Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 9, 1995 TAG: 9507110038
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KATHY SUE GRIGG
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Supply adequate light to perform task in your home safely.
Help generate the mood and atmosphere you want.
Directional light can pick out architectural details, pictures and displays. Indirect lighting can produce a softer, more subdued atmosphere.
A bright overhead light, whose effect can be somewhat dull, can easily be adjusted with a dimmer switch. This allows you to enhance the mood you want by the touch of a finger.
Task lighting in kitchens and powder rooms work well. Just make sure to position your lights so shadows don't fall across the working areas. Be sure stairways, single steps and exterior pathways are well lit.
Spot lighting creates a sense of drama. Floor lamps with three-way switches can be used as a soft light for dancing, a stronger light for eating, or a bright light for reading. They're also handy because they don't require much room.
Several table lamps placed around a room can create shadows and pools of lights.
Downlighting - a light in the ceiling that directs the light down - is quaint for highlighting statues or a collection of pottery, etc. Downlighting creates a level of illumination.
To try and make all of this work for you, experiment. First think of the mood you want to create and then start playing with your lights. Turn some on and some off.
It's good to have a couple of low-wattage light bulbs on hand so you can experiment and use them when needed.
I think you'll be surprised how easy it is to achieve the mood you want by lighting and what a difference it makes.
by CNB