Consider light at the genesis of home construction

Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, Scripps Howard News Service

Published November 4, 2006 at midnight

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When should you think of the lighting in your home? The best time is at the drawing board before the shovel even hits the ground to begin construction.

It used to be that you'd be hard put to find an outlet on the wall where you needed it. Then certain construction changes went into effect and now you have an outlet every 12 feet or so and at least one on each wall. But that's still not enough, because not all light has to come from lamps that need to be plugged into an outlet.

Good lighting includes proper illumination for art objects, mood lighting for different atmospheres in the evening, landscape lighting, task and reading light and lights that make you look good. How much should you spend on lighting your home? Experts say you should spend at least 3 percent of the value of your home on it.

Starting from the outside in, driveway and landscape lighting should set the mood for the interior of the home. Light up a dramatic or interesting tree, and shine light onto a textured exterior wall or an unusual architectural feature.

Then there's the foyer light. It should be attractive and catch the eye of the visitor. You're saying "welcome" with this light, so it should project a pleasant greeting.Indirect lighting is a great mood-setter. It floods the room with light that reflects off the wall. You have a wash of light on the wall that illuminates the room without any glare. Ideally, the light should seem to come through the walls. In other words, the light source should not be seen.

There are many light sources to choose from, including fluorescent, incandescent, halogen and fiber optics. Remember the flashlights with the spray of plastic lights on the end that are sold at amusement parks? That spray of light that goes from the flashlight through all the little plastic fibers is a good demonstration of what fiber optics is all about. Many interesting lighting effects are being produced with this type of light. You might check it out just for the fun of it.

Another reason for planning the lighting scheme before breaking ground is so that you can determine whether you need or want floor outlets. Putting electricity in the floor before the cement is set is much less expensive than adding it afterward. If you aren't sure whether you'll need a floor outlet, put one or two in just in case. You can cover them if you don't want to use them, but they'll always be there if you need them.

The size of the room, its purpose, and aesthetic and lighting needs should all come into consideration when planning the lighting scheme for a room. You best bet is to consult a professional lighting expert or your interior designer at the very onset of your home plans to determine the best use of light for your best interest.

Rosemary Sadez Friedmann is author of Mystery of Color, available at Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Amazon.com.

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