The positive effect of light on the human spirit is well known. We all know the good feeling when the sun shines again after a period of grey winter days. Light is used in a targeted and successful manner for combating winter depression. Likewise light plays an important role in your home.

Optimal light planning:

Optimal light planning contributes significantly to a comfortable atmosphere and brightens work areas, but also leaves room for individual lighting design. Arrange living spaces so that daylight can be used optimally.

People perceive warm white light as particularly pleasant, as radiated by conventional light bulbs, low-voltage halogen bulbs, 230-volt halogen bulbs, energy-saving lamps and compact neon tubes.

The following guidelines are worth observing:

Entry and stairs:

• The house entry should have lights without covers. 
• Provide light sources at the top of stairs.
• Lights with light dispersing covers prevent long shadows.

Kitchen and wash room:

• Basic lighting should be in the ceiling. 
• Additional light sources should be provided at work areas, e.g., via lights at the front edge of overhead cabinets. 
• Select lamps with good color (stages 1A, 1B)

Dining room:

• With special uncovered lighting, the dining area has an atmosphere that is different from the workplaces. 
• To assure that the meal and dining companions are visible gut, ensure at least 60 cm between the table surface and the bottom of the lighting.

Living room:

• Design elements include indirect lighting and light sources with dimmers. 
• Additional points of light accent areas. 
• Use targeted lighting via spotlights or picture lighting. 
• In a TV area dim lighting is better; light should not be reflected on the screen. 
• Correct reading light should come from the back and light the pages uniformly. 
• Correct lighting is 60 - 100 watt light bulbs or 11 – 20 watt energy-saving lights.

Children’s room, workroom:

• In addition to basic lighting, ensure adequate lighting at desks. 
• Right-handed persons should have light from the left, left-handed persons from the right to avoid disturbing reflections and shadows.

Bedroom:

• Lighting should be without covers.
• The ideal is usually a combination of ceiling lighting and rotating reading lights next to beds.

Bath:

• Uniform light at a mirror is achieved by lighting on both sides with long lamps. 
• Use lamps with good color radiation (1A, 1B).

Lamps:

• Incandescent light bulbs: Light results from heating the filament; only 5% of the energy is transformed into light, while some 95% is released as heat; lifetime 1000 hours; filled with nitrogen. 
• Halogen lamps: They work with low voltage, usually with a transformer; filled with halogen gas; lifetime 2000 - 4000 hours; less suited as desk lamps due to UV radiation; ideal for indirect lighting. 
• Fluorescent lamps (neon lights): Compared to incandescent light bulbs with the same wattage, they generate 3 to 5 times as much light; lifetime is also a multiple of light bulbs; optimal in offices and as general lighting in living spaces; frequent switching shortens lifetime. 
• Energy-saving lamps: These are compact fluorescent lamps with a light yield of six times that of a light bulb; lifetime 8000 - 10,000 hours; require associated electronics either integrated in the socket or as an adapter.