Lighting Solutions

Your foyer should reflect the overall feel of your home and provide an area for guests to enter safely. Foyers can be illuminated with many different techniques; the effect is more pleasing when several types are combined. Small foyers with 8-9 ft. ceilings are best illuminated with Flush, Semi-Flush or Recessed Lighting as the main source. Taller ceilings and larger foyers are excellent areas to use Chandeliers or inverted Pendant fixtures. Small aperture, 120 or 12 volt Recessed fixtures can be used to add interest in an area that is lacking architectural detail, focused to draw attention to art or interesting furniture. Long foyers and hallways also benefit from the use of Rail, Cable or Track lighting. These can be used to create a gallery effect to highlight an art collection or perhaps a grouping of family photos. A simple trick is to use inexpensive portable floodlights, placed behind plants or furniture, to add interest and light in a corner. When planning a new home or remodeling, include Wall Sconces to break up the tunnel effect in a long hallway. When hard wire fixtures can’t be used, try using tall Buffet Lamps on either side of art work or a mirror to create the illusion of Wall Sconces. Floor Lamps can provide useful up lighting, in lieu of Table Lamps, when space is limited. Be careful not to install a decorative fixture or Recessed Light where it will be difficult to change the bulbs over stairs. Try Sconces on the wall instead, and allow for light at the top and bottom of the stairs. You might want to consider an Electric Lift in Foyers with very high ceilings to facilitate changing bulbs and cleaning. For hallways use similar fixtures and techniques as in foyers. To determine the proper size of a decorative fixture for the foyer and hall, add the width and length together, this figure equals the smallest diameter of a fixture appropriate for the space. Example; 12+18 are equal to a 30” fixture. In a long hallway, divide the space into several smaller areas and size a celing light properly to compliment the smaller space. Remember to allow plenty of overhead clearance to avoid crowding the space. A good rule of thumb is to place the bottom of the fixture no lower than the top of the doorways that enter the space for standard height door. For safety, provide a light source of some kind every 8 to10 feet in the hallway. Try to include recessed stair and step lights in your planning. They provide a safe pathway at night and are a welcome addition in any room of your home. They can be controlled by a simple motion switch ln lieu of a standard wall switch, located at the beginning and end of the hallway.

Suggestions For Lighting Bedrooms and Bedroom Closets

When lighting a bedroom, your goal should be to create an overall atmosphere of quiet relaxation, while also providing areas for reading and other activities. Use a combination of ambient, accent and task lighting to achieve the proper result. Ambient lighting can be provided by, Flush Mounted, Semi-Flush mounted, Chandeliers, Pendants, Fans with Light Kits, Recessed lights, Wall Sconces and decorative Lamps. Remember to use several different light sources to create a pleasant layering effect.

To illuminate the bed for reading, try these techniques. Swing arm wall lamps mounted next to the bed provide reading light while saving table top space. Lamps of any type provide an opportunity to add a decorative element to the plan. Pendants hung over the side tables are also a good idea to provide reading light as well as a decorative accent. For reading in bed, nothing beats a small adjustable recessed light installed at the side of the bed. Install them just to the side and close to the wall the keep the beam out of the readers’ eyes. Use a narrow bean 12v lamp and direct it toward the reading material. Install switches on each side of the bed to allow control by each partner. This provides excellent reading light for one while creating very little “spill light” on the partners’ side. This is also a good way to create a reading nook is a corner of the room. This technique limits the light to just the reading area and does not create general light that may interfere with your partners sleeping. Whether using Lamps, recessed or other ambient light sources, don’t forget to use dimmers to vary light levels. For accent, illuminate interesting details; fireplaces, built-ins, etc., with recessed or surface mounted accent fixtures. Accent lighting can be can be as simple as up lighting a plant or a dark corner with a simple portable fixture. Cove lighting can add a nice ambient element to a bedroom. It creates an intimate feeling and will also serve to highlight an interesting ceiling treatment. Here the goal should be soft, warm and intimate. If you plan to use cove lighting as your main light source you will need to use high wattage sources with a light colored ceiling to act as a reflector. If a Ceiling Fan/Light Kit combination is your only recourse, use a fan light fixture that has shielded bulbs and add lamps for supplemental lighting. Remember to add a fan control and a light dimmer.

