Lighting your log home

Lighting can influence how you feel and create the atmosphere you envisioned when designing your log home.  Lets review some lighting basics to help you get started.

Basics:  When developing your lighting plan, the experts suggest incorporating three lighting types in your plan which is determined by function and fashion.

• General:  Also known as ambient lighting.  Provides the area with overall lighting and creates sufficient brightness in any room.
• Task:  A direct light that can be focused on a specific area.  This type of lighting usually directs a light source down to the specific task area.  Used in kitchens for cooking, home offices for reading, etc.
• Accent:  Used to accent a specific item or used to highlight a decorative feature of your home, like the fireplace mantel, log or timber features, etc.  Also used in landscaping as well. 

Log Home Lighting Challenges:  Log homes offer some unique challenges when compared with conventional homes.

• Large great rooms with seating/furniture in the center of the room create the need for floor outlets for general or even task lighting.
• Some interior log wall surfaces can make wall mounting fixtures challenging.
• It’s often difficult to place concealed lighting in a log home.
• Wood tends to absorb light rather than reflect it.  The correct lighting in combination with window location and the use of drywall for interior walls can help make the room appear lighter.

Make A Plan:  Developing a lighting plan during the design stage is a smart idea.  A preliminary lighting plan will allow your general contractor/builder to provide you an estimate for your preliminary electrical plan for budgeting purposes so you can avoid cost overruns at the budgeting stage.  Here are some things to consider when developing your lighting plan:

• You’ll need to determine the use and what type of activities will occur for each room.
• What is the atmosphere and/or style of décor do you wish to create for each room?
• Determine how much natural light will each room receive?
• Factor in the amount of natural light in combination with the window and door location affect your lighting choices?
• How will furniture and your choice of décor affect your lighting choices?
• It’s also a good idea to list outlets and mark them on your blueprints.
• Review the lighting in your current home.  What works and what doesn’t work?
• Also consider energy efficiency when determining your lighting needs.  Effective use of fluorescent or low-voltage bulbs and incorporating dimmers can help.  Consult a local lighting professional and electrician for assistance.

  
  

Start Your Lighting Education Here:  Checkout www.americanlightingassoc.com which is an excellent lighting resource.  Ask your log home builder/dealer and electrician to assist you in developing your lighting plan or seek a certified lighting consultant at a local lighting showroom for assistance.

By The Leelanau Log Home Company LLC
www.leelanauloghomes.com 

Copyright 2011 Under the Influence of Wood Blog