Interior Lighting

Bringing Rooms To Life

Copyright 2008 Learning Seed

800.634.4941
[email protected]
www.learningseed.com

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Interior Lighting
Bringing Rooms To Life
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Bringing Rooms To Life

Table of Contents
The Program
Summary ............................................................................................................................................1
Direction, Quality, And Intensity .........................................................................................................2
Types Of Lamps .................................................................................................................................4
Types Of Fixtures ...............................................................................................................................5
Review ................................................................................................................................................6
Interactive Elements
Discussion Questions And Activities ..................................................................................................7
Evaluation/Testing
Fill-In-The-Blank .................................................................................................................................8
Fill-In-The-Blank Answer Key .............................................................................................................9
Multiple Choice Worksheet ...............................................................................................................10
Multiple Choice Worksheet Answer Key...........................................................................................11
Quiz ..................................................................................................................................................12
Quiz Answer Key ..............................................................................................................................13
Additional Information
Glossary............................................................................................................................................14
For More Information ........................................................................................................................16

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Summary
Interior Lighting: Bringing Rooms To Life teaches the basics of residential interior lighting. The liveaction video demonstrates how the angle, quality, and intensity of light influence how it is perceived
and used.
The program explains ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting. It demonstrates different
kinds of lamps and lighting fixtures and shows how each contributes to the overall interior design
plan.
The video is aimed at students taking introductory courses in interior design or lighting.
Key points:

What are the most important components of lighting for interiors?

How does lighting affect our experience of a space?
What are the most common kinds of light fixture, and what are the differences between them?
What kind of light bulb uses a third of the electricity of a standard bulband lasts 10 times as
long?
How do direction, diffusion, and reflecting affect the appearance of a space?

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Direction, Quality, And Intensity

