Ask a Designer: How Do I Light My Home to Add Drama?
Lighting can do so much more than provide illumination. With flair and imagination, it can create stunning effects and bring a home alive
Good lighting design is vital to any interior scheme and will improve both its functionality and atmosphere. Your lighting designer and interior designer should work in harmony from the very start, and draw up a plan before the decorating begins. You need to make sure you have enough power in each area and that you have the option of different levels and types of lighting.
Check out these stunning possibilities and be inspired to bring a little light into your life.
Check out these stunning possibilities and be inspired to bring a little light into your life.
Exploit downlights
When downlights are run along one wall to accentuate an area it can look fantastic. I would always advise where possible to have directional ones so you can cast the light onto certain areas rather than them being directly overhead. This gives you the freedom to play around with them a bit. It’s always nice to be able to dim your lights, too, to create a bit of atmosphere on an evening – or just when you’re having a bad hair day!
When downlights are run along one wall to accentuate an area it can look fantastic. I would always advise where possible to have directional ones so you can cast the light onto certain areas rather than them being directly overhead. This gives you the freedom to play around with them a bit. It’s always nice to be able to dim your lights, too, to create a bit of atmosphere on an evening – or just when you’re having a bad hair day!
Illuminate gorgeous materials
When using really beautiful materials, it’s a great idea to cast light down onto them to enhance the colour and texture. This high-gloss macassar wood looks incredible – like a tiger’s back – and the wash of light really brings it alive.
Find more world-inspired bathrooms.
When using really beautiful materials, it’s a great idea to cast light down onto them to enhance the colour and texture. This high-gloss macassar wood looks incredible – like a tiger’s back – and the wash of light really brings it alive.
Find more world-inspired bathrooms.
Layer lighting so you can set the mood
It’s always great to have several levels of lighting in your main living and entertaining spaces. I just love the way these wall lights flush big beams of warmth up and down the walls, while the ceiling lights drop soft pools onto the dining table. If you go for a smart system, such as one of those offered by Lutron, you can programme numerous different settings, so you can change the mood at the flick of a switch, from light and bright for feeding time with the kids to a more muted setting when they’re in bed and it’s the grown-ups’ turn.
It’s always great to have several levels of lighting in your main living and entertaining spaces. I just love the way these wall lights flush big beams of warmth up and down the walls, while the ceiling lights drop soft pools onto the dining table. If you go for a smart system, such as one of those offered by Lutron, you can programme numerous different settings, so you can change the mood at the flick of a switch, from light and bright for feeding time with the kids to a more muted setting when they’re in bed and it’s the grown-ups’ turn.
Follow the curve
Lighting is a great way of accentuating a space and it works really well here as pelmet lighting following the curve of an island unit. The option to change the colour can open up possibilities and make you feel differently about a space – this blue, for instance, gives the kitchen a real party vibe.
Lighting is a great way of accentuating a space and it works really well here as pelmet lighting following the curve of an island unit. The option to change the colour can open up possibilities and make you feel differently about a space – this blue, for instance, gives the kitchen a real party vibe.
Splash out on bespoke
Sometimes a space really lends itself to a bespoke light fitting. The dining room in this Grade I listed property needed something that nodded to the history of the house but in a contemporary way. Its always nice to dine with friends in flattering candlelight, and these fittings create that gentle glow, even though they are actually electric. They have been set nice and high to give that sense of grandeur, and to allow for real candlelight below on the dining table.
Sometimes a space really lends itself to a bespoke light fitting. The dining room in this Grade I listed property needed something that nodded to the history of the house but in a contemporary way. Its always nice to dine with friends in flattering candlelight, and these fittings create that gentle glow, even though they are actually electric. They have been set nice and high to give that sense of grandeur, and to allow for real candlelight below on the dining table.
Add glamour to the bathroom
Bathrooms are so often overlooked, with a few downlights here and there leading to a very mundane scheme. If you have a beautiful bathing space, it’s great to be able to dim the lights and stay there a while. The last thing you want to do is lie back and have beaming spots in your eyes. I love the use of the lights around this bath, but make sure you go for a warm light rather than a blue one, which not only looks cold, but can be really unflattering. And be aware that lighting positions in bathrooms need to be near perfect, especially around a bath – if you don’t get the angles right, it looks really bad.
