Light Suitable For TV Viewing

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30337, 13 January 1964, Page 2

Light Suitable For TV Viewing

A television light with a dimming switch came on to the New Zealand market recently. At full strength the light is 150 watts, and can be switched to half that strength. Constance Moriarty, addressing a group taking a home-makers’ course recently, described the light as ideal for television viewing. "There should always be some light in a room where television viewing is taking place,” Mrs Moriarty said. Ideally the light should come from behind the viewers, whether from standard lamps or wall brackets. •

A great deal of lighting was required in a panelled room, or where there were dark or rich - coloured furnishings. Discussing various types of fittings, Mrs Moriarty said that flower-style' fittings should be either cut away or bell shaped if reading or sewing were to be done in the room. Enclosed bowl styles gave only a soft, low level of illumination, unsuited to close work. Plain satin opal glass i gave a cold light for domestic j living. Lights pointing up-| wards were fly traps and I showed up any flaws in the ceiling. Colours For Parchment When considering parchment shades, white or cream, with primrose and shades of yellow next, gave the most satisfactory lighting, Mrs Moriarty said. Blue gave a very cold light, red gave only a soft, rosy glow, while green was unflattering to complexions. Lighting in kitchens and dinettes should be positioned over the working and dining areas. Rules for lighting these areas were: avoid closed-in fittings which would give only a spot lighting effect; have a glass as wide open at the bottom as possible; to avoid shadowing, keep the light

either on the ceiling or close] to it. Where there were floor to ceiling cupboards, lights with metal canopies should be avoided, as they cut off all! light to the top cupboards. Lighting outlets in the bedroom should be placed over the dressing table and bedpendant lights over dressing tables and wall brackets, with a wide angle, were most satisfactory over beds. “Efficiency is not the sole factor in lighting,” Mrs Moriarty said. It should reflect the personality as much as the rest of the home. Architect-designed lighting systems did not always work out—“consider whether their suggestions are practical to your own type of living, and if they reflect your Own personal tastes,” Mrs Moriarty said. If working to a budget when building or renovating, allocate half the amount to be spent on lighting to the livingroom and hall, the other half on the remainder lof the house.