LIGHTING DESIGN

Instructor: Deborah Ogden

DO YOU HAVE ANY ROOMS WITH A SINGLE LIGHT SOURCE?

Rooms with a single source of light: unflattering!

Single source lighting is harsh and contrast-y

LAYERED LIGHTING IS SOFTER, MORE NATURAL, AND MORE PLEASING

Focus is on art and floral arrangement

Light sources are concealed

Texture of wood and wall highlighted

Room appears inviting

CREATING A DRAMATIC FOCAL POINT IS ONE FUNCTION OF LIGHTING

What is highlighted in this room?

The table top is noticed first

Then the plant in background, and then area near window

LIGHTING CAN HELP CREATE AN ILLUSION

(cove lighting used on previous slide)

These pools of light create drama and interest by highlighting the stone floor

They also subtly direct the viewer to the next room

Accent lights draw attention to art or architecture

Notice the spot shining above the fireplace?

On the tree?

On the statue on the far wall?

Lamp on the end table?

Spots on stone, beams, hearth, dining table

Highlight texture and shadow with wall-washers

Up-lights on glass table–

with glass art objects

Architecture highlighted: Lighting in shelf area, spot over fireplace, down-lights on sofa tables

Lighting is ideal for creating ceiling interest

Plant shadows are one way to bring in some lighting “texture”

Picture light, lamps, up-light in plant, spot on round table

Now that is a bedroom ceiling! This could be built into any high-ceilinged room…Note the cove lighting

A restaurant ceiling with cove lighting and gold leaf

See the ceiling spots?

Table lamps?

Torchiere?

Avoid the “black mirror” effect by placing lighting on objects outside a glass wall or door

THERE ARE THREE MAIN TYPES OF LIGHTING:

TASK LIGHTINGAMBIENT LIGHTINGACCENT LIGHTING

Task lighting is focused and specific lighting

Task lighting is not intended to light an entire room

Bedside task light can be wall or table lamps. Measure height of the seated user’s eye level, and place opaque shades just above shoulder, or place the center of a translucent shade at their eye level.

A single center-mounted ceiling light is often not a good task light. In this case, the user’s body blocks the light from shining on the task area.

Track lighting and down-lights also need to be placed where they will shine on the task and not on those performing the task.

Under-cabinet lighting mounted at the front of the cabinet bounces light off the backsplash and onto the countertop—the task area

Lighting a counter and backsplash made from glossy material takes extra care--to avoid glare and veiling reflections: mount adjustable recessed luminaires to give cross-illumination

Another example of a single source of light giving harsh shadows and no “fill” light

Linear task lights mounted near the back of the upper cabinet create a distracting glare for a seated diner—mount at front and use a fascia strip

Sconces are a good source of task light and “fill” light in a bathroom

VEILING REFLECTIONS, OR GLARE, ARE REFLECTIONS THAT PREVENT THE VIEWER FROM SEEING WHAT THEY NEED TO SEE

Fixture placement can cause glare or prevent glare

Glare can be caused by daylight coming in through a window—glare and light control is an important function of window treatments

“Daylighting” is an entire field of study for commercial lighting experts. Effective use of daylight saves tons of pollutants and a great deal of electricity each year. Automatic systems can turn off un-needed areas of light in large offices to save energy--it all adds up.

WHAT WE CALL “LAMPS” ARE CALLED “PORTABLE LUMINAIRES” BY LIGHTING SPECIALISTS. LAMPS ARE OFTEN USED AS TASK LIGHTS. HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES:

These are generic names for lamp styles that have been around a long time

Pharmacy lamps are good reading lights, and as a floor lamp, do not require space for a table

These are all examples of floor lamps

These lamps are in many styles--note also the wide variety of shades

Adjustable task lamps (some look like Pixar lamps..)

AMBIENT OR GENERAL LIGHTING

A single ceiling fixture is the most common form of ambient lighting, but it’s seldom the best option.Ambient lighting is the category of lighting that is hardest to do well .

This room uses soffit, indirect, portable and overhead lighting

Which are ambient lighting sources?

Overhead—yes Lamp—no (it’s

task) Sconce—yes

For ambient, remember overhead, sconce, and cove,

Sconces are a great source of ambient light

They are also used for very good task lighting in a bathroom

Here is a bathroom

sconce “don’t”

And this is what most of us have in our bathrooms

•Vanity lights are most effective and flattering if mounted at this height: the center of the shade at eye level of the user

The fixtures should flank the mirror on left and right

Table lamps are good for task lighting, but are pretty stark for ambient lighting without any other source

Torchieres are an easy way to get ambient light, but they are not effective the way they are often used--as task light

While up-lights are used mostly for accent lighting, they can also contribute to ambient light

Backlighting a translucent object—such as a folding screen, a door, etc. can generate ambient light

Concealed cove lighting is an outstanding source of ambient lighting

A linear light source concealed on top of a canopy bed gives lovely ambient light without a visible source

Hide an ambient lighting source above an armoire or bookcase

Install lighting in a skylight well--for light that seems to be daylight—even at night!

Tray ceilings lend themselves very well to cove lighting details