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GUIDE TO LIGHTING A MODULAR HOME

It may not be as obvious in the daytime, but the lighting in a room has a huge effect on the overall atmosphere of a room. And it’s not just atmosphere that you should keep in mind – the lighting in a room also has a considerable effect on its functionality. Just imagine going to sleep with bright lamps by the bedside or preparing food with dim bulbs.

Three key aspects of lighting to take into account when deciding where lights should go in your modular home include:

  • Ambiance – the general lighting of the room. It considers all the lights within a room and how they all blend together for a harmonic effect.
  • Task lighting – the activities to be performed in the room, such as reading, getting dressed or preparing food.
  • Accent – using lights to emphasize a key feature within a room, such as a piece of art or a focal point in the room.

But that’s not all you have to think about when you intend to light up a room. You also need to understand the terms that are used when it comes to the different light bulbs you can choose from.

  • Wattage refers to how much electricity a light bulb consumes. This is usually quite clear in the packaging of a light bulb. Incandescent lights have a higher wattage when their light is brighter. But with LEDs and CFLs, you can have a lower wattage and an incredibly bright bulb.
  • Kelvin (K) indicates how cool or warm a certain light is. The higher the K number, the cooler the light is. For instance, certain bulbs cast a warm glow over the room, whereas others cast a more stark, whiter light.
  • Lumens refer to the brightness of a bulb. Higher lumens are needed for rooms where you need to perform certain activities like reading, preparing meals or doing your makeup, as well as for rooms where you need to pay attention to your movements, such as stairs and entryways. However, it’s also recommended that you use bulbs with higher lumens if your eyes are weaker.

Lighting up each room

A room can change drastically depending on its light. Along with a change in appearance, proper lighting can make certain activities a lot easier to perform and can even contribute to better eye health by reducing eye strain.

The kitchen

Kitchens are a lot trickier to light because there are lots of activities you can do in there. Other than preparing food, kitchens are also used to eat meals or to do schoolwork. It’s recommended to put recessed lights on the sides of ceilings to avoid casting shadows. The kitchen counters should also be well lit, so it’s advisable to install lights beneath the cupboard above the preparation counter. The kitchen should have between 5000 to 10000 lumens.

Kitchen lights in a modular home

The living room

The living room is where you can entertain guests, watch a movie, read or play games in your modular home. This is the best place to showcase a piece of art, so accent lighting is recommended in the living room. As there are lots of things you can do here, you may want to install a variety of light systems. For instance, you can install an overhead light for ambiance, as well as task lighting for desks or near the seats for those who want to read while on the sofa. Overall, this room should have about 1500 to 3000 total lumens.

The dining room

The dining room is a task-oriented space so it requires brighter lights than the ones in the living room. An overhead light in the middle of the dining table is recommended, but you may also use adjustable recessed lights for accentuating centerpieces. If you’re feeling a little romantic, you can also use dimmers to avoid relying on candlelight while dining. The lighting in the room should have about 3000 to 6000 lumens overall.

Dining room in a modular house

The bathroom

Bathrooms require task lighting, so it’s best to have separate bulbs for different activities. Ideally, the shower or tub should have a light above it. As for the mirror, a center light can cast shadows, so it’s recommended that you place lights on the sides of mirrors or on top of the mirrors pointing down. As the bathroom would often already have light-colored tiles for light to bounce off, you should opt for 4000 to 8000 lumens.

The bedroom

The bedroom should be primarily used for sleeping, relaxing and getting yourself prepared to head out. The lighting doesn’t need to be very bright, but task lighting is still highly recommended at certain spots. Table lamps help set the mood, but they can also be bright enough for those who like to read before going to bed. Ceiling lights can be warmer and dimmer so as not to shock the eyes when the lights are turned on. For the bedroom, 2000 to 4000 total lumens are recommended.

Home offices

Home offices are getting increasingly common. Recessed lights installed on walls can help make the room look larger and brighter. Certain lights can cast reflections on computer screens, so it’s best to have a portable lamp you can move around. If your work requires you to spend time looking at sketches or read extensively, task lights at your desk should help illuminate what you’re looking at.

Lastly, the office is a great place to have accent lighting for your achievements. If you’re an artist, hang up your best pieces and add accent lights. You can also attach your diploma, your awards, or any work-related accomplishments onto the wall of your modular home office with surface-mounted spotlights.

Home office lighting in a modular home

So now you can see why there is no need to settle on lighting your entire prefab house with the same type of bulb when you can find specific ones to suit the function of each room. With just a small amount of thought and a visit to a lighting specialist, you can make certain tasks a lot easier and relieve some pressure on your eyes in the process!

2021-04-14T12:19:00+10:00 May 9th, 2014|All, Architecture|

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