Direction Of Light
Light can transform our feelings. In horror movies, one of the most effective ways of creating a
monster is by using lighting. An uplight, a single direct light from below, casts strong shadows. An
actors face lit by an uplight appears menacing. But direct light doesnt have to be scary. The same
principle can be used to make a dull surface appear more dramatic. Light shining straight on a
surface makes it appear flat, but a direct, angled light can cast shadows on a wall or a piece of fabric
that highlight its texture. This kind of shadowy texturing can bring a blank wall to life.
Angled light can also be used to enhance the shape and dimension of an object. A vase lit by a
single, straight light is well-illuminated, but appears flat. Lighting the same vase from an angle makes
it stand out from its background. This principle explains why photos taken with a built-in flash often
have an unpleasantly harsh appearance. A flashbulb is a direct light from one direction. Professional
photographers rarely use a single, straight-on light. In other cases, angled lighting and the shadows it
produces arent desirable. A single light above or next to a mirror creates facial shadows that wont
exist in a well-lighted room. Professional make-up mirrors provide light from multiple directions to
eliminate shadows.
When lighting a living space, its essential to keep the direction of the light in mind. Rooms that have
outside light coming from two directions are generally more pleasing to the eye than those with light
from only one direction. For the most comfortable results, interiors should be lit to provide multi-angle
light.
Quality Of Light: Color
Light can have different qualities, from the pale yellow of the morning to the orange of sunset to the
deep blue of dusk. Weather can change lights quality and color, too. A cloudy or foggy day filters the
sunlight and changes its mood. Direction also changes light quality. Because of the angle of sunlight,
windows on north or east walls admit cool, bluish light, with fewer orange and yellow wavelengths.
Southern or western windows bring sunlight later in the day, with warm, orange tones.
We often think of light from a light bulb as white, but in fact it has strong yellow and red tones. The
standard light bulb, the incandescent bulb, hasnt changed much since Thomas Edison invented it in
1879. It produces light by sending an electric current through a filament of tungsten. The electricity
causes the filament to burn, but it doesnt burn up because the bulb is filled with inert gases like argon
or nitrogen. Some of the tungsten does evaporate due to the temperature, and thats why some bulbs
blacken over time. The light we see is the glow from the burning tungsten. The yellow and red tones
in the light are reminiscent of those from a fire, and that may be why we find the light quality so
pleasingfire was our ancestors first source of controlled light.
Quality Of Light: Diffusion
As soothing as those color tones may be, we usually dont light our rooms with bare incandescent
bulbs. The light from a bare bulb is harsh and uncomfortable. We use diffusion and reflecting to
soften the lights quality. Direct light from a single direction can be harsh. Diffusion filters this
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harshness by scattering the light, making it less direct, softening shadows, and reducing glare. Most
light bulbs are coated with a layer of silica that softens the light before it leaves the bulb.
Photographers often use diffusion filters to make objects less focused. Diffused light is less likely to
produce glare and hot spots in photographs. Clouds diffuse sunlight in the same way, which is why
photos taken on cloudy days often look better than those taken in full sunlight. Though most bulbs
offer some diffusion, the light from a bare light bulb is usually still a bit too harsh for most purposes.
Most household lighting is passed through some kind of filter, such as a lamp shade, to diffuse it
further.
Quality Of Light: Reflecting
Reflected light is also softer than direct light. All rooms have some indirect bounced lighting because
light reflects off of ceilings and walls. Light colors and shiny surfaces are the best reflectors, which is
why ceilings are often painted white. Rooms with dark walls or ceilings absorb more light, which
makes them look darker overall. A room with dark walls will need more artificial lighting than a room
with light walls. Some kinds of light fixture use reflected light. Cove lighting covers the light source so
that almost all of the visible light is reflected from the wall. Torchieres direct most of their light up so
that it bounces off of the ceiling.
Lights quality and color can be changed by reflecting. A colored surface will tint the light that it
reflects. An object or person near a blue surface will have a bluish tone. Wood walls and furniture that
are lit by warm white light will reflect that light with a warm reddish glow. White and neutral furnishings
like marble and chrome look best in neutral white or daylight colors.
Intensity Of Light
The overall level of light in a room is called ambient light. High levels of ambient light suggest work
and activity. Kitchens, offices, schools, and retail stores all have high levels of ambient light. Lower
light levels suggest peace and rest. Fast food restaurants have high ambient lighting, but higher-scale
eateries have very low light levels. People draw closer together and talk more quietly in dim light. One
study found that the noise level in school hallways dropped 10 decibels when two thirds of the
overhead fluorescent lights were turned off. The intensity of the light you choose has a big impact on
the atmosphere of a space.
But how can you tell what intensity of light a bulb will produce? Most people look at the wattage
number: a 100-watt bulb will usually give brighter light than a 60-watt one. But wattage isnt actually a
measurement of brightness. The wattage measures how much electricity a lamp draws. That 100watt bulb will sometimes be a brighter light, but sometimes it will just mean a higher electric bill. The
intensity of light is measured in lumens. Some bulbs have higher lumen ratings than others with the
same wattage. The higher the lumen rating, the greater the bulbs brightness, regardless of its
wattage. You can conserve electricity by deciding how many lumens you need and finding the bulb
with the lowest wattage that will provide that amount of light.
In addition to ambient lighting, a room needs task lighting. Task lighting provides illumination for
specific tasks, like cooking or reading. A light over a work bench or a kitchen counter is a task light.
The most common task lighting is for reading or conversation, such as the lighting in a living room.
Backlighting is a common error in this kind of task lighting. Putting a light behind a chair puts the
person sitting in the chair in shadow. If the person across from you is lit from behind, its difficult to
see his or her face. These shadows will also make reading difficultthe chair blocks the light before it
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reaches the pages of the book. Raising the lamp can eliminate the shadow. A lamp placed behind a
chair needs to be higher than one place to the side. A reading lamp at the side of a chair should have
its shade placed at eye level. The average eye level is about 38-42 inches from the floor. Some task
lighting doubles as ambient lighting. Its a good idea to use three-way bulbs or dimmer switches to
adjust the light level according to the task at hand.
Another common kind of lighting is accent lighting, which is used to direct attention to small areas or
objects. Downlights on paintings, sculptures, or other objects are a good way to draw attention.
Lights built into bookcases or placed above display tables make otherwise unnoticed areas come to
life.
Well-designed lighting balances ambient, task, and accent lighting. A room with only one level of light
intensity appears cold and dull. Providing several layers of light increases the visual interest of a
space.

