(continued from lighting lofts and challenging spaces part 2)
Working with High Ceilings:
If your loft has very high ceilings, suspend your pendants
or track systems to bring light closer to the target area. Monorail lighting
and track lighting
systems routinely offer stylish matching suspension rods (called standoffs) for
all system types and metallic finishes.
Typically, situations requiring suspensions of more than eight feet will
require wire supports that may easily be cut at installation time to suspend
the system at any length.
Cable lighting systems (which suspend
directional track heads or ambient pendants between two high-tension
wires) are another popular choice for spaces with high ceilings. Consider a
cable system when attaching any type of support to the ceiling seems impractical.
Cable systems are very versatile but have support limitations when heavy
pendants are desired in the middle of long spans.
Minimizing Shadows in Task Areas:
Areas requiring a good deal of light (such as the kitchen) should be lit carefully to prevent shadows. Install direct task lighting over kitchen
countertops. Endeavor to light heavy work areas from more than one angle to prevent
shadows. Try to use lamps (light bulbs)
with a beam spread of ‘medium flood’ to ‘full flood’ to provide more
light. Think carefully before installing
kitchen lighting in the middle of the ceiling or any place where your body will
come between the task area and the light source as shadows will result. If fixtures are mounted
in the center of the kitchen ceiling, use under cabinet lighting to backlight countertop task areas
and prevent frustrating shadows.
One of the best ways to reduce shadows is simply to provide a mixture of ambient and direct
light. Modern track lighting and
cable lighting systems allow ambient
pendants and track heads (spot lights) to be attached to the same power system to
provide a mix of light with minimal new wiring. If pendants aren't
practical in a particular space, many systems also offer fixtures that may be
installed in an upward orientation to provide a wash of ambient light. If using wash lights, consider
placing them on a separate circuit so that you may vary accent and general lighting levels
as desired to shift the mood of the room.
Minimizing Glare in Common Areas:
When aiming spotlights, be aware of reflected glare off of
shiny surfaces. Treat glass and polished table tops like mirrors and make sure
that track heads won't be visible in those mirrors. Typically, aiming spot lights at a sharp or
even ninety degree angle down over a surface will accomplish this nicely.
Otherwise, spot lights should generally be pointed at walls to provide reflected light for the space.
If you must aim spot lights at horizontal angles, put them high enough so that people
have to look up at an unnatural angle to gaze directly at them. If track heads
from one area will be pointing directly into the eyes of people in another area
of the loft, consider using barn door or louver lens accessories that block or filter light
to prevent glare.
Lighting lofts and other large spaces is a challenge.
Fortunately, modern lighting design has kept pace with the growing diversity of
spaces in which people choose to live.
With a little thought, you can easily develop a lighting plan that will accentuate
or completely change the mood of your open space.
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