Lighting can impact everything from your sleep schedule to your brain power. So it’s understandable that you want your home, the place you presumably spend a big chunk of your life, to be lit nicely. But there are so many different options to choose from. Here’s a basic guide to get you started.
The right lighting can make you feel relaxed or productive, but beyond that, there’s function. Certain types of lighting serve a specific purpose, and when it comes to your home, you want the right type, depending on the purpose of your room. To optimize your home’s lighting, first consider how you’re using each room.
Think Lumens, Not Watts: Buying Light bulbs in the 21st Century
When you're shopping for LED light bulbs, compare lumens to be sure you're getting the amount of light, or level of brightness, you want.
For decades, we have been buying light bulbs based on how much energy they consume (Watts) - no matter how much light they give us (Lumens).
What's a Lumen?
Lumens measure how much light you are getting from a bulb.
More lumens means it's a brighter light; fewer lumens means it's a dimmer light.
So when buying your new bulbs, think lumens, not watts.
Lighting experts recommend the following levels of light for various rooms in a home. These guidelines relate to general room lighting, such as that provided by standard ceiling fixtures or multiple lamps. In areas intended for work or reading, you would likely include additional, focused light (called task lighting) to brighten specific locations where light is crucial, such as kitchen counter-tops.
- Living room: 10 - 20 lumens per square foot
- Dining room: 30 - 40 lumens per square foot
- Bedroom: 10 - 20 lumens per square foot
- Bathroom: 70 - 80 lumens per square foot
- Hallways: 5 - 10 lumens per square foot
- Kitchen (general lighting): 30 - 40 lumens per square foot
- Kitchen (task areas): 70 - 80 lumens per square foot
- Laundry room: 70 - 80 lumens per square foot
No comments:
Post a Comment