Light Bulbs

Types of Light Bulbs

1. Incandescent Lamps are the most common bulb for traditional home lighting, because they are inexpensive, simple to install, and perform well in all temperatures. However, they also are extremely inefficient, losing most of the energy consumed to heat, and they burn out quickly requiring frequent replacements. Incandescent bulbs come in a variety of colors such as red, blue, green, pink, and amber.

2. Halogen Lamps are similar to incandescent in that they also produce light from a glowing tungsten filament, but burn longer and more efficiently than incandescent lamps.
While halogen lamps are hot, their long life, energy efficient properties and accurate color rendering make them ideal for recessed lighting, spotlighting, or concealed highlighting for bookcases or stereo cabinets.

3. Fluorescent Lamps come in a wide range of sizes and shapes and can be incorporated into all aspects of home lighting. Fluorescent tube lighting is ideally suited for cabinet lighting in the kitchen, valance lighting in bedrooms or the office, and strip lighting on either side of the bathroom mirror. Compact fluorescent lamps can be used to replace incandescent bulbs in nearly every fixture in the home, providing a low cost, energy efficient alternative to traditional bulbs. Several shades of White are marketed by the fluorescent lamp manufacturers for general lighting use: Warm White, Cool White, and Daylight. In addition to the white shades many fluorescent lamps are produced for decorative purposes and are available in red, green, blue and other colors.

Home Lighting - Home Lighting Techniques and Types of Home Lighting Fixtures:
The way a room is lit can add dimension, texture, and interest to a space, make a small room appear larger, and make large rooms cozy and intimate. Understanding some basic terms can help you with all the different options available for your home lighting décor.

- Downlighting is a technique where objects are illuminated from above simulating the natural downlighting properties of daylight.

- Uplighting is a technique used to highlight objects in the home or outdoors. Uplighting a plant or favorite sculpture creates an artistic design on the ceiling,

- Wall washing works well when a wall or multiple objects on a wall are the focal point. Light is reflected off a room's surface, the ceiling, floor and walls, to reduce glare and create soft ambient lighting.

- Valance lighting is a system that incorporates both up and down lighting and generally uses fluorescent strip lights to create the look.

- Recessed lighting fixtures are installed so that light is level with the ceiling. High temperature halogen lamps make excellent choices for recessed fixtures.
- Spotlighting is a contained beam of light used to highlight particular objects or areas of a room.

After you've selected what and where you want to add light, what type of effect you would like to create for a particular room, you'll have to decide how you're going to light it, and choose the assortment of lighting products you'll need to create that effect.

Hall and Foyer Fixtures: Provide general lighting and assure safe passage into other areas of your home. You can use ceiling chain hung entry fixtures, or close-to-ceiling fixtures in hallways, stairways, and entranceways. Be sure to size the decorative fixture to the space. For example, two story foyers will require a larger fixture. If the fixture can be viewed from above, be sure to select a foyer fixture which looks attractive from second story viewing. Stairways and halls must have good general lighting for safety. Choose matching close-to-ceiling fixtures for hallways and smaller chain-hung fixtures for stairways.

Chandeliers: Add style to your dining room while giving you the general home lighting you need for dining and entertaining. Chandeliers are also used in bedrooms, foyers, or over a living room grouping, or a grand piano. Some are designed with downlights to provide task lighting for homework or table games, or to accent table settings. A chandelier or pendant can be a general lighting element, as well as a focal point of the home. Recessed wall washers can provide additional light while helping to create an illusion of a larger room space. A chandelier should be 6" to 12" smaller than the narrowest side of the table. The bottom of a pendant or chandelier should be approximately 30" above a table.

Pendants: Provide both task and general home lighting are quipped with shades, globes, or bowls to avoid glare. They are suspended from the ceiling over intimate areas such as breakfast bars, kitchen tables, desks, dinette tables, game tables, breakfast nooks and other areas. When used over nightstands or end tables, they free up the space normally occupied by table lamps. Pendants also should be approximately 30" above a table. Mini-Pendants in sets of two's or three's can create a dramatic look.

Ceiling Fixtures: Usually provide general home lighting and are practical in busy areas such as hallways, foyers, bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, dens, and playrooms.

