The main thing to consider when choosing a light fitting is the quality of light that is given out. The appearance is only a secondary concern. There is no point in buying a fancy, state of the art desk lamp if does not cast enough light to work by.
A desk lamp is the ultimate in task lighting fixtures. The light from it is concentrated in a small area and it should be adjustable so that the light that is emitted can be adjusted as to which area it falls upon. One variety of desk lamp that was designed so as to mimick the human arm was the anglepoise lamp. The joints in the anglepoise lamp are adjustable in the same way as a human arm and it gives an easily positioned source of light. There are many variations on the classic anglepoise lamp and some have been designed to give the impression that the design has been around for much longer than it has.
Downlighters can completely change the lighting style of a room as they can accentuate features in the room rather than have their light output deflected downwards from the reflection from the ceiling. Downlighters are usually installed into cut-outs in the ceiling and are thus partially or completely recessed. The light emitted from them is directed downwards in a clearly defined circle and the effect can be changed dependant on the bulb or fitting used. For example, the emitted light from a recessed halogen fitting is a great deal more concentrated than that from a surface mounted fitting with a tungsten bulb. Downlighter fittings are small and can easily be overlooked when scanning a room, giving an overall impression of a clean and non fussy look. When used over a dining table a downlighter creates a pool of light, which means that the rest of the room can be dimly lit, or it can draw the eyes to an area of seating that gives the impression that it is separate from the rest of the room.
If you are after a totally flexible form of light fitting then a free-standing lamp is what you are looking for. They give very localised light and, as the name suggests, can be easily moved to any area. They come in a huge range of styles and with a wide variety of shades. Not all free-standing lamps have conventional shades, some have glass shades and there are styles with frosted glass that give a diffused light into the room. Some lamps are constructed of flexible tubing that can give amusing variations in shape when installed in an imaginative person's room.
If you have a lamp fitting that hangs from the centre of a room then you have a pendant lamp. The fitting employed can range from an elaborate chandelier to an incandescent bulb with a simple domed shade. Pendant lamps are the most common form of light fitting and the amount of light that they cast into a room depends on the wattage of the bulb and the height that the pendant is set to.
About the Author:
Karen Hughes is an interior decor consultant. For more about
Light Fittings and Fixtures visit
Lighting-capital.com this is your first stop for information about lighting.
Source:
www.isnare.com