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Types Of Lamps
The term light bulb is all right for everyday use, but lighting experts prefer the word lamp because
many sources of light are not bulb-shaped. There are many different types of lamp beyond the
standard incandescent bulb. Incandescent lamps arent the most efficient light sources. About 88% of
the electricity that goes into an incandescent bulb turns into heat. In a way, these lamps are heaters
that just happen to produce a little light, too. Fluorescent lamps use about a third as much electricity
as incandescent ones, and they can last 10 to 13 times longer. A fluorescent lamp is coated with
phosphors and filled with vaporized mercury and argon. Electric current activates the gases and
causes them to produce light. Fluorescent lamps are much more energy efficient than incandescent
bulbs. Todays compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) can produce the same number of lumens for a far
lower wattage. About half of the U.S.s energy is produced in coal-fired power plants, and much of the
electricity they produce goes into inefficient incandescent lamps. If every U.S. household exchanged
a single incandescent lamp for a CFL, it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking
800,000 cars off the road. Because of the efficiency of CFLs, Australia and Canada have effectively
banned incandescent lamps, and other countries are enacting similar laws.
When you think of fluorescent lighting, you probably think of the bluish institutional light thats used in
warehouses or retail stores. That kind of light is acceptable for the garage or basement, but not for
the living room. But in fact, todays CFLs offer a light quality comparable to that of incandescent
bulbs. Fluorescent lamps are sold in a variety of light qualities, from daylight to soft white. Some bulbs
have a Color Rendering Index (CRI) number. The closer the number is to 100, the better the lamp
reveals true colors. Most lamps change color in subtle ways. The average incandescent lamp, which
gives off reddish-yellow light, is weak at showing blues. (Some daylight bulbs have a bluish coating
to counteract this color shift.) A fluorescent lamp with a high CRI number can actually provide a light
quality closer to sunlight than that given by an incandescent. A high-CRI fluorescent can make it
easier to distinguish colors. Its important to keep the color-shifting nature of artificial light in mind
when designing a space. The colors you see in a furniture showroom may look different in your living
room. Some high-CRI lamps are sold as full spectrum lights that claim to match natural daylight.
They sometimes claim to be healthier than other artificial lights, but there isnt much evidence to
support those claims. Sunlights quality changes throughout the day, and we enjoy a wide variety of
light qualities.
Halogen lamps are small and burn very brightly. Theyre made of quartz and can become quite hot.
Theyre more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, but not as efficient as fluorescents. Halogen
lamps show accurate colors and are closer to the quality of sunlight than cool fluorescents, but whiter
than incandescents. LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) waste very little energy as heat, can burn for 10
years nonstop, and are little larger than a pencil eraser. Theyre often used in digital clocks, remote
controls, traffic lights, and jumbo television screens. Theyre slowly finding a place in household
lighting, and someday they may be a viable replacement for standard lamps. The Mona Lisa in the
Louvre is lit by LEDs. Fiber optics are cables that carry light. At the current level of technology, its
more decorative than practical, but it may find a place in household lighting in the future. Light
emitting capacitors (LECs) are sheets of plastic with an inside layer of phosphors that shine when
hit with alternating current. They can be programmed to flash on contact, and are sometimes used on
electronic drums. Theyre also used in cell phones, pagers, and watches.

