BRIGHT PROSPECTS

How to choose lighting for a scheme that’s both functional and fabulous

LIGHTING FOR DINING

Proportion is key – the aim is glow without glare and an even pool of light that doesn’t leave the edge of the table, or diners, marooned in shadow. This is impeccably demonstrated in the East Hampton home of American decorator Robert Stilin, where a mid-century metal design strikes the right note over a vintage table and chairs (1stdibs.com is a good place to hunt for vintage lighting). ‘Even though I keep it dimmed quite low, the way it glows from the end of each arm creates a great mood,’ says Robert. Ideally, the gap between the base of an overhead light and the top of a dining table should be 75-100cm – this gives functional illumination while still feeling cosy.

ON THE WIRE

There’s an art to choosing pendants that are the right size for a room, but if you’re in doubt – and if you have tall ceilings, like this entrance – it pays to err on the larger side. ‘Overscaling is a secret trick of the interior design trade,’ says Philippa Thorp, director of decorating firm Thorp. This black wire chandelier is expansive without feeling heavy, echoing both the proportions of the table beneath and the mirror on the wall opposite. Filigree designs such as this Ligne Roset Parachute light can cast complex shadows around the room, but if you want to soften the effect, take another tip from Thorp. ‘I tell all my clients to use pearl bulbs in order to create a gentle glow,’ she says. →

PLAYFUL CONTRASTS

This home shows how striking wall lamps can be when used with a statement wallpaper, like this trompe l’oeil-effect panel from the Kit Kemp for Andrew Martin collection. These Nicholas Haslam Coco sconces (£740 each) set the trees aglow when switched on. To recreate the effect, use wall lamps to throw key features into relief – be it an architectural detail or artwork. If you’re trying to focus the eye on a pattern detail, remember that placement isn’t the only element to consider – you’ll also need to choose a lamp that creates the right wash of illumination. Think about whether the pool of light is directed upwards or downwards and whether you want a diffused or focused effect.

NATURAL WORLD

If your scheme is inspired by nature, lighting can easily be a jarring element. In their Shoreditch loft, architects

Zoe Chan Eayrs and Merlin Eayrs (aka Chan + Eayrs) have chosen a Mycelium pendant lamp by Sebastian Cox (£360), made using waste wood, to chime with the organic textures and soft greens.

GOLD RUSH

In this hallway designed by Gunter & Co, a constellation of Solstice wall lights by Porta Romana (£648 each) is deployed as an arresting pause point. ‘Using them in a decorative way rather than as something purely functional creates a unique effect,’ says founder and creative director Irene Gunter.

LANTERN GLOW

Lighting a long, narrow space – like this kitchen belonging to interior designer Beata Heuman – presents particular challenges. Heuman made the space feel brighter by installing a reflective glass ceiling and placing a colourful lantern (her own Dodo Egg design, £1,080) at either end. →

“I LOVE TO LIGHT UNEXPECTED FEATURES

IN A ROOM, BUT THIS SHOULD BE SUBTLE, NOT OBVIOUS – PEOPLE SHOULD FEEL AS THOUGH THEY

HAVE DISCOVERED THESE ELEMENTS FOR THEMSELVES, WITHIN A BALANCED SCHEME”

RACHEL CHUDLEY, founder, rachelchudley.com

“WITH ARCHITECTURAL LIGHTING, SUCH AS CONCEALED TRACKS OR SPOTLIGHTS, THINK OF YOUR ROOM AS A CANVAS WITH AREAS IN FOCUS AND AREAS IN DARKNESS. ASK YOURSELF WHAT YOU WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOCK BACK INTO SHADOW”

JO LITTLEFAIR, co-founder and director,

Goddard Littlefair, goddardlittlefair.com

SHADOW PLAY

‘Position lights in the living room to showcase different features,’ says

Lucy St George, co-founder of Rockett St George. Here, an Applique Pivotants wall lamp by Serge Mouille (£3,634, Twentytwentyone) highlights favourite artworks, while its smaller arm illuminates a dark corner.

RED ALERT

If lighting is the jewellery of the home, then these coral-red sconces (Bronte by Porta Romana, £1,224 each, CP Hart) in this bathroom designed by Kit Kemp for CP Hart could be the ultimate statement earrings. Aim for designs with a distinctive shape, colour or texture – or, as in this case, all three.

TWIN PEAKS

Focusing on symmetry and materials can increase the impact of a lighting scheme – as seen in interior designer Paolo Moschino’s kitchen. Pairing the brass Harper lights by Paolo Moschino for Nicholas Haslam (£750 each) with rattan chairs creates a dynamic contrast and directs the eye upwards.

PATTERN PAIRING

This children’s bedroom in Singapore-based interior designer Elizabeth Hay’s home is a masterclass in clashing patterns. Matching a bedside lamp to a key piece of furniture – in this case, the headboard – brings the scheme together and makes the animal theme feel more sophisticated. Hay used a print called Small Elephant by Les Indiennes for the lamp and headboard, and mixed up the scale of patterns in the rest of the room for a vibrant effect. The larger the lamp, the bolder your pattern should be to make an impact. For a small interior design project such as this, consult a firm like Ensemblier, which specialises in bespoke headboards and can help create something similar. →

IN THE ZONE

Pendant lamps don’t have to be hung centrally

– in this snug, designed by Studio Duggan, they’re just as effective in a more offbeat setting. ‘We wanted this space to be warm and inviting at night, so we avoided downlights and lit intimate pockets of the room instead,’ says founder Tiffany Duggan. ‘There’s a mix of table lamps, floor lamps and a trio of tasselled pendants for a cosy vibe.’

TALL STORY

Decorator Irene Gunter of Gunter & Co has cleverly accentuated the height of this bedroom with two simple yet playful touches – an oversized headboard and Kelly Wearstler’s statuesque Linden porcelain lamp for Visual Comfort (£730, Luxdeco). ‘The soft glow complements the room’s main lighting – LED strips which are tucked in behind the contemporary coving,’ reveals Gunter.

“I LIKE TO HAVE AT LEAST THREE CIRCUITS IN A ROOM, ALL ON DIMMERS. IN THE EVENINGS, THIS CREATES A LAYERED, SOFT LIGHT, BUT IT ALSO HELPS TO BRIGHTEN THINGS UP DURING THE DAY WHEN THE WEATHER IS GREY AND CLOUDY”

LUCY VAUGHAN, co-founder, Vaughan, vaughandesigns.com