How to Choose Lighting Fixtures for an Open Floor Plan
Lighting is one of the most important elements in any interior design scheme, perhaps second only to color. Lighting influences the overall mood of a room and determines the functional character of the space as well. The design of proper lighting in an open floor plan or a "great room" is especially challenging because of the larger size and architectural character of the space. Use extra care to avoid lighting "voids." Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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"Wash" the space with light. Provide for overhead lighting that will cover the room with a broad "brush" of light. This can be accomplished with recessed ceiling "cans" or "pot lights" equipped with flood-type bulbs. Pot lights should be placed around the perimeter of the space on 48-inch centers approximately 24 inches away from the walls, according to the American Lighting Association. For extremely large rooms, it may be necessary to install a row of pot lights down the mid-line of the room in order to fill in the center of the space with "wash." Avoid using any tube-type florescent lighting fixtures as wash lighting. These fixtures are very hard on the eyes, often emit a faint but annoying "buzz" sound, are extremely unflattering to skin tones, and will often alter the perception of color in the room. Wash rooms with very tall ceilings, and give the room a cozier feeling by adding lighting fixtures hidden behind "coves" or troughs that circle the perimeter of the room.
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Provide for "task" lighting. Task lights illuminate specific areas of the room where people will be conducting some type of sustained activity. Task lights are usually provided through the use of floor or tabletop lamps. Determine how these lamps will be powered, especially if furniture will be placed in the center of the room, as is usually the case in "great rooms." The installation of floor pocket electrical outlets can make this problem much easier to overcome, and avoiding the use of ugly and sometimes dangerous extension cords. Halogen "hockey puck" lights can be installed in the undersides of any overhanging cabinets or shelves to provide task lighting. Choose bulbs for table and floor lamps carefully. If using environmentally friendly and efficient CFLs (Compact Florescent Lamps), make sure they cast a "warm" spectrum light rather than a cooler "blue" light. Cool-spectrum CFL bulbs are often hard and unflattering to skin tones. Make sure all CFL bulbs are "matched" for spectrum color in any lamps in the room. Providing for task lights to be dimmed is a plus, but sometimes difficult, if using CFL bulbs.
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Add "highlights" to the room, as desired. Spotlights add drama or "pop" to an open floor plan room. They direct the eye to special features such as artwork, architectural features like fireplaces, or particularly attractive furniture pieces like built-ins and entertainment centers. Spotlights can be provided with recessed pot lights or track lighting using bright, warm halogen bulbs.
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Tips & Warnings
Plan lighting controls strategically. Wall switch plates should be located at every entrance to the "great room" for safety and convenience. Build flexibility into your lighting plan so that any future changes in furniture layout won't throw off your design.
