What are some tips for adding light fixtures to a home? Learn to choose a light fixture for an electrician to add to your house. How many times have you moved into an apartment building only to find out...
How many times have you moved into an apartment building only to find out that the light in the bathroom is just not sufficient? Or what about those rooms that don't even have a fixture built into the ceiling? Or that light switch that controls two different lights in the house, depending on what's plugged in at that time.
When you're living in an apartment, these are light problems that you are very rarely able to fix. And besides, who chooses an apartment solely on the amount of light in the bathroom? But the good thing about owning a home is that a lack of light is a problem that can be easily fixed.
Most experts will tell you that adding a light fixture in your home is a project that is very doable by the average person. However, just as with any type of project, you always want to be careful and cautious and plan out every detail before hand.
Anthony Donovan is president of Lighting Tech and Design. He opened the company five years ago and has had 12 total years in the business of lights and fixtures. Donovan has a few steps that everyone should follow before attempting to add a light fixture in their home.
"First, talk to an electrician unless you know what you're doing," he said. "Next decide what kind of fixture you want. Is it something that you have the existing infrastructure for and you can just plug in? Or will there be a lot of work involved?"
Deciding what type of light fixture to add is probably the biggest detail that a consumer will address. For example, a mounted fluorescent light may set off a room's beautiful painted walls, but if the room with the beautiful painted walls just so happens to be the office, then light sufficient for reading instead of decorative lighting would probably be the best choice. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, the four basic types of light fixtures are: direct, direct-indirect, indirect and varying types of shielded.
"The most important thing is to find the right bulb for the fixture you have," Donovan said. "Or if you are looking for a new fixture for additional lighting, find the light source first and then find the right fixture that will accommodate it."
Direct light fixtures project 90 to 100 percent of the light downward toward the work area and tend to create shadows. Direct-indirect fixtures distribute light evenly in an upward and downward angle. Direct-indirect fixtures are made to reflect light off the ceiling and other room surfaces. These types of fixtures are often used in manufacturing areas.
Completely opposite to the direct light fixtures, indirect light fixtures distribute the bulk of their light upward to the ceilings and upper walls, which then reflect the light back throughout the rest of the room. It's very important that the ceiling and the upper walls are clean so that they can help reflect the light. Finally, shielded light fixtures are great for reducing glares as they use diffusers and lenses.
