When illuminating your home's interior, you can choose among ambient, accent and task lighting. - Ambient light provides general lighting.
- Accent light throws light on a specific point or object.
- Task lighting illuminates an area used for specific tasks such as cooking or drawing.
For ambient light in a dining room, you might choose solid crystal chandeliers (figure A) or a bronze cage over an iron frame with crystal drapings (figure B). You could also use a chandelier over your kitchen table (figure C). A general rule of thumb holds that you should hang your chandelier so that it is 30" to 36" above the surface of your table. When choosing lighting for a foyer, keep in mind the length and width of the room. In general, the size of the fixture should be directly related to the size of the room. Measure the length and width of the room, and add the numbers together, rounding to the nearest foot. For example, if your room measures 14' long and 10' wide, you'll add 14 to 10, with a result of 24'. Your light fixture should be 24". Another ambient lighting option is the pendant, which can direct light down (figure D) or up (figure E). Both formal and informal pendant lights are available at most lighting centers. Consider using wall lights for ambient lighting too. Wall lights are available as - Shaded lamps (figure F),
- Quarter-spheres (figure G),
- Quarter-sphere sconces (figure H)
or - Other sconces (figure I).
To accent pictures, try picture lights directly attached to or immediately behind the frame. Picture lights should be at least three times brighter than standard lights. Track lighting works well for both task lighting and accent lighting. The lights are simple to install and can be repositioned easily.
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