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Tips for Lighting a Child's Bedroom.
Finding just the right light for your child's bedroom will create the environment that suits the time of night or time of day, time of homework and time of play.
Your child's bedroom should be a safe haven, a place where fun can flow and creativity, too, if your child does homework there.
Lighting a room with so many purposes can be challenging. Parents should select lighting that is most conducive to the different activities children pursue in their rooms.
It will take several layers of lighting to address your child's lighting needs. An overhead or ceiling light on a dimmer is optimal as a starting point. Additional lighting should be placed according to the way the child uses the room.
Homework: If your child has a desk or study area in the bedroom, make sure it is well-lit with task lighting. This lighting shines directly on the work, and should be placed opposite the child's writing hand. For example, a left-handed child would need a desk lamp or a floor lamp that throws light from the right, to avoid shadows where he or she is writing.
If your child has a computer in his or her room, be sure that the lighting used does not create a glare on the screen, since this strains eyesight.
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Reading: Where does your child read? In bed? In a chair, with you? Or alone? At his or her desk? Again, task lighting from a table lamp or a floor lamp should be available. The best lighting for this purpose is adjustable, so it moves where your child needs it.
Watching TV/playing video games: If your child has a TV in his or her room, be sure that the lighting does not create glare on the screen. A low level, indirect light is appropriate, so the room isn't in total darkness except for the screen.
Listening to music/soothing activities: A dimmer for an overhead light is a good idea, so the room can be kept at a low level of light for near-bedtime when you are trying to create a soothing, quiet atmosphere.
Sleep: Consider a nightlight, but not one that will shine light near the bed. It should be at the opposite side of the room, and not shining in your child's face--even with his or her eyes closed.
Shedding the Right Light on Study Areas.
It's almost time to hit the books again. Give the students in your life the best advantage by making sure they can see their schoolwork in the best light.
When students or parents begin to plan for decorating a new dorm room or carving out a study area within the home, too often they neglect one of the most important components of an effective learning environment: the right lighting.
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Parents and students willingly invest thousands of dollars in the latest technology in computers, furniture and desk accessories in preparation for school, but often fail to recognize that lighting can truly make or break a study space.
Knowing how to properly light a work area can make a huge difference in eliminating eyestrain and fatigue, and ensuring the perfect atmosphere for schoolwork."
The perfect study space:
-An adjustable desk lamp provides additional light to the desk and keyboard. Position the lamp so it will not reflect on the computer screen.
-A distance of about 15" from the desktop to a desk lamp's shade bottom works well for lamp placement and maximum light throw.
-The lamp should be placed so that hand shadows don't streak across your work. If you're right-handed, this means placing the light source on the left side of your desk.
-When selecting a desk lamp, make sure the arm is long enough and flexible enough to shine light where you need it and out of your way when you don't need it.
-If you don't want to fill valuable desk space with a lamp, consider placing a multi-functional torchiere nearby that can adjust direct light to task areas. Many of today's torchieres are outfitted with improved fluorescent lighting technology. Not only are they safer, they use up much less energy.
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