NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING

Lighting

 SOURCE
• Artificial
 TYPE
• Ambient or general lighting
• Task lighting
• Accent lighting
• Natural
Artificial lighting
 1. Surface Lights
Surface-mounted fixtures are visible and are usually flush against the ceiling or wall.
They are most commonly used in entryways, hallways, and bedrooms.
 2. Pendant Lights
Pendant fixtures hang down from the ceiling by a cord, cable, or chain. They are usually
found in dining rooms and kitchens, especially in home with higher ceilings.
 3. Recessed Lights
Recessed lighting is hidden away, usually in a ceiling cavity, so you can’t see the light
source directly. This type of indirect lighting, usually in the form of downlight/potlights,
can be used effectively in any room of the home. Just be careful not to go overboard as
you want a variety of light sources and types
 4. Track Lights
Track lighting can provide a lot of flexible lighting options. There are multiple bulbs on one track,
with multiple circuits and voltages. You can choose to have them suspended from the ceiling like
pendant lights or surface-mounted, like surface light. The variety of finished, colors, and styles can
be overwhelming, so speak with a lighting professional before making a final decision.
 5. Portable Lights
Portable lights are just what you would expect them to be — portable. They are usually plugged into
an electrical outlet by their cord, however, battery-operated portable fixtures are becoming more
and more popular. Portable lights are typically uses for desks and bedside tables. You can
sometimes achieve the look you are looking for by adding some floor lamps to the area. The key to
lighting design is to have a variety of fixtures, color temperatures, and styles.
 6. Landscape Lighting
We aren’t focusing on landscape (or outdoor) lighting in this article, but you should know that they
are a whole other category in itself. Landscape lighting encompasses bullet lights, flood lights,
motion sensors, deck lighting, security lighting, and well and wash lights. From landscape lighting to
security lighting, Hiller Electrical can handle all aspects of outdoor lighting installation,
maintenance, and repair.
1. General or Ambient Lighting

 These are called “general” or “ambient” because they are

simply used to make an interior space visible. They
provide general lighting for a space and are sometimes
used to refer to natural, or existing light. Think of
general/ambient light as natural light combined with light
coming from normal room lights.
2. Task Lighting

 Task lighting is directed lighting toward a specific area to

give more detail to objects and provide safe passage. Any
close-range work such as cooking, sewing, drawing, and
writing should have task lighting—enough to see a flaws
in canvas and clothing
 Types of Task Lighting
 Task lighting can be incorporated into the home in various
ways. Some options simply require you to plug a light in,
while other varieties of task lighting may require new wiring
in the home.
• Lamps: Lamps are an easy way to add task lighting to desks,
bedrooms, reading nooks, or sewing tables. Floor lamps are
perfect for illuminating a chair or corner, while desk lamps
are great for table-tops or work desks. This style of task
lighting is the simplest to install since lamps only need an
outlet to plug into.
• Wall-mounted Lighting: These permanent lighting fixtures
are often used near beds or chairs for a comfortable reading
area. There are large, lamp-like styles and small, thin lights
that look more like wall-mounted book lights. Whatever
style is chosen, these lights offer an easily accessible light
source in areas where task lighting is frequently needed.
• Pendants: Task lighting can also be suspended from the ceiling
in the form of pendant lights These are commonly seen in
kitchens, such as over an island or dining table. Large and small
pendant lights are available, depending on the size of the space
you wish to illuminate.
• Under-cabinet Lighting: Lighting placed underneath cabinets
creates perfect task lighting for countertop spaces in kitchens or
craft rooms. The same concept is used for stovetop lighting.
Under-cabinet lighting is available in small, round lights, known
as puck lighting, or in long strips or ropes. These are perfect for
illuminating work surfaces without taking up valuable counter
space.
3. Accent Lighting

 Also called highlighting, accent

lighting is directed toward a visual
point of interest. Accent lighting is
used to “accentuate” features and
add visual interest to an object or
area. Use accent lights to add
drama and change the mood of a
room.
[Link] light is a source of healthy living:

Humans are no different than green plants. When

placed in a natural lit room they grow beautifully and
when kept in the dark they wilt and will eventually die.
Natural light is the source for our body, mind, spirit and
connectivity to the outdoors and is a primary source
for healthy living. Regardless of how your window
looks, ensure your home has a source of natural light
in every room, when possible.
Types of natural light

