Tips to Improve Indoor Home Lighting

In the 21^st century, it's easy to take light for granted. And yet illuminating a room is a trickier proposition than what you might imagine.

Many people still have a hard time with finding adequate light for doing household tasks, and also aren't happy with shadows cast by overhead fixtures. As the winter months loom before us, those disparities become even more glaring.

But there is no right and wrong where lighting is concerned, according to Laura Marquez, lighting specialist for Loyd Busby Lamps in Monterey, California.

"Everyone's light level and light needs are different," said Marquez, and so what works for one person may not be quite enough for another.

Also, she notes, as we age, our light needs may change, and typically in the direction of needing more light to accomplish those close-up tasks, including reading, working, food preparation and repairs.

Marquez, who has 20 years of home lighting experience, said that there are a number of different types of light sources to consider in a residence. Most rooms need general illumination, typically an overhead fixture, as well as accent lighting and task lighting.

Ambient lighting may also be needed, especially in rooms that don't receive much natural light. And pass-through illumination is vital, referring to areas we use to get from one room to another.

Balancing all the different sources may be a matter of trial and error, but the goal is to have a room that is beautifully lit and yet also supplys enough light for its various uses.

If an overhead light seems overly glaring or harsh, try a different glass shade to see if that softens the effect. A different color of bulb could also help, Marquez said.

Think in terms of "layering" light, according to Sylvania, the light bulb manufacturer, which has a website full of practical advice on home lighting, noting that light sources should be placed at different heights throughout a room to supply adequate illumination as well as visual interest.

Also take your own needs into account. If one source of ambient light doesn't seem to be enough, you may have to add more. For people who seem to require even brighter lights than their lamps can handle, it's worth a trip to a lighting store to see if a higher-wattage lamp can be special-ordered.

"You may have to try out different lights and lamps to see what works," said Marquez. "It may take two trips to the lighting store rather than one."

Lighting stores can also give more precise advice about the ever-changing world of new types of energy-saving bulbs. Compact fluorescents (CFLs) are coming into wider use, but not everyone knows that CFL bulbs come in a number of different colors and types.

Marquez said that the new fluorescent bulbs are much improved from older types. They'll start up right away, won't flicker, and best of all, use energy more efficiently and will help save money on your electric bill each month.

She recommends looking for the right type of bulb as well. CFLs now come in a full range of "color temperatures," from warm to cool. The cooler-hued bulbs are comparable to normal daylight. Higher-quality bulbs (which often cost a little more) can also deliver better illumination.

There are also full-spectrum lights, particularly important for people who suffer from seasonal affect disorder during the winter months, and neutral bulbs, which use light right in the middle of the spectrum and are great for revealing true colors in skin and hair tones.

Also coming up soon will be super-efficient LED lights, which Marquez said are constantly improving.

If it's hard to find the right CFL size for your lamps, don't despair. "There are new bulbs coming out all the time," said Marquez.

Sources:

Interview with Laura Marquez, September 2011
http://loydbusbylamps.com
www.sylvania.com