LED Lamps

David Rance is an interior designer working in California and is the founder of . He is also the past president of the Orange County chapter of the (ASID).

As integrators and designers we need to look at and use these new LED proucts, and we need the public to see what the possibilities are. LEDs are here now and there is no telling what may be coming down the road for our use and our creativity.

Sadly, many of our legislators use fluorescent lighting as the gauge for what is energy efficient. This is because they unfortunately are not well-versed in the technology and do not know that these wonderful products provide more light with less energy. For example, in California we have the , and while we work with it and follow its direction, I do not know if I will ever come to terms with fluorescent lighting as an inviting residential product. But how many of us have used fluorescent lighting in a home theatre or entertainment area? I am resistant to putting an office cubicle in my or any of my clients homesthose are for commercial use. Who knows, maybe even fluorescent lighting will have a breakthrough and develop a very intriguing twist on an old product.  

But its not all about the tape. There are a variety of products that take advantage of LED technology. I have used the puck lighting under a cabinet. It is very useful in areas where there is no space to recess a traditional MR16 or MR11 fixture. Think of those rack and shelf systems that are tucked away in cabinets and closets with very little light. Put in an LED and now you have light and no detectable additional heat!

The use of LED lighting can also fix traditional problems. For example, in home theater rooms with recessed incandescent lighting in the cove at the ceiling, halo-effects occur. With LED you do not have to allow for this problem (the LEDs are about a half inch apart), nor do you have to allow for heat, and again, there is total dimming control. Also, if you happen to have tables in the room or chairs that have some space between the chair and the floor, you can run the tape LEDs underneath and give glow to the room reminiscent of movie theaters (plus, it also helps people see if they have to move during a show).

I can back light glass in shelves; I can line the edge of a glass shelf; and if I sit a glass object on the shelf, it glows. Best of all, there is no discernable heat output that could damage items in a closed environment. What about cabinets that surround the media centers with displays?  They usually have adjustable shelves, so with the LED on tape you can line the front edges on the sides of the doorframe, light the interior and still be able to adjust the shelves. And when viewing a movie, they can be dimmed to a level complementary to the screen brightness so that they are not distracting.

Lighting is an element that sometimes does not get enough thought put in to it. Yet, it is one that can really make a project unique and special, and can pull a complete design together. Of course, you need to have a good design to begin with, but it all comes to down to lighting when it is done right. The correct balance, highlights, and drama can be achieved with the flick or the push of a switch or panel, or whatever we are using to control our light sources.
With the energy situation we have begun to look at high-efficacy controls and sources.  The best invention coming into major use is the light emitting diode (LED). I never thought I would say that, but it has given me a new product that allows me to be more creative. LEDs come in a variety of product packaging. The coolest of these is the LEDs on tape. The strips are approximately 3/8-inch wide by 1/8-inch high and are sizeable in two-inch lengths. You just cut it with scissors and remove the tape paper and press it into placeeven I could do it! (But, I still leave it to the professionals.) Best of all, it is dimmable. As an interior designer, Ive been using this wonderful product in many of my projects.