 Diffuse and uniform light coming from

larger and more regular openings, for
example: strip windows around a room;
 Direct light from the direct sunlight at
the desired location on the floor or
other surface;
 Zenith light from the ceiling like a
skylight;
 Reflected light from any surface and
redirected into space.
Application of natural light

 Factors to consider:
1. Windows and style complimenting the room.
2. Framing views
3. Opacity
4. Solar glazing
5. Size and location
6. Clear story
7. windows detail and decoration
Choosing windows that compliment the room:

• Tall ceilings and voluminous rooms

could benefit from clearstory
windows high above the ground
or multistory windows that are
typical in atriums and multistory
foyers.
• Smaller rooms can still take
advantage of plentiful sunlight
and views with windows that have
a lower sill height to the floor
which creates an increased depth
in the room.
• Choose a style that takes into
account your room’s best
features.
Framing the perfect view outside your home:
There is nothing quite like waking up to a picturesque view of the ocean through floor to ceiling
glass windows or enjoying the city lights below through your curtain wall windows of your urban
loft. Windows are more than just openings in the wall, they help you capture the outdoors and
bring them into your home. If designing your home from the beginning, determine what perfect
views you want to capture first and then choose a window that will enhance it.

▪ Frames the view

▪ Creates visual continuity
connecting outdoor and
indoor spaces
▪ Increase field of vision
Consider a variety of opacities for your privacy needs:
Do you have that room in your home where you would love to have natural light pour in but you
need privacy too? Bathrooms are a prime example of where privacy is priority but bringing in light is
as well. Consider a variety of opacity levels for your window style. Transparent glass you can see
straight through, while translucent glass is common in glass block windows in bathrooms. The view is
obscured but natural light can still enter. There are many window manufacturers that offer a variety
of windows for your privacy and design specifications.
Look to solar glazing to save energy and your furnishings
Another consideration when choosing windows is how much heat gain and loss through your
glazing or windows is transmitted. Several window manufacturers sell solar glazing or windows that
keep more harmful Ultraviolet or UV light from penetrating into your home. We already know the
potential harmful affects of UV light when outdoors but the light can also fade your furniture and
finishes as well.
Location:
[Link] windows let in light but leave valuable wall space free
In many homes wall space is at a premium. Whether you are an art collector and like to display
wall artwork or you prefer privacy on certain exteriors walls, clerestory windows are the perfect
solution. Clerestory windows are located high off the finish floor level, usually close to the roofline
to still enable natural light to pour in but frees up valuable wall space. They also are used as a
design feature by architects to give the appearance of the roofline as floating above the
structure and can be used in a variety of applications.
[Link] your ceiling view with skylights:
Another wonderful way to take advantage of natural light is through skylights. Your ceiling or “5 th
wall” has always been a surface that many homeowners forget about when designing their
interiors. Skylights offer privacy and a source of natural light to rooms that normally couldn’t
because of lack of space for windows on exterior walls. Skylights also serve as a design feature
and come in fixed and operable varieties and you can install window treatments over them for
light control.
[Link] your windows around the orientation of your property
If you are in the planning stages of your home consider the geographic location of your home and
how your house will be situated on your property in accordance with the sun. Architects and
contractors alike will tell you to “walk the property” when choosing design features of your home.
You may not want to put a window wall of glass in a bedroom where the early sun wakes you if
you’re a late riser! Similarly look at climatic changes and seasonal changes for your area to
maximize hot and cold temperature changes when choosing the right window.
Use a variety of shapes and sizes of windows for visual interest
There are no specific design rules when it comes to choosing window shapes and sizes and
therefore let your design side come out when choosing the perfect ones! Many architects like to
play with voids and solid space on walls and place windows in interesting configurations that
are appealing to the eye as well as takes advantages of gorgeous views. From rectilinear and
curvilinear varieties to custom shaped windows look to window manufacturers to see all of the
options available to you.
Use your window wall as the “artwork” for your interiors
There isn’t any better piece of wall art than nature. When choosing colors and finishes for your
rooms look outside to the view to get inspiration. A kitchen that overlooks a gorgeous garden
through picture frame windows may not need a lot of color to compete with the beautiful view.
Windows can help you reinvent your interiors by using the view as inspiration!