Tips for Stress free life  >  Expert Zone   > Home Improvement      

 Home Improvement Tips


How to Design a Lighting Plan


You are doing a remodel and know that you want to add some lighting to the room, but your stumped. Where do I start is the most common question I get asked. There are some basic guidelines and factors that can help you determine where to start and how to proceed.

First let's take the room and it's needs. Different rooms require different lighting solutions. Rooms like bedrooms, living rooms, dens and basements can be properly illuminated with a simple general lighting plan. In rooms up to about 12' x 12', one ceiling light that can hold bulbs that combined equal about 120 watts is sufficient. For a better and more evenly disbursed light, 4 recessed lights about 40" off each corner works wonderfully.

A living room or den may be a rectangle as opposed to a square. A room that is 15' x 12' would be more evenly lit with 6 recessed cans. In these rooms lighting can be supplemented with wall sconces and or table or floor lamps.

Kitchens and bathrooms require much more thought. In these rooms, where tasks are performed, it is important that the lighting level be high enough to perform these tasks safely and comfortably. In a good kitchen lighting plan all the work areas will be well lit. Placing the cans so that the centers line up directly above the outside edge of the cabinets is the best solution. This provides ample light and avoids shadows while working at the counters. Spacing in a kitchen is also very important. Keeping the recessed lights about 4 feet apart and no more than 5 feet, will assure you have even spread of light.

If you run into a wall and need to ask questions about lighting try a Lighting Forum. There are some basic lighting principles that can help you along in this process. One is understanding that light in most fixtures has some type of pattern. For example a recessed light using a reflector type bulb distributes a pattern in the shape of a cone. When this pattern reaches the floor it is in the form of a circle. By slightly overlapping this circle of light it is possible to have a very even distribution of light throughout the room.

Since most of the members of a household walk upright and the ones who don't, probably won't lodge any complaints about lighting, a general rule in lighting a room is to design the plan on a work plane. This is an imaginary plane at about 30" off the floor. This helps to provide a nice even lighting for most tasks in any room. This is where understanding the pattern of light your fixture has is important. Most manufacturers have specs to show what these patterns are. For reflective bulbs you can get this info from the bulb manufacturer.

(c) Copyright 2005 Paul Forte. All rights reserved.

Paul forte has been in the lighting industry for over 25 years. For more info and tips on lighting and other electrical needs please visit Lighting Tips For help with Laying out recessed lighting


MORE RESOURCES:

OIC members urged to build debt relief solidarity
African Press Agency, Senegal - Oct 9, 2008
"I am calling for the development of a tangible action plan to establishing a system of debt relief or cancellation by rich Islamic states for economically ...


How FG spent N308.3bn debt relief funds
The Punch, Nigeria - Oct 1, 2008
By John Ameh, Abuja Nigeria realised and saved an estimated N308.3 bn from its debt relief efforts after the Paris Club wiped off its $19.3bn debt in June ...
FG Spends N2.4 bn Debt Relief Fund on Education –W’Bank THISDAY
all 6 news articles


Ja can gain Nigerian-like benefits from debt relief programme ...
Jamaica Observer, Jamaica - Sep 23, 2008
"Nigeria has huge debt of many billion dollars and two or three years ago, there was a concerted effort by all concerned to give debt relief. ...


Debt relief panel to explore possibilities
Express Buzz, India - Oct 4, 2008
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Farmers’ Debt Relief Commission, constituted to give the much-needed succour to the farm sector, is kicking off the ...


Debt relief for woman, 90, who shot herself to escape eviction
The Standard, Hong Kong - Oct 5, 2008
Mortgage finance giant Fannie Mae says it will write off the debt of a 90-year-old woman who shot herself in the chest as sheriff's deputies tried to evict ...


Benefit From Being Part Of "America'S Most Trusted Company For ...
Franchising.com (press release), CA - Oct 2, 2008
October 02, 2008 // Franchising.com // Rise Above Debt Relief, a nationwide sales organization offering debt counseling and relief programs is creating ...


Total Debt Freedom Earns a Place in the HOT 50 List of Canada's ...
PR.com (press release), NY - 17 hours ago
Cooper says: “With all the available options out there, competition remains fierce in the debt relief arena; it’s our people and our investment in ...


Memorandum on Debt Relief Scheme
Express Buzz, India - Oct 3, 2008
PALAKKAD: The Deseeya Karshaka Samajam has demanded in a memorandum to Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram that some provisions in the Debt Relief Scheme ...


Centre announces Rs 2518 cr debt relief to farmers in Kerala
Business Standard, India - Sep 17, 2008
PTI / Kottayam September 17, 2008, 18:51 IST Centre has announced a debt relief of Rs 2518.12 crore to the farmers in Kerala during the current year. ...


New Fed Debt Relief Effort Lifts Wall Street
TheStreet.com - Oct 7, 2008
US opened Tuesday in rebound mode after the Federal Reserve said it would buy short-term debt from US companies to provide relief from the credit crisis. ...

Debt-Relief - Google News

You are here Home > Tips for Stress free Life > Expert Zone > Home Improvement


| Home Improvement  | Home Improvement - Complete list 

| Main Home | | Meditation Corner

                |Health Tips  | Workplace Tips  | Soul Tips  |Expert Zone  |

Recommend us  |

 Books, DVDs and accessories on meditation & yoga  |

[About us] [Contact] [Privacy Policy]

Copyright 2006, Meditation is Easy.com, All rights reserved