Hands up if lighting is the first thing you think of when redecorating your room. I’m guessing not many of you.

But the power of good lighting can transform your home. 

You’ve seen what good lighting can do at the gym or at the spa right? Checking yourself out in a mirror with kind lighting can be the difference between looking like a Jersey Royal potato and looking like Cara Delavigne. 

So why not create that same effect in your home?

Yes. Changing the hardwiring of your lighting is a bit of a faff. Because the mess is only temporary, good lighting will last forever.

Here’s a complete guide to lighting your home.

Image via Cox and Cox

1. DOWNLIGHTS

AVOID THE GRID

Putting ceiling downlights in a grid format is a developer’s dream. It requires no brain power and is quick and easy. But for a homeowner, they can be a complete nightmare. They create a sterile feel and light up random areas of the floor rather than channelling the light onto relevant objects like your coffee table or sideboard. So what you want to do is plan where all your furniture is going to sit and then plan the downlights to be positioned directly over the furniture. That way you are lighting areas you want to highlight rather than random patches of carpet. What this means is that the lights will end up randomly positioned all over the ceiling and this is totally fine. Remember the lights are there to light your home, not make a symmetrical pattern on the ceiling. 

TILT

The last thing you want to notice when you walk into a room is the ceiling downlights. This can prove quite challenging if one is immediately blinding you when you walk in. So make sure your lights can be tilted to shine at an angle onto the relevant object you are lighting. Downlights tilted toward a wall do a lovely job of washing it in light. The same with curtains or blinds, if you have a pretty fabric a tilted downlight will bathe it in light. Just make sure you position the downlight close enough to the wall to achieve this effect. 30cm is a good rule of thumb.  

VARY THE BEAM WIDTH

If you want to create that washing effect on a wall then go for a downlight with a wide beam. Or maybe you want to highlight something a bit smaller like a kitchen cupboard than use a medium-width beam. And if you want to highlight something very specific like a vase on a coffee table then opt for a narrow beam width. Playing around with different widths will create a much more dynamic look and feel. 

AVOID GLARE

As well as tilting your downlights you can also buy very fancy products that have integrated shields to reduce glare. And the further recessed the light element is into the light fitting then the less glare there will be. So do your research, you won’t get these considered effects from a bulk buy of lights at B&Q but you can source some amazingly high-quality downlights that offer these features from places light John Cullen and Collingwood lighting. 

2. WALL LIGHTS

THE RIGHT HEIGHT

Wall lights are fantastic for providing a wonderful decorative look as well as functional lighting. But getting the position right is really important to avoid glare. They need to be high enough that you can’t see the bulb when you walk past them, but low enough so you can’t see up into them when sitting down. A general rule is 155 cm-170 cm from floor level. If your electrician is installing the lights prior to flooring being laid then make sure you take this into account and measure up from where the finished floor level will be. 

LOCATION

Wall lights can work in every room and they are particularly handy for areas where you want more decorative lighting but don’t have floor or surface space for lamps. So they are great for hallways and bathrooms and small bedrooms. A classic look is wall lights on either side of a mirror, this creates a really flattering light (perfect for that confidence boost before you leave the house). Again, make sure they are at the right height for you so you don’t see the bulb. 

VISUAL EFFECT

The style of wall light will depend on what you are using it for and the effect you want to create. So for washing the wall in a gentle light to create a lovely evening ambience use a wide wall light that shines light up and down the wall. For lights to check yourself out in the mirror you will want smaller lights. And for bedside wall lights to read by, you may want a task light that shines downwards and one that can tilt to get the perfect angle. 

WARNING

The only thing to consider with wall lights is that they will limit your wall space and therefore your layout options, so make sure you are fixed on your layout before using any. The same goes for your artwork. If you are an impulsive collector of art or furniture then you may want to avoid wall lights so they don’t scupper your plans of where you hang your latest find. 

3. FLOOR LIGHTS

WASH LIGHTS

We mostly associate floor lights with safety demonstrations on aircraft lighting the way to the nearest exit (which may be behind you). But actually they are a great way of lighting your home too. Wash lights are placed at the skirting level or just above and cast a gentle light across the floor. They provide a gentle ambience, perfect in areas where you don’t need to do any specific tasks like brushing your teeth or reading the newspaper. So don’t discount them for hallways as an alternative to downlights or wall lights. 

STEP LIGHTS

They can also be used on steps in rooms that have different levels and staircases. We mostly associate these with Grand Design-type houses rather than your average 3-bed semi, but I just wanted to let you know they are an option. 

UPLIGHT A FEATURE

Another way to use a floor light is to uplight a particular feature or sculpture, the way we are used to seeing in landscaped gardens where trees are unlighted at night. So if you have an impressive fiddle leaf fig then why not illuminate it at night? 

