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Commercial Lighting Design Guide Appendix D
Doc 4775A 96
Ambient Lighting for Mood and
Highlights
Ambient light is the general, overall light that fills in
shadows, reduces contrast, and lights vertical surfaces to
give the space a brighter feel. Ambient light is what you
need for casual activities in your rooms. Ambient lighting
sets a dramatic or subtle mood within a living space. Use
ambient lights to illuminate hallways, entryways, artwork
and architectural highlights in the home or office. The
nature and quality of ambient lighting determines the
overall feel of the room. Even if your design produces the
right amount of light for each task and display and you
have sconces or chandeliers, it is possible that more
ambient light is needed. Ambient light is intentionally
obscure, and as such it can be difficult to determine when
more is necessary. Often the best way to provide ambient
light is with hidden fixtures.
Ambient light is a primary concern in the kitchen, where
table lamps and floor lamps aren't welcome because they
get in the way. Some common ways to introduce ambient
light in the kitchen are:
Fluorescent uplights on top of cabinets
Central fluorescent lights on the ceiling
Wall sconces, especially those with uplight
Decorative lights with an open top that place most
of the light on the ceiling
Decorative Lighting
Decorative lighting includes chandeliers, sconces, and
table lamps, and is usually chosen based on style and
appearance. Generally, decorative lights produce only
modest amounts of illumination. A lighting design begins
with architecture, style and décor. Some things just look
right, feel right, and fit well with the overall design of the
room. Decorative lighting such as chandeliers, sconces,
and table lamps are part of our culture, and they provide
at least some portion of the light needed for certain tasks.
As a general rule, designers should choose the decorative
lighting that fits the space. Traditional locations include a
chandelier over the dining room table, a pendant light
over the breakfast table, a lamp on a side table in the
living room, or a lantern by the front door. Keep in mind
that other lighting may also be needed (to illuminate tasks
or displays), but due to the important role that decorative
lighting plays, it comes first. Accent lighting gives the
space a third dimension, adding to the quality of the
space.
Focal Lighting
Focal, or display lighting illuminates art, architecture,
collections and other displays. Determine whether you
want to highlight objects of art, memorabilia, bookcases,
or other things that you may wish to have stand out. For
many families, the fireplace mantel and the wall above
the mantel are primary locations for display items.
As a rule of thumb, mount the focal light 21 inches from
the wall with an 8-foot ceiling, 27 inches from the wall
with a 9-foot ceiling, 34 inches from the wall with a 10-
foot ceiling, and so on. One accent light will illuminate
anything from a small object (with a 10-15 degree spot
lamp) to a painting up to 3 feet wide (with a 35-35 degree
flood lamp). Add a second light for every 30-36 inches of
width of the object you are lighting.
Key Light
When shining a light on an object from a single point
source it is called key light. A key light highlights the
contours of an object and creates shadows. The exact
effect depends on the angle of the beam of light. Most of
the time we want to light the object so we can see its
front. In these cases, the light source may be best placed
in front of and to the side of the object at an angle of 45°.
Fill Light
A fill light can either be directional or diffused. Shining a
directional light on an object from the opposite direction of
the key light can soften or eliminate shadows, depending
on the strength of the fill light relative to the strength of
the key light. Fill light sources can be placed behind
objects to light the entire room evenly.
Uplighting
The effect of uplighting is either very desirable or very
undesirable because of unusual effects that can range
from intimate to eerie. A lot of landscape lighting includes
uplighting to accentuate bushes and trees.
Sparkle and Glitter Effects
To add an atmosphere of elegance, add little lighting
points of interest in the form of sparkle or glitter. This
effect can be produced by either producing sharp
reflections on reflective surfaces in the room (sparkle),
such as silverware in a restaurant, or by making the light
source itself a source of interest (glitter) such as with a
chandelier. Avoid glare in these cases by adjusting the
angle of the light source.