Children’s rooms also need several types of light sources to achieve a cheerful, functional space. Try adding track or rail lighting to children’s rooms to illuminate their play and homework areas. Under counter lighting should be added to desk areas when shelving or cabinets are above. The track/rail lighting can be adjusted easily as children grow and their needs change. Use portable lamps that are age appropriate and match the décor. Whichever sources you choose, use more than one, three is best, to create a layer of light that will be comfortable as well as functional. This is an area that could use a recessed stair/step light located low on the wall to provide a soft night. Lighiting should be selected to create a combination of decorative, accent and task lighting. Don’t forget to use dimmers for the lights and wall mounted or hand held remote controls for the ceiling fans, adding ambiance and convenience to your lighting plan. Stay away from lamps that are open torchiere styles that can trap items that playful children might throw, creatng a fire hazard.

For bedroom closets, especially large walk-ins, allow at least 1.5 to 2 watts per square foot, if your walls are light in color. Remember that dark walls and ceilings in closets will require more light. If you choose energy efficient fluorescent fixtures or bulbs, always use a bulb with a high color rendering index. This allows you to see the actual colors and could avoid your wearing two different colored socks or worse! Many master closets today are simply large extensions of the bedroom and will benefit from the same lighting techniques. For custom designed closet layouts, have your closet designer coordinate the lighting plan with your lighting consultant or lighting designer. The individual spaces in today's very large master closets can be treated as small seperate areas and lighted to suit the individual user. A ladies dressing area can be lit differently from the man's area using fixtures that are coordinated for the overall closet. One may prefer a more a decorative approach while the other is looking for a clean, tailored look. Both looks are possible in the same large closet with good planning and selection. The most important thing to remember is the most elaborate closet design is of little value if you can't see what's inside!

Lighting Spaces for Senior Citizens

As the Baby Boom Generation joins the ranks of our growing elderly population, we should consider how lighting their environment will affect their quality of life. By the time we reach age 65 we need three times the amount of light to see with the same acuity of a 20 to 30 year old. Each year a new layer of cells forms on the lens of the eye. As this layer becomes progressively thicker we require higher levels of light to penetrate to the back of the retina. According to new Dutch study published in the Journal of American Medicine, higher light levels can reduce the affects of dementia in older adults.

A correlation exists between how much light we absorb and how much melatonin our body produces. Melatonin is a hormone that is produced while we are sleeping and is essential in the regulation of our circadian rhythm. The body uses light levels to differentiate between daytime and nighttime. When this light level is reduced by an absence of light during the daytime hours, the production of melatonin is affected and results in a disruption to the circadian rhythm. This causes a change in sleep patterns which has been shown to be a factor in early onset dementia. As we age, we tend to spend less time outdoors and more time indoors in artificial light, thus affecting melatonin production. At a time when the human body needs more light we effectively reduce the available light by spending more time indoors.

The Dutch study looked at 189 residents of 12 assisted living facilities, 87 percent of whom had been diagnosed

with dementia over a five year period. In all the facilities, the lights were brightest between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. In half of the facilities,new higher wattage lights were installed. The new lighting produced light of 1000 lux, a measurement of light output equivalent to 93 foot-candles, or about 50 percent more than the level recommended for open office lighting. In the remaining 6 facilities, indoor lighting producsed 300 lux equivalent to 30 foot-candles or roughly the

amount of light recommended for residential living spaces where non critical activities are performed.

