Lighting: Reasons to Consider a Lighting Control System in Your Home
Give every room in your house the wow factor with the latest in lighting technology – and potentially save money as well
Melanie Shaw
14 December 2015
Houzz Contributor. Partner and Design Director at Brilliant Lighting.
Lighting control systems can help you to really make the most of your home. Not only can they ensure your rooms, from the hallway to the living room, look their best at all times, they are also easy to master and have great efficiency benefits.
You can use these systems to make your home more secure and they’re the best way to dim and control the latest LED lighting. You can even integrate lighting controls with other home technologies, so you can turn on the heating, open and close blinds and curtains, and turn the lights on and off from a single control unit. Read on and prepare to be illuminated about what the latest lighting technology can offer.
You can use these systems to make your home more secure and they’re the best way to dim and control the latest LED lighting. You can even integrate lighting controls with other home technologies, so you can turn on the heating, open and close blinds and curtains, and turn the lights on and off from a single control unit. Read on and prepare to be illuminated about what the latest lighting technology can offer.
Be switched on in open-plan areas
Lighting control systems really shine when it comes to large rooms or open-plan living spaces. A system keypad can be programmed to control the lighting across a whole area or even the entire house. This is ideal when you want to be able to zone an area with lighting without having to actually be present in that room or series of rooms.
A combination of dimmed floor and ceiling lights throws a sophisticated glow over this kitchen as night draws in.
Lighting control systems really shine when it comes to large rooms or open-plan living spaces. A system keypad can be programmed to control the lighting across a whole area or even the entire house. This is ideal when you want to be able to zone an area with lighting without having to actually be present in that room or series of rooms.
A combination of dimmed floor and ceiling lights throws a sophisticated glow over this kitchen as night draws in.
Control your lighting with a tablet or smartphone
Just about all lighting control systems have an app or can be integrated into a wider control system running on a smartphone or tablet. As well as using your phone to turn on your lights, a keypad by the door is often the quickest and simplest way. But if you’re curled up on the sofa, you can set the lighting scene in your home just by moving your fingertips.
Browse inspiring ideas for lighting a side return extension
Just about all lighting control systems have an app or can be integrated into a wider control system running on a smartphone or tablet. As well as using your phone to turn on your lights, a keypad by the door is often the quickest and simplest way. But if you’re curled up on the sofa, you can set the lighting scene in your home just by moving your fingertips.
Browse inspiring ideas for lighting a side return extension
Turn off your lights from your bed
Having a simple keypad or remote by the bed is great for controlling your master suite, but it can be programmed to do a lot more. Imagine a ‘goodnight’ button on the bedside keypad that turns off the lights across the house apart from a few low-level LEDs on the landing. Because each circuit can be controlled individually, you can determine exactly what you want each programmed area to do.
Here, the bed welcomes you by appearing to float above the floor in this illuminated optical illusion.
Having a simple keypad or remote by the bed is great for controlling your master suite, but it can be programmed to do a lot more. Imagine a ‘goodnight’ button on the bedside keypad that turns off the lights across the house apart from a few low-level LEDs on the landing. Because each circuit can be controlled individually, you can determine exactly what you want each programmed area to do.
Here, the bed welcomes you by appearing to float above the floor in this illuminated optical illusion.
Make it look as if you’re in when you’re out
A lighting control system can be programmed to play back a realistic pattern of light when you’re not there, making your home more secure. Simple timers can look rather unrealistic if all the same lights turn on at the same time every day. With some more intelligence, a lighting control system in ‘holiday mode’ can make the house look realistically occupied.
A lighting control system can be programmed to play back a realistic pattern of light when you’re not there, making your home more secure. Simple timers can look rather unrealistic if all the same lights turn on at the same time every day. With some more intelligence, a lighting control system in ‘holiday mode’ can make the house look realistically occupied.
