How to Light a Room

Have you ever entered a room and noticed how well it was lit? Probably not because the key to effective lighting is that it is not noticeable. Lighting is not an end in itself - it is a tool to add character and atmosphere to an enclosed space. Here are a few tips to change the look of any room for the better by using light.

• Layer the light. It is a common misconception that the whole room must be equally well lit. Instead use multiple light sources and diffuse them to create a layered look that will highlight key accents of the room while allowing the rest of the space to become the backdrop. Experiment by placing lamps at different locations and trying out different bulbs and shades.

• Use a dimmer. Besides allowing different moods to be created, dimmers have another important function. All light sources cast shadows and the difference between a bright spot and shadowed part of a room is literally like night and day. Dimmers can reduce the contrast and keep the room ambience on an even level.

• Use the right bulbs. Never use fluorescent bulbs in a home – they make any space look like an office. They also alter the color of everything in the room and, in addition, cause eye fatigue. CFL or LED bulbs are a better option and the warm shades that are available can be used to give even the most cold and clinical feeling rooms a warmth that makes them comfortable to be in.

• Exposure to daylight is good for the health

• It is free

• A room that is lit by natural sunlight will looks more natural and open than one that uses artificial lighting during the day.

The Daylight Advantage

However you decide to light your home, one factor to remember is that nothing is better than natural daylight. There are a number of reasons for this, including the fact that:

The problem many homeowners face in maximizing the use of daylight is that often rooms do not have enough windows, the exposure is not right for maximizing the use of daylight or trees and other natural factors restrict the amount of sunlight that enters the home. Adding more windows requires major modifications to the home, even if it is possible. The exposure cannot, obviously be changed. And cutting down trees is not something that anyone wants to do. That does not mean that people with these problems have to content themselves with a dark home or need to use electric lights 24 hours a day.

Daylighting systems collect daylight from the roof of a home and using cutting edge technology channel it, with almost no loss, though walls and floors to almost any part of the home. This allows dark rooms, hallways, closets and other areas of the house to receive natural daylight. This will change the ambience of these areas and make them better looking and more comfortable to spend time in. Contact a daylighting systems dealer for a reputed manufacturer of the equipment to learn how daylight can change your home for the better.