4. LINEAR LIGHTING

CREATE A GLOW

Linear lights in the form of LED strips are perfect for creating a backdrop of light that casts a lovely glow. They are really versatile and easy to install so can be used pretty much anywhere. Consider them for highlighting architectural features as well as shelving, kitchen worktops, headboards and stair treads. I think they have a more modern feel and for me personally, I can’t imagine having them in my period home. But it’s really subjective so don’t feel you can’t have them in your Georgian townhouse, but please avoid the coloured or flashing kind, they are definitely not allowed.

CONCEAL IT

The effectiveness of these types of lights is down to concealing the source of the light, you’re going for just the effect of the light so make sure the strips are well concealed using batons and decorative strips. And avoid using them around shiny or reflective surfaces, you don’t want to be able to see the LED strip in a reflection on the floor! That would not be a good look.

5. PENDANTS

Nearly all of us have pendant lights in our home, they are functional as well as decorative but should mostly be used for their aesthetic value. Don’t rely on a pendant light to successfully light your whole room, combine it with downlights and wall lights to make sure you have the light you need, as well as the look you want.

THE RIGHT HEIGHT

So first things first make sure your pendant is hung at the right height, so here is the low down. 

70-85cm above the worktop.

75-80 cm above the dining table. 

2.1m from the floor if someone will have to walk under it. 

10cm above the top of the door in the hallway. 

50cm above a side table or 30-50cm for the bedside table.

Got that!

SIZE MATTERS

As you can tell from the first point pendants can be hung anywhere, over table tops, bedsides, kitchen islands, and dining tables. The important thing to consider is the scale, you don’t want a piddly light over an enormous dining table or an overside pendant over a bedside table. So you need to achieve a balanced look. If your gut says it’s too big or too small then don’t buy it.

VISUAL EFFECT

The style choices of pendants are literally endless so you just need to consider what look is right for your space and style. If you want a really impressive pendant then pare everything else back, you don’t want your statement chandelier to have to compete with a striking piece of artwork. Or if you have a spectacular marble dining table then keep the pendant more simple. Also, consider the effect of the light. Glass pendants will create some aspect of glare as you can see the bulb so will suit lighter brighter spaces rather than small dark spaces. Sculptured pendants can create all sorts of weird patterns on the wall so could ruin the look of your wallpaper. There is a lot to consider aesthetically when it comes to pendants so if in doubt seek the help of a professional (like me!).

6. LAMPS

DIFFUSE THE LIGHT

Table lamps and floor lamps are a must. They create a wonderful romantic feel and the light is far more flattering in the evening than ceiling lights which can create shadows. My top tip is to diffuse the light. When considering shades always invest in a linen or other material that diffuses the light. Cardboard lampshades are hopeless at this and just reflect the light in on itself. 

AESTHETICS  

Like with pendants, there is no limit to the style of lamps but again consider the scale and proportions first and foremost, don’t place a dainty lamp on a chunky wooden sideboard or a large ceramic lamp on a delicate console table. 

7. CONTROLS

DIMMABLE IS THE WAY TO GO

Make sure all your light fittings and bulbs are on a dimmer switch so that you can control the level of light that you need. 

MULTIPLE CIRCUITS

We’ve talked about lots of different types of lights. And the key to a successful scheme is to have layered lighting but I’m not suggesting you have them all on at once.  So it’s really important that you can control your wall lights, downlights and pendants on different circuits so you can create different effects at different times of the day. 

SCENE SETTING

If you have a large open plan space and gazillions of pounds then you may want to consider ‘scene setting’ rather than manual controls. This is where your lighting is pre-programmed to create different moods for different activities. Then all you need to do is press one button rather than control all the lights separately. So you may have scenes like ‘cooking’ ‘entertaining’ and ‘after dinner drinks’ but that’s fantasy land for most of us. 

8. BULBS

And finally when you’ve gone to the time and effort of getting the perfect lighting scheme then make sure you buy decent bulbs. All the info you need is on the box you just need to know what to look for. 

NUMBER OF HOURS

The higher the number of hours the better, but it will cost you more. Look for 50,000 hrs plus. That will last you about 10 years. 

CRI

(or colour rendering index for those who care). It’s the measure of how good colours will look under your light so really important if you have beautiful artwork and fabrics. Look for 90+.

COLOUR TEMPERATURE

This is how warm your light is and is measured in kelvins. This one is really important so don’t skimp on this, look for 2700 or less. The lower the Kelvins the warmer the light.

CONSISTENCY

Buy all the same bulbs at once to get a consistent look. Buy a cheap replacement with a low CRI and low kelvins it will really stand out and ruin your look. 

Wow, that was a lot of info about lights. The key is to layer your lighting by using as many combinations of these effects as possible. And I don’t mean you should have them all on at once, that would be crazy. However, it is important to have different types of lights on separate circuits to create that desired vibe. Which for me is the ‘lying on the sofa drinking wine and complaining’ vibe. 

If you live in Southampton or Hampshire and would like some interior design advice please get in touch here. I’d love to help you create your perfect room.