Focus on Lighting

Tips on how to understand lighting and how to use it in your home.

Here i'm sharing some tips on lighting and how to make the most of it in your home. It's important to understand natural light and how that plays an important part as well as different types of lighting to get the look and feel you are looking for.

Tip # 1 Be Clear on the Function of the room

The way the space is lit is one of the determining factors in how it feels to be in that space. Some people prefer bright well lit rooms, and some want much more subtle and mood lighting. Ask yourself, what will you use the space for and therefore how much light will you need? I'll go through some options and key things to consider when choosing lighting for your interior space.

Tip # 2 Know your types of Lighting

• General Lighting - when you enter a room and use the main light switch this switches on the general lighting system. It allows the users to be safe, and see the room well and also appreciate all of the decor in the room. It shouldn't be so bright it gives you a headache but it should mean you can navigate the room well.

• Task Lighting- This refers to lighting which has been chosen to provide a targeted source of light for a specific purpose. For example reading lights or spot lights for kitchen preparation/ cooking areas.

• Accent Lighting - This can be used in a way that provides interesting accents to a room by means of highlighting treasured possessions or interesting objects.

Tip # 3 Choose the right kind of Bulb

• Tungsten- the most common typical household bulb, also referred to as an incandescent bulb. They are ideal for many rooms and create a warm yellow cosy glow.

• LED- These are relatively new for a lighting option and are more expensive compared to the Tungsten bulbs, however they are popular for their efficiency and can be more cost effective long term. They can consume up to 90% less energy than conventional bulbs.

• Fluorescent- Most people associate it with inducstial and office spaces but it can play a role in effectie lgithing at home. They can't be controlled with a dimmer but they are generally energy efficient and affordable. Under kitchen cabinets for worktop lighting or under kick-boards for ambient lighting are good uses in a kitchen .

Tip # 4 Understand the types of natural light

• South facing houses receive plenty of natural light throughout the day so are usually reserved for every day activities such as cooking eating and relaxing. A kitchen is usually placed in a south facing direction as lots of natural light is useful for cooking and prep.

• North facing rooms receive little direct sunlight so will feel cooler for the majority of the time.

• East facing rooms will be well lit with natural light for the first half of the day but become darker in the afternoon and evening.To create a balance, artificial levels of lighting should be used, and dimmer switches can work well in rooms that see fluctuations through the day.

• West facing rooms can be overwhelmingly bright during the middle of the day and in the early afternoon but typically become much cooler as afternoon transitions into evening. The light is usually soft so can create a soothing environment.

Tip # 5 Make the Most of Natural Light

• Ensure curtains and blinds only touch the very edges of the windows so not to block any incoming light.

• Choose a pale colour scheme and light coloured furniture which will reflect light around a room,, giving it a warm but airy feel.

• Assess the size and health of any bushes or trees and shrubs growing near the building and reduce their size if they are blocking the light.

Tip # 6 Maximise the amount of light you can

• A Dimmer switch allows the artificial lighting within a room to be adjusted as required.

• Rethink the size of your windows if you don't mind building work as part of your project then this will easily enhance natural light levels. .

• A Skylight in your roof is also a way to add more light in, as is adding an extra window or transforming a sash window into a set of french doors or bi fold doors.

• A regular stud wall could also be turned into a glass partition wall provided it doesn't need to bear much weight.

Tip # 7 Extra Nuggets

• Make sure the lighting feels coherent across the different rooms around the house.

• Don't go overboard... lots of lighting can feel distracting and is impractical to maintain.

• Make sure the lighting fits with the colour scheme, other decor and furniture in the room. There's no point if you love a style of lighting but it doesn't fit with the rest of the room.

• If you have delicate or expensive lighting, make sure it's out of reach of children and pets.

• Experiment with candles (LED) and fairy lights to have a non permanent, inexpensive and soft lighting option.

• Be conscious of what the light (and the bulb) looks like when it's not in use. Is it in keeping and does it look good?

• Make sure lighting operating systems are simple and easy to use.

I hope you have found this blog post useful and interesting on what to consider when thinking about lighting.

Thanks for reading, have a great day.

Lauren X