Lighting may not seem the most important aspect but it is one of the most crucial design elements in design. It helps create and change moods in a space. For example, adding a dimmer light to your downlights in a media room creates comfort and darkness for those cosy movie nights!

There are four types of lighting to consider when designing your lighting plan. Think about how you want to feel (again, touching on pulling at your emotions), in each room, what you are going to be doing in each room then the type of lighting that goes in there will follow.

Ambient lighting

Ambient lighting is the most common source of illumination in the home. For example, ceiling down lights. Generally, these are a common source of lighting thought the bedrooms and main living areas of a home. They provide a great light span and LED downlights last much longer, are low maintenance and are energy efficient. As general lighting, they provide a “natural” light source for everyday activities within the family home. From experience, you don’t need to floor your ceiling with hundreds of downlights. The technology is getting bigger and better with quality light bulbs and quality of light source meaning you only need a few.

Task lighting

Task lighting is to illuminate a specific task or activity. For example, reading or working. Lamps are a great source of task lighting, however saying this, you must buy the right one! For example, if you buy a lamp (example A below), that’s for a bedside table in your bedroom that looks something like this, it will only provide a decorative light source. If you are wanting to read in Bed and have the light directly hit the target area your activity is on, then example B below), is the perfect choice for you. Another form of task lighting is using illuminating wall lights in bathrooms. Bathrooms are a perfect example where we need to use task lighting to complete daily activities. Be mindful that you want to make sure in a bathroom the globe selected is as close to natural light as possible. If the glow is too warm or too cool, you won’t have an honest light source in the space you need it the most.

Another form of task lighting is using illuminating wall lights in bathrooms. Bathrooms are a perfect example where we need to use task lighting to complete daily activities. Be mindful that you want to make sure in a bathroom the globe selected is as close to natural light as possible. If the glow is too warm or too cool, you won’t have an honest light source in the space you need it the most.

Accent lighting

Accent lighting, in other words is a form of decorative lighting to some degree. This type of lighting is used to highlight artwork, paintings, feature walls, or furniture. For example, if you have a piece of art or a print you would like to showcase, it’s a nice touch to add an accent light source next to the piece to create a focal point and highlight the art as a feature piece in your home.

Another example of accent lighting is used on stair cases. I like to recommend every second or 3rd tred along the wall near the stair case to create a gentle light source. This can also be a function lighting source during the night so you can actively see where you are going.

Thirdly, track lighting, an ON TREND decorative light yes, but a functional one as well. Track lighting has so much flexibility with enabling the heads on the tracks to move in the direction you would like them to and illuminate the area you’re looking to highlight.

Decorative lighting

This element of design is what they call “the jewellery of the home”, this is where you can go crazy with style, colour and design. I tend to treat this style as I would when I’m buying furniture for a house. Its completely YOUR style, YOUR design choice and YOUR colour pallet! There are so many wonderful pendent lights to select from, the choices are honestly endless.

However. There is a serious side to them! The do act as task lighting and accent lighting if need be. The do not have any connection to ambient lighting, therefore cannot be used for every day lighting source.

Pendant and/or decorative suspended light choices can be used in a number of ways:

1. Over An Island Bench

These will act as task lighting, great for having on at the breakfast bar in the morning

2. Over the dining table

You can create a wonderful statement piece over the centre of a dining table with feature light. The can assist in illuminating the space whilst having your evening meal or simply act as a decorative piece all day long.

3.Bedside table lighting

These can act as accent lights, but most be used as a gentle feature next to the bed.

If you looking over your plans and thinking, “where do I start”, just think power, task lighting, accent lighting, ambience and how do I want each room to function and feel. My top tip to a successful electrical plan is starting from your façade, then room by room until you end up at the rear / outdoor section of your home.

Location of lighting is key! For example, power points, I believe you can never have enough, however the location of the power points is paramount to how your room will function.

Question to ask yourself…

Bedroom

Where are your bedside tables going?

Are you having feature pendants above the bedside tables?

Are you switching your feature pendant lights next to your bed?

Would you prefer your downlights over the bed horizontally or vertically placed?

Hallway

Power points in main corridors and hallways can mean easy access of vacuuming and used for hall stand lamps

Dining room

Are you having a pendant feature light over dining table?

Do you need power in the corner of room for a lamp or side table?

How many down lights do you need to act as ambient lighting in the space?

Kitchen

Are you plaining on having pendant lights over the island bench

What are you having on your bench tops that need power, kettle, toaster etc, this will determine how much power you need

Did you need ambient lighting over the island bench as well as decorative lighting?

The bigger the kitchen, the more lighting required

Do you need power on the island bench?

Living room

Are you having a TV on the wall or on a cabinet, this will determine where the power points will be installed on the wall

How much power do you need in this space, lamps, charges etc

Lighting works together with colour and material to create atmosphere. Lighting can truly make or break a design.