Light fittings are important
elements in design that clients need to seek consultation when selecting. The
general design of the home should bring out its flair; however lighting completes
the eventual outcome. There are two types of lighting; Task lighting and mood
lighting also referred to as decorative lighting. Different rooms in the house
play different functions. Some are more function based i.e. reading, cooking, cleaning
such as Study areas, Kitchen, Laundry etc
while some are more relaxation based e.g. Family room, front porch, courtyards
etc. Modern considerations when designing homes strive to reduce on the sizes
of spaces making them multi-functional. With this in mind, some rooms may need
both task and mood lighting; for example open plan kitchens with dining areas. Lighting
design has become very common in modern day design and therefore, there are
many lighting designers and suppliers. These suppliers are more than willing to
advice on the amount of light needed for these spaces, the no. of lumens in the
bulbs they supply and what bulbs work best with the different fittings they
have.
There are different
types of light fittings. Wikipedia provides a detailed breakdown of these types
with descriptions of each. Click here to read more on these. When selecting the
light fittings required, one should also consider the style the style of the
home in order to select fittings that fit the style.
Dining rooms can be
classified more as”relaxation “type of rooms and therefore require mood
lighting. There are different types light fittings that can be used.
1.Pendants
2.Chandeliers
3.Wall sconce
4.Floor lamps
5.Concealed light
fittings
1.Pendants
Pendants may be the
most common type of light fittings used in dining areas. Pendants come in
different sizes and styles and therefore easy to use. When selecting light fittings,
it is necessary to consider the size of the space and the size of the table in
order to select the right size of fitting. Scale really matters. The following
are the rules of thumb when selecting pendants
2 seater dining table
– A small pendant works best for this as it’s a small type of table
4 seater dining table
– A medium sized chandelier works well or a cluster of small pendants. The
number depends on the size of the fitting
6 seater dining table
– This is the most common size of table in standard homes. 2 large pendants
arranged in a row should work
8 seater dining table
– This size of table is common in large sized homes.
2.Chandeliers
A while back,
chandeliers were the most common types of fitting used in lounge areas and
dining areas. A Matchy matchy look was
most preferred where one would use a large chandelier in the lounge, a small
chandelier in the dining and matching wall lamps in these spaces and also hallways.
These look is now outdated. Chandeliers come in various sizes i.e. 3 arm, 5 arm
, 7 arm, 9 arm, 12 arm and sometimes even more. There are also different types
of chandeliers that I will cover in a future blog (Keep checking my blog for
this). Drum chandeliers work well as they one can change the colour of the
shade to match the design style and scheme.
3.Wall sconce
This is a pretty new
style of lighting for dining areas. This type of lighting works best for a 2
seater or 3 seater table placed against a wall. It is a creative way of
lighting a dining area as the wall sconce also works as mood lighting for this
area. The wall between the wall sconces provides a perfect area to display
artwork such as paintings, picture frames or mirrors. This works well for small
spaces.
4.Floor lamps
Who would have thought
about a floor lamp can be used as a dining light fitting? I DID NOT! While
researching for light fittings for one of my clients, I came across this and I thought
it was absolutely creative. Floor lamps come in different designs and for this
case, an Arcing floor lamp works best. This lamp can be placed at the corner
with the globe positioned at the middle of the table. A swivel floor lamp will work
even better for spaces where the dining room and lounge area open plan in that
the lamp can be placed between both. This can then be swiveled to the dining
when one needs to have dinner and to the lounge when one needs mood lighting.
5.Concealed light
fittings
This type of lighting
is mostly preferred in modern and contemporary styles of design. It is easily
achieved where gypsum ceilings are to be installed. The fittings can either be LED
tube lights arranged in a linear style or LED strip lights concealed in a
niche. These fittings can be daylight, cool light or warm light depending on
the mood one wants to create. LED strip lights also come in a variety of colours
however for a home setting, Cool or warm white are preferred.
Inspiration
pour le Journee
It is purely amazing
how lighting can transform a space. Interior designer Anne-Marie Barton
believes that decorative lighting is one of our greatest accessories. No other
element in the home can provide warmth and create the same cozy atmosphere.
Check out her video below, Interior design:Lighting matters on The Design
Network YouTube chanel.
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