How To Light Your Home?

How Lighting In Our Homes Effects Us!

How to light your home? Is an area I am regularly quizzed on by potential clients, friends and family members. Lighting is such an important factor in interior design. I would even go as far as saying it is one of the most important elements in residential or commercial design.

The funny thing about lighting a space, is it isn’t something you necessarily walk into a room and notice. Unless there is a particularly beautiful light or shade used. However, when you walk into a space, you instantly make a decision about how it impacts you. Without even realising it, lighting plays a huge part on that impact.

Flat Lighting

If I walk into a space and it feels flat and uninspiring. It is often because there is either not enough variety of light sources or there is too much of one type. For example (and I am going to be honest here), in my own home in the majority of the rooms I used multi faceted lighting options, on different circuits and all with dimmers. When it came to our hallway, I rushed it and tried to reduce our budget and used only down lighters to light the space. The result is a flat, bland entrance hall. I have tried to rectify it by adding floor and table lamps but I know at some point I will want to rip the whole lot out and start again!

Dimensional Lighting

The contrast to that mistake, is when I walk into other rooms in my home where I have layered the lighting and created different set ups for different moods, the rooms are dynamic and intriguing. I have used the lighting to highlight different elements in the space. This adds depth and contrast. By designing them on different circuits, I can adjust the mood of the room as we move through the day and night.

To achieve good interior lighting in our homes, we need to understand the types of lighting that can be used. Comprehend how to layer them to create a warm, dimensional space.

Two Types Of Light.

Firstly it is important to note that there are two types of light when it comes to interiors, natural and artificial. Natural light obviously varies in a space due to orientation, window sizes and where in the world we live. To enhance or adjust the natural light we get in each space, we add artificial lighting. This is used to add layers and dimension to a room.

Five Layers For Artificial Light.

When it comes to lighting our spaces artificially, there are actually five different types of lighting. These should be used in conjunction with each other in order to create dimensional, intriguing interiors.

General Lighting

General lighting is exactly what it says, it is the wash of lighting that is used to light the entire space. It doesn’t focus the light on any one element or area of the space. The most common example is the single, central pendant, which is usually used in a bedroom or reception room. The other type (and one I mentioned earlier) is the very popular down lighter.

Now there is nothing wrong with this light source and actually it is very useful. I use down lighters in my designs all the time. The new LED’s are now designed to camouflage into the ceiling. When used correctly they add a much needed light source. As I mentioned earlier, however when they are used on their own and over used they create a very flat, often over bright light source, which is unflattering and harsh in a space. Positioning them correctly for the usage of the room and always on a dimmer, allows them to play their part beautifully in a space.

Task Lighting

Task Lighting is essential in a space as it is incredibly useful in our daily lives. It basically does what it says on the tin. It provides extra light sources in area where we concentrate particular tasks. For example in a kitchen you will often see under cabinet lighting. This creates a lovely glow on the worktops but it also highlights areas where food prep is happening. The same in studies and work stations. Positionable desk lamps or floor lamps are a popular choice for adding an extra brightness to focus on our work.

Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting is general lightings thoughtful friend. Whilst general lighting allows you to quickly wash a whole space in light. Ambient softens the space, creating a more tranquil, relaxed atmosphere.

A good example of ambient lighting is the beautiful chandelier or ceiling pendant that captures your eye and dances the light around the space. I will tell you a funny antidote; when I use to find decorative ceiling pendants, my dad would never let me buy them because the lumens capacity (how bright the light could be) was never very bright. Only years later did I realise that they were designed that way for a reason. They were never meant to be the sole light source for a space and were designed to create a soft, flattering light. Just think of all those chandeliers I could have bought, if I’d realised earlier.

Mood lighting is really important for adjusting your space from the brighter, necessary daily functional lighting to the calmer, softer, relaxing lighting. The common choices for this lighting is table and floor lights.

When I design living rooms and TV rooms, I usually stipulate plenty of outputs for table and floor lamps. I also insist on 5 amp sockets, allowing each lamp to be connected to the wall switch. The majority of us are never going to go round each room turning on different light options. When it’s controllable from the main switch it makes the zoning so much easier to control.

Accent Lighting

Accent lighting is actually one of my favourite light sources to design in a space. It allows you to highlight a particular area, element or object in a room. For those of you who have followed my own walk-in wardrobe renovation (follow us on Instagram to see behind the scenes), will know that a very important element of that design was the hidden led strips that I designed to highlight my shoe cabinet. The lighting not only accented my favourite stilettos but also highlighted the beautiful rose gold leaf used behind the shoes. The lighting design for that space is a combination of down lighters and softer Led strips. If I turn the down lighters on without the LED strips the room is flat and dull. As soon as I light the LED’s, the room is powerful and impactful.

Shoes aside (although as you can see it is one of my favourite topics!), bookcases and art is another areas I like to use accent lighting. By highlighting this areas in your space, they bring them to life and make them stand out in your home.

Another of my recommendations would be to use a home automation company to integrate all your lighting, zones and different moods onto one system. We work closely with an automation company who can automate literally everything in your home. From lighting to cinemas, to controlling your curtains and blinds.

If you would like our help with lighting your home or any other aspect of designing your interior project, then don’t hesitate to get in touch and book a discovery call with us.