THE RIGHT LIGHT

Lighting consultant Paul Nulty (nulty lighting.co.uk) on how to create a cocktail-party ambience

Try reducing the output of your lamps, or using a warmer colour. During the winter we actually need less light, as the external light levels are lower and evenings are darker.

Consider control systems, dimming and flexibility, and spend as much as you can on light fittings. Consider how light interplays with each surface.

To create a flexible lighting scheme, think about layering light with ambient, accent and feature lighting. It should come from different sources and locations, all blended together through a control system.

The warmer the colour temperature of a white light, the better, as it will make the space feel more convivial: think firelight. Actual coloured light can look cheesy and lack class. That said, small variations in colour temperature or colour can help create contrast.