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LIGHTING PLANNING GUIDE |
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USEFUL TIPS |
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Calculating the Light Needed for Each Room
The formula for calculating the proper amount of light you should have in each room of your home:
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Multiply the length times the width of the room (in feet). Then, multiply that number times 1.5. This number gives you the amount of wattage* needed to light the room properly for general illumination.
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For task lighting in areas where stronger light is needed (such as a kitchen island), multiply the area's square footage by 2.5 rather than 1.5 to find the needed wattage.* |
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Lighting a Foyer
- To determine the proper fixture width: Add the length and width dimensions (in feet) of the foyer area together. This number is the proper width (in inches) for the fixture you'll need there.
- To determine the proper fixture height: The bottom of the fixture should be at least 7 feet from the floor. Depending on the ceiling height, you could use a flush mount, a semi-flush, or if you have a tall ceiling, you may use a 2 or 3-tier chandelier.
- If ther is a window above the front door, center the chandelier so it can be seen from outside. If the foyer area is large, you may also want to include wall sconces. Install them approximately 60 inches from the floor, 6 - 8 feet apart.
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Lighting a Hallway
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Lighting a Living Room
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Lighting a Dining Room
- Your dining room chandelier should be no wider than 12 inches less than the width of the table. The bottom of the chandelier should be no no lower than 30 inches above the tabletop. This height is for an 8 foot ceiling. Raise the fixture 3 inches higher for each additional foot of ceiling height.
- You can add wall sconces, or portable lamps to add more light and ambience. Sconces are hung about 60 inches from the floor.
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Lighting a Kitchen
- You can use a chandelier, a flush mount or a semi-flush fixture as the main light in your kitchen. The bottom of the fixture should be at lease 7 feet from the floor.
- To light areas such as kitchen islands, use a decorative island light with 2 or 3 shades, or multiple pendants can be installed over your island for sufficient light and to add a designer element to that area. The bottom of the fixtures should be no lower than 30 inches above the counter top.
- To light a dinette area, use a decorative pendant (single light - since this is generally a smaller eating area) or a mini-chandelier. The bottom of the fixture should be no lower than 30 inches above the tabletop.
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Lighting a Bedroom
- You can use a mini-chandelier, a flush mount or a semi-flish fixture as the main light in your bedroom. The bottom of the fixture should be at least 7 feet from the floor.
- You may add wall sconces, or portable lamps to add more light and ambience. Sconces are hung about 60 inches from the floor.
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Lighting a Bathroom
- To light a bathroom with a desirable amount of light for the vanity/mirror, to avoid shadows, install a bathbar at least 24 inches wide over the mirror, plus two wall sconces (one on each side of the mirror) at least 28 inches apart and 60 inches above the floor.
- If you have a double sink vanity, use a bathbar that is almost as wide as the mirror, or two fixtures (one mounted over each sink). The bathbars should be mounted 78" from the floor, centered over the mirror.
- If you have a truly large bathroom, besides the vanity/mirror lighting, you will probably need an additional flush mount, semi-flush fixture or even a small chandelier for a designer touch.
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Outdoor Lighting
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General Tips
- Updating your lighting fixtures can dramatically change the way your home looks without costly home decorating or remodeling.
- When choosing several lighting fixtures for a room, check for available fixtures from the same collection, to match the overall look.
- You can make a room seem larger by washing its walls with even lighting.
- In a large room, lighting up a few areas with pools of light can make the room feel smaller and cozier.
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Cleaning your Fixtures
- Be certain the electric current is turned off before cleaning.
- Clean metal components with a soft cloth, moistened with a mild liquid soap solution.
- Wipe clean and buff with a very soft dry cloth. Under no circumstances should any metal polish by used, as its abrasive nature could damage the protective finish placed on the metal parts.
- Never wash glass shades in an automatic dishwasher. Line a sink with a towel and fill with water and a mild liquid soap. Wash glass with a soft cloth, rinse and wipe dry.
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Energy Saving Indoor Lighting Tips
Making improvements to your lighting is one of the fastest ways to cut your energy bills. Using new lighting technologies can reduce lighting energy use in your home by 50% to 75%. Use energy efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFL's) in fixtures throughout your home to provide high-efficiency lighting. Fluorescent lamps are much more efficient than incandescent (standard) bulbs and last about 4 to 10 times longer. Today's CFL's offer brightness and color rendition that is comparable to incandescent lights. Although compact fluorescent bulbs cost a bit more than incandescent bulbs, they pay for themselves by saving energy over their lifetime.
- Look for the ENERGY STAR label when purchasing products.
- Turn off the lights in any room you're not using, or consider installing timers, photo cells, or occupancy sensors to reduce the amount of time your lights are on.
- Use task lighting, instead of brightly lighting an entire room.
- Consider 3-way lamps; they make it easier to keep lighting levels low.
- Use CFL's in all the portable lamps and torchiere fixtures in your home.
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Energy Saving Outdoor Lighting Tips
Many homeowners use outdoor lighting for decoration and security. The Supply House also carrys lights powered by small photovoltaic (PV) modules that convert sunlight directly into electricity. Consider PV-powered lights for areas that are not close to an existing power supply line.
- Use outdoor lights with a photocell unit and motion sensor so they will turn on only at night or when someone is present.
- Exterior lighting is one of the best places to use CFLs because of their long life. If you live in cold climate, be sure to buy a lamp with a cold weather ballast since standard CFLs may not work well below 40 degrees Farenheight.
- Also Consider high intensity discharge (also called HID) or low pressure sodium lights.
For more information you may visit our showroom in Saint John Indiana, or email or call us.
*Wattage is based on incandescent (standard) bulbs. |
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