Whistler Real Estate Co Ltd, #137- 4370 Lorimer Road, Whistler, BC V0N 1B4

Entryway, Hallway, Stairway
Entryways, hallways and stairs all need to have good general lighting to ensure the safety of those who use them. An overhead light will give good general lighting and will allow guests and family members to easily see what they are doing. Also, having matching fixtures in your entry, halls and stairs can add a unifying element to your home's décor.

Entryways are also the first view guests have of your home, so it is your opportunity to give them a good first impression. A pendant light or chandelier (they come in all sizes) will add a touch of elegance to your entryway. Matching wall sconces can provide additional light and accent the décor.

Hallways should have lights every 8 to 10 feet to ensure safety. You may opt for an overhead fixture for general lighting, wall sconces to give a particular atmosphere or adjustable track lighting to emphasize artwork or family photographs.

Stairs should be lit from bottom to top and have switches at both ends. Often the hall and foyer fixtures will light the stairs sufficiently. If this is not the case, adding another ceiling fixture at the top of the stairs should be enough.

Kitchen
Kitchens can be tricky to light because they may have a large number of work surfaces and several different areas, all of which need decent lighting to be useful. Good task lighting is the key here. In fact, if your task lighting is effective enough, you may avoid the need to have a single, general fixture. Another thing to think about in kitchens is energy. Kitchens tend to eat up a lot of energy, so wherever possible, consider fluorescent lighting to help minimize your energy bill.

Stoves and sinks benefit from their own overhead lights to make it easier to see. Also, if you've recently invested in new fixtures or appliances, the overhead light will help emphasize them.

Countertops are where you do a fair amount of your work, so having these well lit is a good idea. Undercabinet lighting will effectively light up your counters, and properly mounted, will minimize glare.

Islands and Nooks are ideal places to put in a central fixture. A light directly above an island or nook can act as task lighting and provide good general light for the rest of the kitchen.

Accent Lighting can be very effective in kitchens, especially those with a glass-front cabinet or high ceiling. Soffit can be used to conceal accent lighting, and lights can be mounted inside cabinets to highlight the pieces inside

A Note on Recessed Lighting: Recessed lighting looks good, but if it is located in the ceilings on the top floor (just below the attic) it can allow heat and moisture from your home up past the ceiling into the structure of your home, which can lead to problems (condensation and rot) in the long term. You may want to think twice about it and go for track lighting instead or ensure that the recessed fixtures are installed with a proper air/vapor barrier.

Bathroom
Bathrooms need to be bright, evenly lit and shadow free, and not just so you can see yourself well in the mirror. Lots of accidents happen in bathrooms, and proper lighting will assist you and your guests to see that puddle in the floor or which tap is which (not to mention making it much easier to use that razor).

Sink & Mirrors should have their own source of lighting (often this will be the only source of lighting for a very small bathroom). Ideally, the mirror will be lit on either side to provide the best lighting for your face. Wall sconces or lighting strips (like in movie stars dressing rooms) work well here. Alternately, you can light the area from above the mirror. In this case, be sure to use up a fixture with two bulbs that is wide enough to light both sides of your face. Either way, use frosted bulbs, rather than clear ones, for best effect.

The Commode can also benefit from a light source (after all, we need to read somewhere) directly overhead. Of course, if your bathroom is small and the commode is directly beside the sink, it should already be sufficiently lit.

Showers & Tubs may also need their own source of lighting, depending on the size of your bathroom and whether or not you like to read in the tub. Recessed lighting can work here, but special attention must be paid to installation to keep water out of your home's structure. Showers that are separate from the tub should certainly have their own lighting source. Lighting over tubs and showers should be special lighting designed for a damp environment.

Safety Note: If you are thinking about installing a heat lamp in your bathroom, location is everything. Too close to the door or too close to the shower can be disastrous. Follow this link to learn more.

Dining Room
A central fixture above the dining table is usually the focus in most dining rooms. It provides good overhead light for eating and sets the atmosphere for the room (a dimmer here can work wonders). Wall sconces can add to the room's décor and make it appear larger, as well as drawing attention to areas you want your guests to notice. Track or recessed lighting around the chandelier can highlight the table and be used as task lighting when the dining room becomes the homework or hobby room. If there are features you wish to highlight (pictures, display items), recessed or track lighting can accent them for you. And of course, if there's a cabinet that needs attention, low wattage lights inside can bring a shine to your display.

Your Bedroom
Your bedroom is where you relax, and you want the lighting to reflect that. Dimmers are excellent in the bedroom, whether for creating just right atmosphere for a romantic evening or rushing around finding your socks in the morning. General lighting can come from a ceiling fixture, wall sconces, or recessed lights. Lamps for reading can be on your nightstand, hanging from the wall, or mounted in the ceiling above. Make sure each one can be individually controlled. If you have a dressing table, make sure you have a light bright enough for make-up and grooming, either on or beside the table, and not casting a reflection on the mirror. Large closets can also benefit from a light, but make certain it is properly mounted to avoid contact with clothes and any possible fire hazard.

Your Child's Bedroom
Just like your room, your child's room is a place where he or she relaxes. It is also the place where your child plays, does homework and hangs out with his or her friends. Track lights are a good way to highlight the various areas of your child's room and can be redirected to new areas as the child grows older and wants to highlight different things. A dimmer switch gives your older child a sense of control over his or her space, and lets them choose their own lighting levels. A desk lamp for the homework space is essential, and making sure that the lighting is set up to avoid glare of their work surface or computer screen will go a long way to help you child avoid headaches while they study.

Living Room
A lot goes on in living rooms, especially if your living room is also your games room, TV room, playroom and reading room. An overhead fixture or recessed lighting can supply general lighting for conversation and relaxing, while not drawing your attention up from the room itself. Floor lamps are also excellent here, provided you can place them where high-speed children aren't likely to run into them.

Television should never be watched in the dark because your eye strains to focus between the darkness around it and the light it projects. Have wall sconces or floor lamps nearby that project light up on the walls, but positioned not to glare on the screen.

Game Tables need their own light, whether you are using them for poker or pinochle. A direct overhead light can provide the lighting you need, but may create shadows or glare on cards. Adjustable overhead lights can be angled so each player has better light levels.

Reading lights can be floor lamps, table lamps or pendant lights. In all cases you want to give enough light to read without reflecting glare onto the TV or into the eyes of others in the room.

Fireplaces are an interesting architectural feature and worthy of some attention. Wall sconces or recessed lighting can draw attention to the fireplace, and add additional light to the room.

Home Office
The key to an effective home office is comfort and ease of use. Just as you don't want to sit on uncomfortable furniture or work at a desk that's the wrong height, you don't want lighting that impedes your work. Overhead, two large fluorescent fixtures placed above and to the right and left of the desk will provide good general lighting while keeping glare off your computer screen. On the desk itself, a desk lamp provides additional light for the computer and writing areas, and will add warmth to your office. Make sure it is positioned so it doesn't reflect on the computer screen. If you have a credenza, undercabinet lights will brighten work surface. If you have pictures, certificates or other items of importance on your walls, track lighting can bring them into focus.

Getting It All Together
As we mentioned in the first article, the style you choose will have a big effect on the lighting you choose, and as you look at the rooms in your house, keep your personal style in mind. Do you want a consistent style theme running through your home, or does each room have its own individual style? Either way, you should choose the lights that will both create the lighting mood that you want, and keep the style of the room intact.