconces are examples of ‘ fixtures’.
      • Flush-Mount - Attach directly to the ceiling with no gap between the light and ceiling.
      • Foot Candle - A measurement of the intensity of light reaching a surface. One uniformly distributed lumen falling on one square foot of surface produces the illumination of one foot candle.
      • Halogen - An incandescent lamp containing halogen gas which recycles the tungsten.
      • Hard Wire - Method of luminaire installation using a junction box.
      • HCWO (Height from Center of Wall Opening) - The measurement from the top of the fixture to the center of the outlet box when installed.
      • High Intensity Discharge (H.I.D.) Lamp - A category of lamp that emits light through electricity activating pressurized gas in a bulb. Mercury vapor, metal halide, and high pressure sodium lamps are all H.I.D. sources. They are bright and energy-efficient light sources used mainly in exterior environments.
      • Housing - Enclosure for recessed sockets and trim above the ceiling.
      • Incandescent Lamp - The traditional type of light bulb that produces light through electricity causing a filament to glow. It is not a very efficient source of illumination.
      • Inverted pendant - An ornamental hanging fixture with no multiple arms where the glass or diffuser opening is facing the ceiling.
      • Junction Box - an enclosure that houses electric wires or cables that are joined together and protects the connections. Junction boxes are also sometimes called ‘Gang boxes’ or ‘Splitter boxes’.
      • Kelvin - The common unit of measure for the color temperature of a light source.
      • Lamp - What the lighting industry technically calls a light bulb. A glass envelope with gas, coating, or filament that glows when electricity is applied. What everyone else calls a table or floor lamp.
      • Light Fixture - is an electrical device used to create artificial light or illumination.
      • Line-Voltage - The 110-120-volt household current, generally standard in North America.
      • Low-Voltage Lighting - System that uses less than 50-volt current (commonly 12-volt), instead of 110-120-volt, the standard household current. A transformer is used to convert the electrical power to the appropriate voltage.
      • Lumen - It is the measure of the “perceived power” of light.
      • Luminaire - is a lighting fixture complete with the light source or lamp, the reflector for directing the light, an aperture (with or without a lens), the outer shell or housing for lamp alignment and protection, an electrical ballast, if required, and connection to a power source
      • PAR Lamps - Lamps (bulbs) with parabolic aluminized reflectors that give exacting beam control. There are a number of beam patterns to choose from, ranging from wide flood to very narrow spot. PAR lamps can be used outdoors due to their thick glass, which holds up in severe weather conditions.
      • Pendant -An ornamental hanging fixture with no multiple arms where the glass or diffuser opening faces down.
      • Portable – A light or lamp that is simply plugged into an outlet and can easily be picked up and moved. Table lamps and floor lamps are examples of ‘ portables’
      • Sconce – A decorative lighting fixture with a flat side to be hung on a wall, that holds candles or lights.
      • Semi Flush – A light fixture which attaches to the ceiling with a stem or part that creates a gap between the fixture and ceiling.
      • Switches - Controls for electrical devices.
      • Task Lighting - Illumination designed for a work surface to provide good light, free of shadows and glare.
      • Timers - Control devices to activate luminaires at set timed intervals.
      • Torchiere - a tall floor lamp with a bowl-shaped glass that diffuses the light or directs it upward.
      • Transformer - A device which can raise or lower electrical voltage, generally used for low voltage lights.
      • Tungsten-Halogen - A tungsten incandescent lamp (bulb) which contains gas and burns hotter and brighter than standard incandescent lamps.
      • UL - An independent testing company. Underwriters Laboratory.
      • Veiling Reflection - A mirror like reflection of a bright source on a shiny surface.
      • Voltage - A measurement of the pressure of electricity going through a wire.
      • Voltage Drop - The decrease in voltage between the source and the load due to resistance in the wire(s).
      • Watt – Unit of electrical power.
      • Xenon - An inert gas used as a component in certain lamps to produce a cooler color temperature than standard incandescent. It is often used in applications where halogen may normally be specified, because of a longer lamp life and lower pressure. 
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