In addition, one group was given 2.5 milligrams of melatonin each evening, while the other group received a placebo. The study revealed the higher light levels alone were enough to cause positive effects in the patients. The 1000 lux lighting reduced cognitive decline by 5 percent, reduced symptoms of depression by 19 percent and reduced physical function decline by 53 percent. Of those who took the melatonin, 25 had more uninterrupted sleep, although those who just took the melatonin and weren't exposed to the higher lighting levels showed more signs of withdrawal and depression. The residents who experienced the higher light levels and took the melatonin increased their sleep efficiency by 3.5 percent, reduced nocturnal restlessness by 9 percent and reduced agitated behavior by 9 percent. This research revealed that the same results occurred in the residents exposed to the higher light levels as occurred in patients who are prescribed a popular class of drugs used to treat Alzheimer's.

It is apparent from these studies that increasing the light levels in the living environments of the elderly can have a positive impact on their quality of life and perhaps reduce their dependency on expensive drugs which often produce undesirable side effects. While striving to increase the light levels it is important to consider the type of lighting that will achieve the best result. Careful attention must be paid to creating high light levels without glare. Glare can be especially jarring to older eyes. The building up of layers of cells on the lenses causes a scattering of the light, increasing susceptibility to glare. Often worn by Seniors, glasses and contacts also contribute to the glare problem.

The resulting thickening of the lenses also causes the eyes to register more amber which changes the ability to perceive color correctly. Amber absorbs blueish and purple colors, so the older we get, the less blue we see. This makes it important for older people to have a light source strong in the blue range. Using cool fluorescent lamps and LED's will provide this blue light source. Select fluorescent bulbs at least 4100 k and LED's that have not been manufactured to achieve warmer colors. Use a good quality fluorescent bulb with a high color rendering index to aide in the color recognition. Using an inexpensive daylight bulb with a low CRI will only worsen the color recognition problem.

When planning the lighting for the space, consider the different types of fluorescent lighting. One recommended application is to use linear fluorescent strips mounted in coves located near the ceiling. This in effect turns the entire ceiling into a light reflector creating glare free indirect, evenly distributed light. The ceiling must be white in order for this technique to be effective. Surface mounted fixtures may be used if covered by white diffusers to eliminate glare. The number of bulbs and wattage required is dependant on the room size, color of walls, floors and the reflective properties of those surfaces. Keep in mind that 3 times the recommended light level is the goal. Supplement the ceiling light with lighting over the cabinets and under the cabinets in kitchens. Use the same fluorescent color throughtout. If possible the counter tops should be finished with a material in a matte finish. Avoid dark, glossy surfaces to eliminate glare.

In bathrooms use shielded fluorescent lighting mounted on the wall on either side of the vanity or sink mirror spaced 30" apart. This will provide evenly distributed light with no glare on the face. If the bathroom is equipped with a long solid mirror, mount the lights on the mirror. Additional ceiling lighting should be provided throughout the bathroom to adequately illuminate all areas and provide good light for personal grooming and safety. Since older adults get up frequently in the night to use the bathroom, use amber colored nightlights to help them find their way safely. The amber color will not disturb the sleep cycle and interfere with their ability to return to sleep. While night lighting should be provided, it should be kept to as low a wattage as possible while still providing a safe path of light. In the bathroom provide a night light that can be left on all night or operated by a motion switch. Make sure this light is of a low wattage as well. Introducing bright light to soon can cause temporary blindness in older eyes and lead to disorientation. Older eyes take longer to adjust to changing light levels. There are low level LED's that can be installed in door frames or used at the floor to create a safe path of light throughout a living space.

Often an elderly person will have a favorite chandelier and lamps that they will want to use in their living space. These fixtures can be fitted with frosted light bulbs and soft fabric shades to eliminate glare and used as decorative accents in the room. Fit the table or floor lamps with compact fluorescent bulbs, the highest wattage they can physically hold. Replacement harps and shades can be used to allow for the larger size, higher wattage bulbs. These bulbs burn much cooler than their incandescent couterparts so you can use a higher wattage than recommended because heat is not an issue in the lamp.

Due to the advances in lighting technology and research, it is possible to enhance the quality of life of our senior adults by making simple changes in the lighting of their environments, reducing the occurrence and severity of dementia. Through careful planning and informed fixture selection, we can create an esthetically pleasing living space for our elderly clients or family members, while also helping to increase their quality of life.

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