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Interior Lighting

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Types Of Fixtures
Knowing how to light a space requires familiarity with the different types of lighting fixtures. Table
lamps are one of the most common kinds of light fixtures. Lights spend most of their time turned off,
so many people want the fixture itself to be attractive. But making a simple table lamp attractive can
be difficult. Some designers prefer to do away with bulky light sources like table and floor lamps
altogether. They prefer invisible lighting sources. Built-in lighting isnt distracting or bulky like a floor
lamp. Its best planned when a house is still being constructed, though it can be added later. Older
houses have only one or two built-in light sources, while newer houses may have dozens.
Here are a few common types of light fixture:

A hanging lamp, or pendant, provides light from above. A dish or globe around the lamp
diffuses the light from a pendant. Restaurants often used focused pendants to create pools of
light that make each table feel more intimate.
Chandeliers are an elegant kind of hanging lamp. The first chandeliers were candle holders. In
fact, the word chandelier comes from the French word for candle. Todays electric
chandeliers sometimes use flame-shaped bulbs as a reminder of the fixtures historical roots.
Wall sconces are another modern take on an ancient type of lightinga torch on the wall.
Wall washers are a kind of fixture that direct wide spans of light along the side of a wall. This
can make rooms with dark walls feel bigger by brightening up their surfaces.
A spotlight creates a single spot of light. It makes a single focal point, so its a good fixture for
accent lighting.
Track lighting, which puts several separate fixtures on a single track, is a popular fixture in
contemporary design.
Recessed lamps are mounted flush with the ceiling. They cast all their light straight down.
Theyre virtually invisible, but cant be moved or redirected.
The interior of a recessed fixture, called the baffle, can redirect or reflect the light. White
reflects more light down, whereas a black, ridged baffle will cut glare.
Some recessed lamps use eyeball lamps that can be swiveled to direct their light.
Recessed and track lights often use reflector bulbs, which have a silvery coating on the sides
to direct light downward rather than wasting it on the sides. The end is coated or textured to
diffuse the light.
Flood lamps are often used in outdoor fixtures. They spill light over a wide area, flooding it
with light.

There are a huge array of choices in lighting fixtures and lamps. Consulting a lighting expert is a
smart idea when planning interior lighting. Good lighting can bring a room to life, but bad or
haphazard lighting can make even the best-designed spaces seem cold or unpleasant.

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Review

The three most important components of lighting for interiors are direction, quality, and
intensity.
Angled light creates texture on flat surfaces and makes objects stand out from their
backgrounds.
Sunlight has different colors at different times of dayblue in the morning, orange in the
evening.
Diffusion filters light by scattering its rays, reducing glare and providing more even illumination.
Light bounced from walls or ceilings affects the overall quality of light in a room. Reflected light
takes on the color of the surface its reflected from.
The intensity or brightness of the ambient light affects the atmosphere of a room or space.
Bright ambient light encourages activity, and dim light is more peaceful and calm.
Task lighting provides illumination for activities like reading or cooking.
Accent lighting draws attention to small areas or objects.
Light is measured in lumens. Wattage is a measurement of electricity.
88% of the electricity that goes into a standard incandescent bulb turns into heat.
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are more energy efficient and last longer than
incandescent lamps, and they can provide high-quality light.
Though table and floor lamps are some of the most common light fixtures, modern designers
prefer less obtrusive fixtures, like recessed and track lights.

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Discussion Questions And Activities

1. What are some common problems in lighting design for homes?
Backlighting, lack of balance between ambient, task, and accent lighting, inefficient
lamps, and poor use of diffusion and reflecting are all common problems in home
lighting.
2. Have students volunteer their living rooms for a lighting re-design. Have the students take before
and after pictures showing how they changed the lighting scheme to eliminate problems like
backlighting, control the level of ambient light, add or adjust task lighting, and add layers of accent
lighting.
3. Should light sources be hidden? Are recessed lamps and other concealed lighting sources better
than visible table and floor lamps? Discuss the pros and cons of both obtrusive traditional fixtures
and inflexible modern designs.
4. Will standard light fixtures ever be replaced? Discuss potential uses of alternative light sources like
LEDs, LECs, and fiber optics.
5. Conduct in-class experiments with diffusion, direction, and reflection. Have students team up with
a partner and see how using different filters, angles, and reflecting surfaces changes the
appearance of a person or space.
Be sure to have a wide variety of materials available for your students: lampshades made
of different materials, different types of lamps, and reflecting surfaces made of several
different materials and colors.