Discover how to light your bathroom
Bathrooms are so often overlooked, with a few downlights here and there leading to a very mundane scheme. If you have a beautiful bathing space, it’s great to be able to dim the lights and stay there a while. The last thing you want to do is lie back and have beaming spots in your eyes. I love the use of the lights around this bath, but make sure you go for a warm light rather than a blue one, which not only looks cold, but can be really unflattering. And be aware that lighting positions in bathrooms need to be near perfect, especially around a bath – if you don’t get the angles right, it looks really bad.
Discover how to light your bathroom
Bring beauty to your bedside
Bedside lamps are a very quick and simple way of getting low-level light into a scheme while bringing some of your character and taste into a room. If you can get them onto a 5 amp circuit, then all the better. This means they can be wired to a switch on the wall, so all the lights can be turned on when you go into the room, and you also have the option to dim them, giving you an additional layer of mood lighting.
Bedside lamps are a very quick and simple way of getting low-level light into a scheme while bringing some of your character and taste into a room. If you can get them onto a 5 amp circuit, then all the better. This means they can be wired to a switch on the wall, so all the lights can be turned on when you go into the room, and you also have the option to dim them, giving you an additional layer of mood lighting.
Highlight beautiful fabrics
Dropping a pool of light onto a bed is a nice touch, as it can really add depth to gorgeous fabrics. The marbling of these cushions is perfectly accentuated, while the furry throw seems extra soft and inviting. It’s also a nice option to cast light onto your curtains, as well, just to lift the fabric. This is particularly effective with more muted schemes, where warm light can really enrich the neutral colours.
Dropping a pool of light onto a bed is a nice touch, as it can really add depth to gorgeous fabrics. The marbling of these cushions is perfectly accentuated, while the furry throw seems extra soft and inviting. It’s also a nice option to cast light onto your curtains, as well, just to lift the fabric. This is particularly effective with more muted schemes, where warm light can really enrich the neutral colours.
Work your wall lights
There are so many lovely wall lights on the market. They are a great way to include some compliant lighting if you’re designing a new build and have to pass it through building regulations. Wall lights are also an opportunity to use energy-saving bulbs, as they are concealed, so you don’t have to see the rather ugly fittings. Shaded options are a good way to bring colour and warmth into a scheme, but more architectural fittings can sometimes work better with the surroundings – these wall lights really exaggerate that panoramic window and the view beyond.
There are so many lovely wall lights on the market. They are a great way to include some compliant lighting if you’re designing a new build and have to pass it through building regulations. Wall lights are also an opportunity to use energy-saving bulbs, as they are concealed, so you don’t have to see the rather ugly fittings. Shaded options are a good way to bring colour and warmth into a scheme, but more architectural fittings can sometimes work better with the surroundings – these wall lights really exaggerate that panoramic window and the view beyond.
Don’t forget the garden
Exterior lighting is just as important as interior lighting, but it’s often left till last, so its always wise to put in as many feeds as you think you’ll need – and then a few more. It’s worth consulting a landscape architect to help you light your garden to its best advantage. Also think about the way you live in your home. Do you often arrive back after dark and need a guide to the front door? Or are you away a lot and need your home to look occupied? Also consider having an outside socket for things like plugging in the lawn mower, or for times when you might want a add a little sparkle with fairy lights.
TELL US...
How do you add interesting lighting to your home? Share your tips in the Comments.
Exterior lighting is just as important as interior lighting, but it’s often left till last, so its always wise to put in as many feeds as you think you’ll need – and then a few more. It’s worth consulting a landscape architect to help you light your garden to its best advantage. Also think about the way you live in your home. Do you often arrive back after dark and need a guide to the front door? Or are you away a lot and need your home to look occupied? Also consider having an outside socket for things like plugging in the lawn mower, or for times when you might want a add a little sparkle with fairy lights.
TELL US...
How do you add interesting lighting to your home? Share your tips in the Comments.
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