Q: How can I properly light
my kitchen?
A: For optimal kitchen lighting, choose
a fluorescent kitchen fixture or other close-to-ceiling
kitchen fixtures for general lighting. Add a flush-mount
kitchen fixture above the sink and pendants above your
dinette or breakfast bar. Kitchen cabinet lighting can
be installed under your kitchen cabinets to create a
well-lit work area, above cabinets for a soft up-lighting
effect, or inside a glass-front cabinet to highlight
decorative accents or fine china.
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Q: How can I get optimal lighting
in my bathroom?
A: For optimal bathroom lighting,
bathroom fixtures that feature incandescent bulbs behind
diffusers radiate the most flattering light and color.
Remember that you can use more than bath strips for
your next bathroom lighting project. Try sconces on
either side of a mirror, and a ceiling fixture, for
balanced bathroom lighting throughout the room. Larger
baths are in vogue today, and a small chandelier over
the bath can create spectacular effects.
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Q: How do I determine the proper
size chandelier for a dining table?
A: A good rule of thumb is to choose
a chandelier with a diameter equal to 1/2 the width
of the table. For instance, if the width of your table
is 54", select a chandelier that has a diameter
of 27". The chandelier should be hung so the bottom
of the fixture is approximately 30" above the tabletop.
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Q: How do I determine the proper
size chandelier for a foyer?
A: To determine what size of a chandelier
would fit best in a foyer—or any room—simply
add the room dimensions together. For example, if your
foyer is 12' by 16', add 12 + 16 =28. The proper size
chandelier for this foyer would be 28" in diameter.
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Q: How do I determine the correct
amount of wattage to properly illuminate a 12' by 16'
room?
A: To find the proper ambient lighting
for the room, multiply the room dimensions to get your
total square footage (12 x 16 = 192). Then multiply
the total square footage by 1.5 for total illumination
needed (192 x 1.5 = 288 watts). So, for a 12 x 16 room,
two 150-watt table or floor lamps would give more than
ample light for a room this size (2 x 150 = 300 watts),
or an 8-light chandelier with 40-watt bulbs could create
the same ambient lighting effect in a 12 x 16 room (8
x 40 = 320). For specific task lighting within a space,
for example, the light needed on a kitchen work island,
multiply the square footage of the island (8 x 4 = 32
square feet) times 2.5 = 80 watts, or two 40-watt pendants.
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Q: What's the proper height
to install wall sconces?
A: Sconces should be installed on
the wall 60" from the floor. If you choose to utilize
sconces to illuminate hallways, then the sconces should
be placed eight to ten feet apart.
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Q: When should I use a dimmer
switch?
A: A dimmer switch can be used with
"bright fixtures," such as chandeliers, pendants
and even bath lights, to adjust the amount of light
given depending on the activity of the room. To use
the dimmer switch effectively, use brighter lighting
for parties or dim the lights for a quieter, more intimate
setting.
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