How Much Light Do I Need?
Glad you asked. There’s actually a proven (and simple) formula for calculating the proper amount of general light you should have in each room or area of your home. So, dust off those arithmetic skills...
- Measure the room's length and width in feet
- Multiply the two measurements together for square footage
- Then, multiply the room's square footage by 1.5
The result is the total amount of wattage necessary to light the room for general brightness. Here's an example:
A room measures 12 feet by 16 feet, so 12 x 16 = 192. Multiplying 192 x 1.5 gives you 288 watts. That means an 8-light chandelier using 40-watt bulbs would provide ample brightness for the room, with 320 watts.
For specific task lighting in areas where stronger light is needed, multiply the area’s square footage by 2.5 rather than 1.5 to find the needed wattage. A kitchen work island or desk area for schoolwork are examples of task areas in your home.
That's all. We told you it was simple. And the good news is that you can apply these rules to every room or area in your home. So when you've calculated the number of wattage you need, you can start shopping for lighting at Build.com.
