Interior Lighting » Glare

Using Bathroom Mirrors to Enhance Lighting in Bathrooms

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:03:02 +0000

Bathroom mirrors are often overlooked when it comes to furnishing and decorating a bathroom. Many people seem to be content with a plain frameless mirror hanging over a vanity sink. This oversight may not just be detracting from the effort and resources spent furnishing the bathroom, it may also be costing you money. In this article I will discuss a few simple aspects of a bathroom mirror that can enhance the look, feel, and overall illumination of your bathroom.

Proper placement of a bathroom mirror

The right placement of a mirror can have a great impact on the look of your bathroom. Everyone has heard that a mirror can make a small room appear larger- especially true if you have a small bathroom. But, many other benefits of decorative or framed bathroom mirror are ofter overlooked. The first thing to keep in mind is what the mirror is reflecting. For example, if you have a piece of wall art or large window with a view, placing the mirror across or possible at a slight angle will allow a view regardless of where you are standing in the bathroom. A large decorative framed mirror will match perfectly with a victorian or old-world vanity. You may want to consider frameless or a mirror with a simple chrome or nickel frame if you are going for a more modern feel.

How mirrors can save you energy

Mirrors can multiply the amount of light in place in the bathroom. If you place the mirror so that it hangs across or even at a 45 degree angle from a ceiling light. You will need a fraction of light, and hence cost, you would need otherwise to properly light a bathroom. This is especially true if the bathroom is not being used for grooming or a particular tast at the time. You want to be sure that the chandelier or ceiling light has a diffuser or provides up-light as to avoid glare in the mirror. That said, many people assume that the only place for a mirror is above the bathroom vanity. Not true, using a smaller mirror on an adjacent wall will also work to amplify the existing bathroom lights in place.

By: Kevin Hatan

The Fundamentals Of Bathroom Ceiling Lighting

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:06:33 +0000

Every day, before we head off to the outside world, we spend some time in the bathroom first, taking care of ourselves. The bathroom is also a place where most of us spend time relaxing after a long day at work, maybe by soaking in the bath tub. Homeowners may not put too much attention to it but one of the most important amenities in a bathroom is the lights, especially bathroom ceiling lighting.

Yes, lighting plays a significant role in both the functionality and aesthetics of a bathroom. With the proper lighting, your bathroom can crossover from simply adequate to truly sophisticated. Proper illumination is necessary in every bathroom especially if it is used mainly for grooming and hygiene. Of course, activities such as shaving or putting on make up needs sufficient lighting in order to be done properly. To achieve this, you can install bathroom ceiling lighting fixtures that will provide the needed illumination. You can install a decorative lighting fixture and suspend it from the ceiling. This will not only provide enough light throughout the entire room but will also introduce an elegant style in your bathroom. In the shower, you can also install overhead lighting that will cast enough light into the area without producing too much glare. Ceiling lights will also brighten enclosed corners in your bathroom.

Bath tub areas need a more subtle lighting to create a more relaxed atmosphere and subdued ambiance. This can be achieved by using recessed lighting fixtures that gently diffuse the light but still provide sufficient illumination. A good technique is to focus the light towards the edge of the tub. This will help avoid dull lights in your bath area. Meanwhile, if you are fond of reading while on the toilet, you can install reading lamps either on the ceiling or the wall.

The most important area of the bathroom that should be given proper illumination is the vanity area or the mirror. You can install bathroom ceiling lighting that is positioned in a way that will eliminate shadows and dark circles on your face. This way, the clear and sufficient illumination will aid your grooming and help you look your best. Aside from overhead lighting, you can also use sconces that will provide just enough light without casting hard shadows on your face. If you want to feel like a movie star, you can also install fluorescent light bulbs, either bare or ensconced, along the sides of your vanity mirror.

To create a relaxing atmosphere throughout your bathroom and still provide the enough illumination, you can opt for rope lights embedded in recessed moldings along the outer edges of your ceiling. This will create a more cozy and comfortable ambiance in your bathroom. To save up on electricity, you can use LED (light-emitting diodes). Other bathroom ceiling lighting is also available to suit you individual taste.

By: Tim Lee

Bathroom Lighting Tips

admin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:17:36 +0000

So, you’ve been putting up with the tacky light fixtures that were installed when you moved in. Or worse yet, maybe you still have the bulb and string hanging from your bathroom ceiling. But more and more people often, the bathroom is used as a sanctuary, a place to relax after a long day. Steam showers, Jacuzzis, and more spacious rooms are partly the reason. Whats ofter overlooked is the lighting, which can make all the difference when it comes to aesthetics and utility. The secret to good bathroom lighting is layering the light. Layering, refers to using different sources of light. In the bathroom, it involves using both general lighting and task lighting.

The first Layer

The fist layer, as mentioned, starts with ambient or general lighting. The goal is to provide a warm glow to the room by providing a comfortable level of brightness without any glare. The most common sources of general light for the bathroom is a flush or semi-flush ceiling fixture. It is also becoming more common to use a mini-chandeliers in the bathroom. Ambient lights need to be placed in the center of the bathroom so that the light is spread out evenly.