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Interior Lighting
Fill-In-The-Blank
Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the bank at the bottom of the page.
The direction, quality, and intensity of light can have a huge impact on the appearance of a room.
Angled lights can bring out the _______________of flat surfaces and create some visual interest on
an otherwise boring wall. Putting an angled _______________on a vase or a sculpture can make it
jump out from its background and draw attention to it. Understanding the three components of
qualitycolor, diffusion, and _______________is essential to good lighting design. Sunlight has
different color tones at different times of day_______________ in the morning, orange in the
evening. Standard incandescent bulbs have a _______________tint, so it can be hard to distinguish
different shades of blue in their light. All rooms have some reflected light from the wall and ceiling,
and the light will be tinted in the color of the surface from which it bounces. Rooms with dark walls will
often appear small, and adding a _______________ to increase their brightness will make them feel
less cramped. _______________can help tone down some of the harsh quality of a bare bulb by
scattering the light rays and diminishing _______________. Diffusion helps control the ambient light
levelthe overall amount of light in a room. _______________ for specific activities can help
illuminate cooking in the kitchen or reading in the living room. Accent lighting draws attention to small
areas or objects to make a room really appealing to the eye. Good lighting design gives a room
several levels of light _______________, creating layers of light to provide visual interest.

Word Bank:
diffusion
intensity
red
blue
texture
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wall washer
shadows
accent light
task lighting
reflecting

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Interior Lighting
Fill-In-The-Blank Answer Key
Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the bank at the bottom of the page.
The direction, quality, and intensity of light can have a huge impact on the appearance of a room.
Angled lights can bring out the texture of flat surfaces and create some visual interest on an
otherwise boring wall. Putting an angled accent light on a vase or a sculpture can make it jump out
from its background and draw attention to it. Understanding the three components of qualitycolor,
diffusion, and reflectingis essential to good lighting design. Sunlight has different color tones at
different times of dayblue in the morning, orange in the evening. Standard incandescent bulbs
have a red tint, so it can be hard to distinguish different shades of blue in their light. All rooms have
some reflected light from the wall and ceiling, and the light will be tinted in the color of the surface
from which it bounces. Rooms with dark walls will often appear small, and adding a wall washer to
increase their brightness will make them feel less cramped. Diffusion can help tone down some of
the harsh quality of a bare bulb by scattering the light rays and diminishing shadows. Diffusion helps
control the ambient light levelthe overall amount of light in a room. Task lighting for specific
activities can help illuminate cooking in the kitchen or reading in the living room. Accent lighting draws
attention to small areas or objects to make a room really appealing to the eye. Good lighting design
gives a room several layers of light intensity, creating layers of light to provide visual interest.

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Interior Lighting
Multiple Choice Worksheet
Circle the best available answer for each of the following:
1) A reading lamp placed behind a chair must be
_____ than one placed on the side.
a) brighter
b) higher
c) lower
d) more energy efficient

6) Putting a direct, angled light on a surface

enhances its:
a) color
b) lumens
c) intensity
d) texture

2) This type of lighting carries light through cables:

a) fiber optics
b) LEDs
c) LECs
d) halogen lamps

7) Light that highlights a small object or area

is called:
a) task lighting
b) ambient lighting
c) diffused lighting
d) accent lighting

3) Diffused light is _________ than unfiltered light.

