Downlights for creating Scandinavian Look
I'm looking to create a scandinavian look for my living room and dining area which is connected. You can see from the pictures there are some chandelier that came with the property that I'll get rid of. I'm looking for advice on the following :
- The type of finish on downlights ie. White or chrome or satin
- Spacing and placement of downlights
- Whether to have a pendant as well to replace one of the chandeliers and remove the other.
I have painted most of the walls with pale French grey from farrow and ball and for the fireplace feature wall will probably choose some kind of blue.
The dining area is connected and I have a blue teal and white color. Flooring is yet to be completed and will probably be oak floorboards.
Thanks
The room is 6.6m by 4m in size and fairly tall ceilings.
Thanks
Comments (7)
PRORukmini Patel Interior Design
5 years agoHi Jimmy, great question!
For your finish type if you really want to go for the Scandi look, you could go for black recessed lights as you already have quite a bit of grey, alternatively black is too much go for brushed chrome.
Go for dimmable down lights as they will help create ambience.
Don't forget to add complimentary hardware, finishing touches take your room one step further. Take a look at Dowsing and Reynolds' website who have a great selection: https://www.dowsingandreynolds.com/shop/silver-double-dimmer-switch/
Ok so for your lighting plan I have drawn up your living room and dinning room from the pictures and dimensions you provided, so apologies if its not completely accurate. When planning lighting, we need to think about what you are doing in that room and what needs to be lit up.
So I have placed the lighting where I think you would naturally use the space, i.e. to watch tv and where you would place the dinning table. For the living room, I have 6 downlights situated 60mm away from the wall to light up areas where you will sit, light up the fireplace and any artwork you might place on the walls. Note I have not added any lighting to the TV as you might not want light shining down on the telly, however if you do I suggest adding one perpendicular to the opposite downlight. The lights should be on a dimmer switch so you can reduce the lighting when you are watching a film for example. In fact you could even have them on two different circuits, say if you wanted to keep some of the lights on but not all of them to create a cosy vibe. Your electrician will be able to read my plan and can make the necessary adjustments.
For the dinning room we are doing something different! I have suggested to have a pendant light over the dinning table and recessed lights along the edge of the room, mirroring the living room. I am assuming that you may have some artwork or a side table etc. placed along the wall and you can light these up as a feature rather task lighting. Use the pendent light to add a statement piece. I've added a dimmable 2 way switch so that both circuits are kept separate. You could even switch on the recessed lights whilst having dinner rather than have the pendent light for more ambience.
I hope this has helped answer your questions, please let me know your thoughts, happy to help :)
Rukmini
Jimmy Chan
5 years agoRelated Discussions
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Rukmini Patel Interior Design
5 years agoThere are many designers and lighting companies who use spotlights in the living room. For example John Cullen Lighting are experts in this field, below is a good example. As long as you don't put them in a grid formation, the lights need to be directed at something for task lighting or accent lighting etc.
Totally agree overhead lighting right above your head is uncomfortable, which is why I have placed them away from the seating area to light up the coffee table. Also having a dimmer switch is imperative so that you can reduce the light level. It also depends on the lumens levels of the spotlights, so I wouldn't rule them out if it is structurally feasible and you know what you are doing.
Jimmy - Yes 6 recessed lights is plenty for the living room. I see what you mean about the dinning room, I would suggest a pendent light. Will you be using the dinning room to go in and out from the kitchen to the living room? Jonathan
5 years agoLove that Rukminis picture illustrates my point about prioritising other lighting.
- PRO
Rukmini Patel Interior Design
5 years ago
Jonathan