Maximise your use of daylight
Particularly sophisticated home automation systems can also be tied to light sensors that assess how much daylight is entering a room. They can then set curtains and blinds to shut or open accordingly. Blinds and curtains can be included in ‘holiday mode’, too, to make your automated lighting even more convincing when you’re not there. And, it can all be done remotely from your tablet or smartphone.
Particularly sophisticated home automation systems can also be tied to light sensors that assess how much daylight is entering a room. They can then set curtains and blinds to shut or open accordingly. Blinds and curtains can be included in ‘holiday mode’, too, to make your automated lighting even more convincing when you’re not there. And, it can all be done remotely from your tablet or smartphone.
Dim LEDs smoothly
It can be tricky to control LED lighting with conventional dimmers; typical problems include flickering and erratic performance at low dimming levels. The best lighting control systems offer a whole range of dimming protocols (the language that the LED, the drivers and the lighting control system understand). Using components that all speak the same language gives simple, hassle-free dimming.
Interested in installing LED lighting? Read this beginner’s guide
It can be tricky to control LED lighting with conventional dimmers; typical problems include flickering and erratic performance at low dimming levels. The best lighting control systems offer a whole range of dimming protocols (the language that the LED, the drivers and the lighting control system understand). Using components that all speak the same language gives simple, hassle-free dimming.
Interested in installing LED lighting? Read this beginner’s guide
Control your internal and external lighting together
A keypad, smartphone or tablet can be programmed to control any circuit on your lighting system, so make the most of your garden lighting, too. Pick out specific features, create a welcoming scene for when you return home and set up your lighting to automatically turn on when it senses your car coming into the drive.
A keypad, smartphone or tablet can be programmed to control any circuit on your lighting system, so make the most of your garden lighting, too. Pick out specific features, create a welcoming scene for when you return home and set up your lighting to automatically turn on when it senses your car coming into the drive.
Paint with light
Lighting control on its own doesn’t create great lighting, but it is one of the key elements of a magical scheme.
Establish how you plan to use a space and how you want to identify and light your focal points and then you can create lighting scenes that illuminate the space exactly as you want it. You can then recall those scenes with easy-to-use keypads, your smartphone or a tablet. Consequently, it’s possible to be so much more creative with light. For example, a mellow glow at dado level is what gives this living room its wow factor.
Check out 21st century lighting solutions for period homes
Lighting control on its own doesn’t create great lighting, but it is one of the key elements of a magical scheme.
Establish how you plan to use a space and how you want to identify and light your focal points and then you can create lighting scenes that illuminate the space exactly as you want it. You can then recall those scenes with easy-to-use keypads, your smartphone or a tablet. Consequently, it’s possible to be so much more creative with light. For example, a mellow glow at dado level is what gives this living room its wow factor.
Check out 21st century lighting solutions for period homes
Add a rainbow of colour
Lighting control systems excel with colour. Used with Red/Green/Blue/White (RGBW) fittings and the right control protocol, you can programme a space to be any colour you like. It’s a great way to be able to change the feel and look of a room at a stroke.
Lighting control systems excel with colour. Used with Red/Green/Blue/White (RGBW) fittings and the right control protocol, you can programme a space to be any colour you like. It’s a great way to be able to change the feel and look of a room at a stroke.
Make movie night even more special
Lighting control can add a touch of drama to your home cinema or TV room. By integrating lighting control with the audio-video control, you can transform movie night into an event. A single-button press on the remote can drop the screen and turn on the projector to bring up your favourite movies, while slowly dimming the lights for the perfect cinema experience.
TELL US…
Have you designed an innovative lighting system for your home or a room in your home? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Lighting control can add a touch of drama to your home cinema or TV room. By integrating lighting control with the audio-video control, you can transform movie night into an event. A single-button press on the remote can drop the screen and turn on the projector to bring up your favourite movies, while slowly dimming the lights for the perfect cinema experience.
TELL US…
Have you designed an innovative lighting system for your home or a room in your home? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
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Alternatively the supplier for that particular project might be live on Houzz.
Impressing! Securing your home can be done even by taking remote CCTV monitoring services and alarm response as well.