Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/182

 WOMAN'S HOME i6o RTISTIC ARTIFICIAL. LIGHTING By ELLA G. GRUNDY Author of ^' The House Beautiful,^' ^^ How to Furnish a Flat." Lighting a Reception-room or Dining-room— Colour Schemes— Lights as Table Decorations It may seem absurd to emphasise the fact ^ that the main object of lighting arrange- ments is to give light. A little observation of the average home, however, shows that most fittings seem to be chosen for their material and design rather than for the pro- duction and distribution of the light. No artistic results can be obtained by buying fittings haphazardly or without the advice of some expert who has seen and carefully considered the possibilities of the rooms to be lighted. One great axiom of artistic lighting is that one should not be able to perceive im- mediately how it is done. On entering a well- lighted room one should have first a pleasant impression of diffused light. Light- ing, however, cannot be really artistic un- less it is becoming to and is suitable to the purpose of the room. Lighting a Reception-Room A soft-shaded light is beautiful in a recep- tion-room, but out of place in a living-room, where work has to be done, or in a bedrcom, where hair-dressing or shaving require strong light. In a reception- room the light should be bright and clear, but not garish or dazzling. should be evenly lighted, so that hard or unbecoming shadows are avoided. To obtain this result lights must be placed round the room in such a position that the brightness does not strike the eyes direct, but shines on to ceiHngs, walls, or mirrors, and is reflected back into the room. This can be done by setting small electric bulbs behmd the cornice. A large number of bulbs are required for the scheme, as not more than three-quarters of the light is reflected back again. This expense, however, is counter- balanced by the saving in fittings. If the cornice is not deep enough to hold The " reflecting bowl " fitting, to the ceiling, so that it is A room of this kind the bulbs, reflecting fittings may be sus- pended from the ceiling. These consist of a group of lights, under which is a kind of deep bowl of cut glass, coloured silk, or pierced metal. This bowl allows only a very little light to fall downwards, but throws most of it up on to the ceiling, and so diffuses it about the room. The lights themselves can be either electric or incandescent, and a very pretty result can be obtained from the use of an oil-lamp with reflecting fitting. When oil or gas is used the light must not be hung too near the ceiling, and if it is to reflect and diffuse properly the ceiling must be white, cream, or a light blue-grey. Wall brackets or sconces should be fitted with butterfly shades, which throw the light back on to the walls, from whence it is re- flected to the room. For conversational purposes a low, shaded light is more- artistic, and nothing gives a more beautiful effect than standard or table lamps fitted for incan- descent gas or electric light. Any kind of standard lamp can be fitted with an incan- descent burner, and can be moved about with almost as much free- dom as an electric lamp. For the ordinary drawing-room it is a good thing to have a combination of the two kinds of lighting. Cornice or wall lights, which can be used when brightness is wanted, and well-shaded lamps when cosiness is required. Tlie Colour of Sliades The success of lighting depends largely upon the colour of the shades chosen. A most becoming effect can be obtained from deep yellow or rose-pink — really deep, warm colours. Pale yellow simply looks a dirty white when the light is on, and very pale pink gives a trying glare. Pink shades look which throws most of the light up diffused softly about the room