Fluorescent Fixtures: Decorative fluorescent fixtures mounted in the center of a work space are a common choice for kitchens. Kitchens less than 100 square feet require a two lamp fluorescent, up to 250 square feet will require supplemental lighting. Downlights mounted 18" off the edge of the cabinets, and spaced 3' to 4' on centers is an excellent way to create additional general lighting.

Wall Mounted Fixtures: Used for general, task, and accent lighting. Many are designed to match and supplement dining room chandeliers, or to provide hallway, bedroom, or living room lighting. Wall brackets or wall sconces are often used for task lighting at the bathroom mirror.

Bathroom Lighting Fixtures and Vanity Lighting Strips: Used to supply task lighting, while supplementing the general home lighting provided by ceiling fixtures. Similar to the lighting in theater dressing rooms, these softly glowing strips of globe-shaped incandescent bulbs provide excellent lighting for grooming, applying makeup, and shaving. Areas over 100 square feet require several recessed down lights or decorative surface mounted fixtures. Companion close-to-ceiling fixtures help to supplement bath wall brackets in larger bathrooms.

Portable Lamps: Deliver general, task, and accent lighting while giving you the flexibility to move the light whenever you want. Table lamps, desk lamps, piano lamps, floor lamps, and torchieres are available in a variety of styles to complement your decor.
Keep table lamps in proportion to the table, and the shade should be approximately two-thirds the height of the lamp base, deep enough so that a small portion of the neck (the fitting between the lamp and socket) is visible, and about one-and-a-half times the width of the lamp base. As a general rule: for the most comfort, place a table lamp so that the bottom of the shade is approximately at eye level. When the shade is higher, the glare from the bulb causes eyestrain, while a lower lamp light sheds the light onto the table instead of the work.

Track Lighting: Provide general, task, or accent lighting all at once in one flexible lighting system. You can move, swivel, rotate, and aim the individual fixtures in any direction along the track, giving you the versatility to change your lighting scheme when the need arises. You can also hang chandeliers and pendants from the track. Track fixtures are available in standard line voltage or low-voltage current.

Recessed Lighting: Provide general, task, or accent lighting inconspicuously. Installed in the ceiling with only the trim showing, recessed fixtures can be used anywhere in the home, including outdoors under eaves. They are ideal for low-ceiling areas. They are available as downlights, adjustable accent lights, and wall washers in both standard and low-voltage current and a choice of incandescent, tungsten-halogen, and energy-efficient compact fluorescents.

Under cabinet Lighting / Kitchen cabinet Lighting / Under Shelf Fixtures: Offer both task and accent lighting. Under kitchen cabinets they light a countertop. They're also used in a workshop or anywhere you need lighting right at hand. When mounted inside a display cabinet or used in bookcases and shelves to show off prized possession they add drama.

Uplighting: Wall sconces visually expand a room by providing uplight and ambient light. Use them as a complement to recessed downlighting, and place them where they appear aesthetically balanced in the room. 66" from center of sconce to floor is a recommended mounting height.

Exterior Home Lighting / Outdoor Home Lighting: Supply accent lighting, task lighting, and double as security lighting. Wall lanterns illuminate an entry to a house. Path spread lights light up the walkway to the front door. Spot lights can be used to uplight trees.
Select a design and size to complement your house while providing sufficient lighting for safety. When installing a wall lantern, size the fixture to the door and surrounding space. Wall lanterns should be mounted slightly above eye level 60° to 66° from the center of the fixture to the floor. Post top lanterns are an excellent way to light a walkway, while complimenting wall lanterns. Large post top lanterns make a better impression when used in large open spaces.

So, you'll want to decide what to light by analyzing the space in terms of:

- Function: what activities will the space be used for?
- Style: contemporary, traditional, eclectic, retro, etc.
- Tasks: what jobs are to be done in the space?
- Special objects: what do you most want people to see?
- Seating Areas: where will people sit?
- Mood: what atmosphere is desired?
- Architectural features: what points are to be emphasized?

Rooms should be illuminated to accommodate the user's needs. If you have a multi-purpose room, you'll want to divide it up into separate activity areas. If there is a dining or game table, a separate light hanging over the table will be necessary. A reading chair in the same room will need a lamp that directs light over the shoulder of the reader, being careful not to place the source of light behind the person's head so as to avoid shadows on the book or magazine. Be creative and consider mixing sizes, shapes and styles of lighting in a room.

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