How much general light do I need for my bathroom?

The rule of thumb for the first layer of lighting in the bathroom is as follows. Multiply the length and width of the bathroom- lets say 10ft. by 10ft. Take that number and multiply it by a factor of 1.5. So in the example above, you would need 150 Watts of general light as your fist layer.

The Second Layer

The second layer is task lighting. Portable lamps, tracks, and recessed lights are usually the sources of task lighting. However, these sources don’t work well at all in the bathroom. If you have a recessed light above the vanity mirror you’ve probably notices the shadow it casts on your face. It is not suitable at all.

Placement of bathroom sconces and bath-bars

Proper task lighting in your bathroom should surround you with light. The ideal source of task lighting would be two sconces on either side of the vanity and a bath-bar above the mirror. Sconces should be place about 6-8 inches above eye level or about 6 1/2 feet from the ground. They should also be separated by a distance of 28 inches or more. The bath-bar should be 30-32 inches in length, mounted above the mirror. FYI, many companies now offer “beauty wraps.” These fixtures wrap around your mirror, providing you with sufficient light.

How do I determine the amount of task lighting in my bathroom?

Calculating the amount of task lighting is similar to the example given above. The only difference is you multiple by a factor of 2.5. In the example given above, that would amount to 250 Watts of light.

Kevin Hatan

By: Kevin Hatan

Elegant Lighting For Your Home

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:55:11 +0000

As any artist or home decorator will tell you, you’ll find that there are many different options open to anyone who is interested in making sure that their home is comfortable and beautiful, but the truth remains that one of the most impressive and effective things that you can do in order to make sure that your home and the rooms in it look their best is by making sure that you take care of the lighting. Your home’s lighting serves to illuminate things, of course, but you will also soon realize that by paying attention to things like the lighting fixtures and the table lamps that you will be able to make sure that your house absolutely shines!

When you are considering what kind of lighting to bring into your home, don’t forget that you need to think about directional control. You’ll find that you should make sure that all of the light that is coming from your light source should be pointing down, and that it should be shielded in some way to ensure that you are are not blinding people when the light comes on. You’ll find that this is an important effect of making sure that your lighting fixtures will work for you, rather than against you, which is altogether too common.

For instance, take a look at the charm and grace that a well-placed table lamp can bring to your home. You’ll find that table lamp offers you a respite from the glare of an overhead light, which may very well be too garish or too bright for you to really see what you are doing. When you are considering taking the time to make sure that your lighting is good, remember that your table lamp can add a very powerful decorative cue in your decorating. Make sure that it complements the room around it, rather than fighting the existing decor.

Of course, you should also not forget the charm that you can bring to the room through the use of a desk lamp. Do you have a place where you write or study a great deal? You’ll find that a desk lap, with its small but powerful circle of light, will be able to keep you focused without distracting you with the glare of a larger, overhead light fixture. If you are looking to use something really special, consider taking a look at the Tiffany lamps. Tiffany lamps originated at the turn of the century and even today, they continue to enchant with a stained glass lampshade made in brilliant colors.

Take some time to make sure that your home’s lighting is giving it that wonderfully elegant look that comes with good lighting. Far from simply making sure that you don’t bump your toes, your home’s lighting options are as much an element of its design and its presence as the art that you hang on the walls. Make sure that your home won’t fall short of its potential, and put some time into making your home glow!

By: Des Smalls

Bedroom Lighting Tips

admin — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:22:11 +0000

The first step for bedroom lighting tips is to decide how much you would like to spend on artificial lights. There is a diverse range of models from which to choose.

Then, have a good mix of task and background lighting so you won’t leave the house with one brown shoe and one black shoe. Tungsten and halogen are the principal types of light used in the bedroom. Tungsten is a traditional, soft, and gold-tinted light, while halogen light is newer, crisper, and whiter.

Comparatively, tungsten light is perfect for warm background lighting, while halogen works well in low- and main-voltage lights. It is especially suitable for task lighting, often working better than traditional tungsten lamps for reading in bed, particularly in fittings mounted on the wall or attached to the bed head

Try these bedroom lighting tips to create a relaxing atmosphere while providing bright spots for reading and other activities:

• Dim it – Try not to have too many lights in the bedroom. Sometimes all you need to prepare for bed are soft lights from matching bedroom lamps.

• Blind it – When natural light gets too bright, like at the tropics, use well-designed blinds to diffuse and control the light.

• Light color – The color of the bedroom walls will affect how much lighting is needed, so bear in mind that dark tones absorb light, and pale colors reflect it.

• Bed switch – Just as you can switch lights on at the door, you should also be able to switch them off from the bed. This is to prevent the need to get out of bed prior to nodding off.

• Private reading – For reading in bed, use an adjustable glare-free wall-mounted lamp that casts the light where you want it, so you don’t disturb your sleeping partner. A table lamp with an adjustable arm and shade will also do. Just make sure the lamps are compatible with your room decor.

By: Lester Fong