a) less harsh
b) more harsh
c) bluer
d) brighter

8) The light from an incandescent bulb has a

_____ tint.
a) diffused
b) bluish
c) reddish
d) reflecting

4) What kind of fixture directs most of its light up to

reflect off of the ceiling?
a) halogen
b) chandelier
c) recessed
d) torchiere

9) The _______ is the inside wall of a

recessed fixture. It affects the quality of the
light.
a) reflector bulb
b) baffle
c) phosphor
d) wall washer
10) Fluorescent lamps last ______ as long as
incandescent bulbs.
a) half
b) 2-3 times
c) 10-13 times
d) 38-42 times

5) For a reading lamp placed on the side, the bottom

edge of the shade should be:
a) 60-65 inches from the ground
b) at eye level
c) higher than a lamp placed behind the chair
d) angled

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Interior Lighting
Multiple Choice Worksheet Answer Key
Circle the best available answer for each of the following:
1) A reading lamp placed behind a chair must be
_____ than one placed on the side.
a) brighter
b) higher
c) lower
d) more energy efficient

6) Putting a direct, angled light on a surface

enhances its:
a) color
b) lumens
c) intensity
d) texture

2) This type of lighting carries light through cables.

a) fiber optics
b) LEDs
c) LECs
d) halogen lamps

7) Light that highlights a small object or area

is called:
a) task lighting
b) ambient lighting
c) diffused lighting
d) accent lighting

3) Diffused light is _________ than unfiltered light.

a) less harsh
b) more harsh
c) bluer
d) brighter

8) The light from an incandescent bulb has a

_____ tint.
a) diffused
b) bluish
c) reddish
d) reflecting

4) What kind of fixture directs most of its light up to

reflect off of the ceiling?
a) halogen
b) chandelier
c) recessed
d) torchiere

9) The _______ is the inside wall of a

recessed fixture. It affects the quality of the
light.
a) reflector bulb
b) baffle
c) phosphor
d) wall washer
10) Fluorescent lamps last ______ as long as
incandescent bulbs.
a) half
b) 2-3 times
c) 10-13 times
d) 38-42 times

5) For a reading lamp placed on the side, the bottom

edge of the shade should be:
a) 60-65 inches from the ground
b) at eye level
c) higher than a lamp placed behind the chair
d) angled

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Interior Lighting
Quiz
Match the words in the first column to the best available answer in the second column.
_____

Incandescent bulbs provide light by passing an electric current

through a filament made of this material.

1) 38-42

_____

The overall level of light in a room.

2) tungsten

_____

A lampshade for a reading lamp placed to the side should be

______ inches from the ground.

3) ambient
lighting

_____

Lighting that highlights a small area or object.

4) wall washers

_____

Lamps made of quartz that burn very bright and very hot.

5) LEDs

_____

_______ percent of the energy that goes into a standard

incandescent bulb turns into heat.

6) halogen
lamps

_____

A type of lamp that spreads light over a surface to make a dark

space appear larger.

7) 88

_____

Lamps the size of a pencil eraser that are used in clocks, watches,
and jumbo television screens.

8) accent
lighting

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Interior Lighting
Quiz Answer Key
Match the words in the first column to the best available answer in the second column.
2) tungsten

Incandescent bulbs provide light by passing an electric current through a

filament made of this material.

3) ambient lighting The overall level of light in a room.

1) 38-42

A lampshade for a reading lamp placed to the side should be ______

inches from the ground.

8) accent lighting

Lighting that highlights a small area or object.

6) halogen lamps

Lamps made of quartz that burn very bright and very hot.

7) 88

_______ percent of the energy that goes into a standard incandescent

bulb turns into heat.

4) wall washers

A type of lamp that spreads light over a surface to make a dark space
appear larger.

5) LEDs

Lamps the size of a pencil eraser that are used in clocks, watches, and
jumbo television screens.

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Glossary
Accent Lighting

Lighting that directs attention to small areas or objects.

Ambient Lighting

The general level of light in a space. High levels of ambient lighting

suggest activity, while lower levels make a space feel peaceful and calm.

Backlighting

Lighting that comes from behind a subject, placing it in silhouette.

