I should also have mentioned all the carpet is going and the room is mainly used in the evenings, hence the need to get the lighting right.

Thank you!

Claire

Clare

Depending on your budget there are a number of ideas that spring to mind. Using a warm white rope light and creating a shadow gaps in the two steel bulk heads to provide a calmer mode in the back ground would be a start.

I would also suggest feature floor lamps around the room that provide an uplight to the ceiling and walls. Will also give focus to redundant corners. From the farrow and ball range I would go for the typical known combination of Mole's breath (grey) for the lower walls and then use Ammonite (white) higher walls and ceiling. If you in doubt the grey when you have tried a sample try using Inchrya blue which is rich and dark and white or warm white lighting at low level will add depth to the colours of the room.

Thank you so much for the advice.

Budget isn't a huge issue.

I'm really sorry but I'm not 100% sure what you mean by rope light (although I can probably guess this it) and also a shadow gap. Could you help explain?

If we went with those plus the lamps do you think we could forget about other wall / ceiling lights (clearly except for the pool table downlighter)

Thanks again,

Claire

Ps try looking glass of bath or saligo design for the antiqued mirror (other post!). I got mine from here but there's just 2 choices of antiqueness but a variety of rosettes and the back can be painted any colour.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/514658190/frameless-hand-distressedantiqued-panel?ref=shop_home_active_1

Oooh! Thanks Minnie, don't think he's considered that it won't light the whole table!!! There are directional spots at both ends at the moment which we were hoping to get rid of, but maybe he'll just have to replace them for something more modern.

I love the idea of a picture light over the dart board but every now and again i'm allowed to play (!!!) and I don't seem to hit the board every time, so I might be a bit scared of hitting the light :)

Not too sure about furniture yet, I think he'd quite like a few high stools and a high drinks table in one corner so they can perch and put drinks there when other people are taking their turn, but not really made any decisions yet, so everything is an option.

He quite likes something like this, or maybe something completely different and a bit more industrial / pub like

Thanks ever so much for the advice!

Hi CLaire. I sent my husband to the basement last night and he thinks he can play perfectly well without the spots (I can't!) and pointed out that in a snooker hall you'd only have the light over the table. Tricky one but you definitely need some light aimed towards the darts board! It might be safer to have a spot aimed at this as if you were to hit the picture light it might rebound on you?! Have you considered panelling (with beading) below the eaves and painting this in the dark grey and having a lighter colour above and on the ceiling? I can't find a pic but hopefully the one with the fire kind of illustrates. If the ceilings are low it might be better to go for low furniture? Not sure on your thoughts of the first pic but could a gentlemens club look work well with drinks trolley, brass etc? Are you changing the floor?

That's so kind! Thank you!

I think my husband loves the gentleman's club look (he's 41 and clearly still thinks he's a teenager!!!).

The carpet is definitely going!!!

At the moment we've got a mix of limestone flags downstairs (kitchen / diner / living) and reclaimed floorboards (living room, hallway and everything else) which we've done as part of a big refurbishment. We're just doing the whole of the top floor which is the master suite and planned to be white washed oak and are thinking of sisal / sea grass for the whole middle floor, which is where the games room is. However we could rethink the middle floor and go for seagrass/ sisal for the staircase and all the bedrooms and then something different for the office and games room which are linked.

What do you think?

The ceiling height in the middle is actually 2.3m so in the centre it's not actually low, it's just that the sides are low! I think you make a great point about low furniture though and I had thought a nice low coffee table and some tub chairs would probably be better than high stools and table.

Love the panelling idea! Will definitely discuss with hubby, although he's already having the end wall (with the window and blind) clad in vertical shiplap (not my choice!!!) so could be a bit much with both!!!

Thank you again, I really appreciate your help, it's really kind of you :)

Hi Claire !
Adding some thoughts ....

If the carpet is going - try to replace it with something equally sound deadening - as otherwise his late night games with the lads will keep everyone below up - with all that pacing and pondering before a shot !

Re decision to go for industrial or gentleman's club - (luckily the lamp will suit either) - which of the two fits in better with the other rooms that lead to or will be enjoyed by guests prior to entering this one.... and which style might you expect from the exterior of the house ? Do you want cohesion with the rest of the home - or is the the wild card room ?

If the table is to be the main feature of the room - then don't go too dark on your lower paint colour or it wall blend in too well. But if this IS the effect - then perhaps try ALL graphite - ceilings too ( try a paint a photo app and see if this works for you ) Then add brighter bar seating and warm lighting in that area to make that the prominent piece .

Add a separately switched strong white light to aim at the dart board - and I you do go for panelling here too- I'd suggest you mount the dartboard on a layer of either cork or dark rubber matting.

I'd suggest, to keep the feel of a billiards room, only light the bar area, and have low lamps in each corner of the room, that can be switched off individually if they interfere with a shot.

Nb. As the ceiling is so low - I'd suggest the bar be in the front of the window - so the players can stand upright in that bit much easier.

Hope that helps a bit !

Karen makes a good point with acoustics for the flooring. Both sisal and sea grass are good for this however sisal stains easily so if you stick with that choice I'd go for the sea grass. LVT also has acoustic qualities (not sure if they're comparable but they're meant to be good in apartments so should work!). A wood effect floor would go with with either industrial or gentlemens club look, I'd just protect the feet of the table. I agree no panelling then if you're cladding the end.

Why don't you just do downlights in the flat ceiling part (on a dimmer)? That way you can see the corners of the pool table and if you put one above the dart board, it won't be in the way of your darts.

And you could do wall lights on the sloped parts, like in this photo...

If it was my room, I'd probably do downlights in the flat part of the ceiling and place up/down lights along the border between sloped wall and straight wall.

Probably not these, but to show you what I mean with up/down lights.

Hi everyone

Thank you ever so much for the thoughts, comments and ideas.

Karen, I really like the idea of the lamps in corners and then the stronger light for the darts board and also focusing on the bar area. Great point about the head height and using the window area too! Luckily, the room is over a double garage so sound isn't too much of an issue, but good point as hadn't even thought of that! Will have a think and play around with doing the ceiling dark too- thanks for the suggestion.

Carolina, the downlights were my exact suggestion but according to hubby a pool table isn't a pool table without a 3 part light dangling down above it! Goodness knows why!

The up and down lighters were my other idea and I think we may have a play around with the lamps and if that doesn't seem quite right, then will look into going for something like that. We've already got some really nice galvanised steel ones outside, so I had wondered about that sort of style inside too.

Thanks again everyone, I've got lots of ideas to go away and have a play around with! :)

I would actually have both the pool table light and the downlights. On separate switches.

Hi Claire,

As your room has quite a low ceiling, I would suggest directional spotlights or track lights on a dimmer switch for practical lighting. This will allow you to control the lights level and direct the lights to the position of your choice. This would also be a good way of lighting the dart board.

Opal Circular Adjustable Recessed Down light 3 Pack - Brushed Steel

Rosco 1 Light Parabolic Square Single Wall or Ceiling Spotlight - White

Track Lighting Kit PAR-30 Triple Die Cast Spotlight - White

To add more interest you could go for an Led strip light along the ceiling on both sides.

5 Metre RGB LED Strip Light Kit - Colour Changing

Decorative lights can add finishing touches to the room, but I wouldn't go for a floor lamp to save some space. This arrow light can be a great addition to a man cave.

Arrow Wall Light Box with Black Frame - Black

Hope this helps. If you have any questions feel free to contact us by emailing customerservice@litecraft.co.uk or by calling 0161 359 4777

Kind Regards,

Litecraft Team