A poorly lit room is a lot like a picnic in the rain. But let's over simplify and go with an average of between 15 35 Lumens of per square foot, depending on the home "zone" you're lighting. To calculateLPW (below) use this basic guide.
The recommendation for lighting per square foot varies by task, and guidelines vary by state. The output of light is measured in Lumens per watts (LPW).
Lumens (Lumens/Watts) 15 Watt Incandescent 8 125 3 watt CFL 41 185 15 watt Krypton 12 210 25 watt Incandescent 8 Ambient Lighting 3 4 feet from Ceiling down 400 9 watt CFL 44 460 40 watt incandescent 12 500 10 watt CFL 50 General Room Lighting Middle.
A thoughtful combination of well distributed lighting from ceiling to mid wall height brings your design to life. So how much lighting is the right for your room. Recessed lighting or track lighting, chandeliers or pedant lighting (upper middle plane) floor and table lamps; accent or task lighting and wall sconces create adjustable jabez and accent lighting where your you need it. It stands to reason that you need brighter task oriented lighting in work zones (kitchen, living, office) with more restful lighting levels in bedrooms. |