Backlighting is a common error in lighting design for living rooms.

Baffle

The interior edge of a recessed lighting fixture. The design of the baffle
can redirect or reflect light. A white baffle reflects more light down. A
black, ridged baffle cuts glare.

Diffusion

The scattering of light rays to soften shadows and reduce glare.

Downlighting

Direct light from above. Commonly used in accent lighting on paintings or

sculptures.

Eyeball Lamp

Lamps with a swiveling socket that allow the light from a recessed fixture
to be directed.

Fiber Optics

Cables that carry light. At the current level of technology, fiber optics are
more decorative than practical.

Flood Lamp

A lamp that spills light over a wide area, flooding it with light.

Fluorescent Lamp

A lamp coated with phosphors and filled with vaporized mercury and
argon. Electric current causes the gases to fluoresce and produce light.
Fluorescent lamps use much less energy than standard incandescent
bulbs.

Halogen Lamp

A small lamp made of quartz that burns very bright and very hot. Theyre
more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, but not as efficient as
fluorescent lamps.

Incandescent Bulb

A standard light bulb. It produces light by sending an electric current

through a filament of tungsten. The electricity causes the filament to burn,
but it doesnt burn up because the bulb is filled with inert gases like argon
or nitrogen

Lamp

Many sources of light are not bulb-shaped, so lighting experts prefer to

use the word lamp.

LECs (Light Emitting Capacitors)

Sheets of plastic with an inside layer of phosphors that shine

when hit with alternating current.

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LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes)

A light source that is very small, wastes little electricity as heat, and
can burn for 10 years nonstop. Theyre often used in digital clocks,
traffic lights, and jumbo television screens.

Lumens

The standard measurement of a light sources brightness.

Phosphors

A substance that glows when hit with electrons. The interiors of

fluorescent lights, television screens, and LECs are all coated with
phosphors.

Recessed Lamps

A type of light fixture that is flush with the ceiling, rendering it virtually
invisible.

Reflected Light

Light that is bounced off of a surface. All rooms include some reflected
light from the walls and ceiling.

Reflector Bulb

A lamp with a silvery coating on the sides to direct light downward rather
than wasting it on the sides.

Spotlight

A light that creates a single, bright spot of light. Its good for highlighting a
specific area, so its commonly used in accent lighting.

Track Lighting

A type of fixture that puts several lights on an electrified track. Track lights
are popular in contemporary designs.

Uplighting

A single, direct light from below. Uplights cast strong shadows.

Wall Washer

A light that directs a wide span of light along the side of a wall. This can
make rooms with dark walls feel bigger by brightening up their surfaces.

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For More Information

Internet Resources
About.com: Lighting Design
http://interiordec.about.com/od/lighting/Interior_Lighting.htm
A great collection of links and articles on home lighting design, including how-to guides and shopping
tips.
FOLD1: Fast Online Lighting Design
www.fold1.com
This website is an excellent tool for lighting design. Enter your room dimensions, task and usage
information, and other lighting requirements, and FOLD1 will tell you the best lighting options for your
space. It also gives electricity prices (in Euros).
Green Consumer Guide
www.greenconsumerguide.com
This online guide to energy-efficient living includes an extensive section on how to decrease the
environmental impact of your home lighting.
InfoAboutLighting.com
www.infoaboutlighting.com
This website contains extensive background information on different types of lighting fixtures, from
chandeliers to Christmas lights.

Print Resources
Gordon, Gary. Interior Lighting for Designers. New York: Wiley, 2003.
This step-by-step guide to interior lighting design is a great starting point for professional
designers.
Karlen, Mark and James Benya. Lighting Design Basics. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2004.
This book contains a basic introduction to lighting both residential and commercial spaces.
Whitehead, Randall. Residential Lighting: A Practical Guide. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2004.
This heavily-illustrated book gives dozens of examples of design strategies, solutions to
common mistakes, and more.

Interior Lighting

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