How2Day: Lighting Terms

Fluorescent light bulbs give off much less heat than standard incandescent bulbs. ballyscanlon/Stockbyte/Getty Images
The amount of light that a bulb produces is not measured in watts, but rather in lumens. Lumens is the measurement of brightness, and you can find this figure on the packaging of any light bulb. Other terms related to lighting may be equally confusing, but most of them are easy enough to learn so that you can obtain the information that is useful for your particular lighting design plan.

Valance lighting is a term used to describe light that shines both upward and downward. This type of lighting is capable of washing both the wall and ceiling with light.

Cove lighting is lighting that is used to highlight a ceiling or throw accent lighting on a special feature. Cove lighting is especially decorative when it works to highlight decorative molding high on the wall or ceiling.

Incandescent lights are those typical light bulbs fitted into a lamp or overhead fixture. Incandescent lights generate more heat than other types of lighting and typically burn out quicker. The advantage is that incandescent lighting provides a warm ambiance.

Fluorescent lighting is energy efficient and lasts longer than incandescent bulbs. The color of light produced by a fluorescent bulb is based on the amount of phosphor coating inside. The more expensive types of fluorescent bulbs are now capable of providing a warmer light than the sterile illumination associated with original fluorescent lighting.

Halogen bulbs produce a powerful white light that can illuminate a large room all by itself. Halogen lights must be used in heat-resistant fixtures that offer thermal protection because they produce such a large amount of heat.

Cornice lighting is concealed at the junction of the wall and ceiling. The light is directed downward and is often utilized as a way to highlight wall hangings.

Wall washers is the name given to small recessed lights that spread light on a wall from the ceiling to the floor. They evenly spread illumination in a good way to mask textural flaws in the wall.

Luminous ceiling panels are fluorescent tubes that are hidden above plastic panels in the ceiling. These kinds of panels can cover an entire ceiling, or they can be used in smaller areas, like providing general lighting inside a kitchen.

Track lighting is adjustable fixtures that hang from the ceiling. The main advantage of track lighting is that you can direct the light to anywhere you want. Because track lights generally come with more than one bulb, you can group lighting together to create a general purpose illumination, or you can direct each bulb in a different direction to diffuse the amount of light in any one area.

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