Lighting designs in the home
Just like outdoor lighting, there are two layers to lighting designs in the home:
- Task lighting (for cooking, for example)
- Lighting that creates the right ambiance
Clever designs will help you achieve the perfect balance between these two layers of lighting in your home. We make our way through key areas of the home, detailing where certain lighting features can help create the right lighting atmosphere.
Kitchen lighting tips
As open-plan living has increased in popularity, the kitchen has become more than a place where we just prepare food; it’s a communal meeting place for friends and family to gather as well as a place for hosts to entertain.
Open-plan living
The open-plan trend has seen huge growth in recent years. Through open-plan homes, the main living spaces of the home are created in an open and flowing manner; fewer dividing walls split up these spaces.
Typically in an open-plan living area, the living room, kitchen, and dining space are encompassed in a single, open space, creating social living.
The “kitchen” can also include eating and living spaces so it’s important that these areas are not only well lit for preparing weeknight dinners, but also aesthetically pleasing for entertaining friends on a Saturday night.
The kitchen ties together this entire living space. As such, lighting must combine practicality with ambiance. Kitchen lighting ideas include:
Dimmable lights
Dimmable lights are a versatile choice for most rooms in the home. Use bright lighting when preparing meals (task lighting) and adjust the strength when eating or socialising (accent lighting).
Down lights
Down lights sit flush with the ceiling, eliminating any shadows or glare. Choose from cool or warm globes to illuminate a communal space like the kitchen. LED down lights can cut your power bill and last up to 20 times longer than halogen lighting! Find out more benefits of LED lighting in this blog post.
Under-cabinet lighting
Under-cabinet lighting illuminates bench tops that are otherwise partially blocked from good lighting by the cabinets above them.
This lighting, also referred to as strip lighting, creates a bright, friendly, welcoming atmosphere in a kitchen space.
Pendant lighting
Pendant lights can look striking over benches, but the most important rule to remember when searching is to measure! Kitchen designer Vagn Masden explains you should not buy pendant lights “without first checking the size by creating a mock-up”.
Getting the sizing right will be the difference between finding lighting that complements a space and lighting that looks three sizes too big for a space.
Bathroom lighting tips
The bathroom is one of the busiest rooms in the house, with each member of the family using it for a variety of tasks throughout the day and night.
Effective bathroom lighting is mastered when you consider whether you need the following types of lighting:
Task lighting
Just like in the kitchen, bright and clear task lighting is required for tasks like shaving or makeup application.
This type of lighting should be close to the mirror rather than behind (where you risk unappealing shadows). Avoid putting lights above the mirror; rather, keep them closer to eye level.
Decorative lighting
That addition of a small pendant light can transform an otherwise standard bathroom into a little slice of luxury at the beginning or end of your day. Your electrician will ensure your bathroom fixture adheres to the specific electric codes and regulations.
It’s recommended that you have at least one ceiling-mounted light fixture to provide general lighting.
Exhaust fan
Don’t forget about exhaust fans – along with your lighting, an exhaust fan must be installed in your bathroom. The aim of an exhaust fan is to boost ventilation and as such remove the risk of mould in the bathroom.
Bathroom lighting tips
- Clear bulbs may look stylish on Pinterest, but they can cause unsightly shadows. Opt for opaque, instead
- Consider dimmers – these be adjusted accordingly to help little ones in particular adjust to morning or evening
- Always consult a licensed electrician to conduct any kind of electrical work, especially in a wet area like the bathroom
Living room lighting tips
Traditional, contemporary, and modern living spaces – while different in styling – all require clever lighting designs to best optimise ambiance and functionality.
Ceiling lights
Ceiling lights are an automatic default, especially when there is a lot of open space.
However, you should also look at other options that allow you to highlight different zones and heights, creating layers.
To create some dimension, you might look at combining a few of the following lighting solutions:
Track lights
Track lighting can follow the lines and angles created by furniture. Think an L-shaped couch with track lights above. It can also be used to highlight wall art or photographs.
Feature lighting
A single standout piece, like a pendant or chandelier, can be a feature unto itself.
Wall lights
Wall lights or sconces highlight features and can help to eliminate dark and shadowy corners.
Fan lights
When the light is built-in to the fan, you instantly double the features. Did you know that a ceiling fan can cool a space during summer and heat a space during winter? Find out more about the dual effect of ceiling fans in this blog post.
Bedroom lighting tips
Dimmable lighting
Again, dimmable features help you adjust lighting needs depending on the time of the day. The ability to dim lights is particularly useful in the bedroom, where we spend time winding down at the end of the day. Consider having a dimmable functionality on your main, ceiling-mounted light.
Bedside lighting
Are you a bedtime reader? Bedside lighting can be a lot gentler that ceiling lights on the eyes as you prepare for bed, while simultaneously providing adequate lighting when you’re squeezing in a few chapters before bed.
Sconces
Sconces are a great alternative to floor lamps, particularly for small areas where floor lamps can take up valuable space. Sconces look great when they bookend a bed, or can be used to highlight a piece of wall art or photograph.
Lighting designs
There are so many lighting paths you can follow, depending on the ambiance you want to achieve as well as the size and layout of a specific room in the home. If you’re thinking about a renovation or about to embark on a new build, let Briggs Electrical design and implement the right lighting strategy in your home. Contact us today!
