Automated lighting
Intelligent illumination encompasses so much more than just turning your lights off and on – here’s how to make the most of this tech
Discover how this element can improve the way you interact with your home
Imagine having dynamic control over your lighting so that, at the touch of a button or with a single voice command, you can have them dim, brighten, change colour – all based on whether you’re cooking, getting ready for bed or having a summer party outdoors. Your smart home can integrate this level, and more, of control, without adding any complexity in use – you just need to plan ahead.
Lighting design
“Some self builders will hire a specific lighting designer, whereas others will read up on the principles and work with us to create a scheme that suits them,” says Darren Palmer from Baulogic. Whether you take this route or rely on your architect’s input, it’s important to speak to your smart home specialist early so you can maximise the setup’s potential and get best value for your budget.
A common misconception is that installing a swanky system is guaranteed to make your scheme interesting. While automation can give you great results, you still need to consider the types of lighting you’re including. “Self build properties are highly design-focused,” says Darren. “It makes sense to properly plan this element, too.” So, consider how a range of spotlights, uplights, strip lighting, pendants, wall fittings and task lamps could work in tandem to give you great results both aesthetically and functionally.
Your natural and artificial lighting designs should complement one another, so you can avoid dark spots appearing inside at different times of day. And don’t forget about external illumination, which can not only help to extend your living space outdoors, but also deter burglars. “The perfect lighting transforms a home, making each room feel comfortable, dramatic or atmospheric depending on your requirements,” says Steve Detmer, residential products manager at Lutron Electronics. “Determine what activities will be performed in a zone and build your scheme around it.”
Practical applications
“One thing to keep in mind is that lots of modern homes feature large, open-plan layouts, so it’s important to have lighting to match these dynamic spaces,” says Darren. For example, in a kitchen-diner/living zone, you might need bright lights for food preparation, dimmer ones for eating and entertaining, and perhaps only floor-level lighting when watching a film. Good planning allows you to program these scenes in advance, so rather than a complex array of switches and dimmers, you can have user-friendly buttons that activate set moods. “Incorporating pre-set scenes just makes your home far more convenient,” says Darren.
There’s even the option for bio-adaptive systems, where the temperature of the lighting changes – from warm in the early mornings and late evenings to cooler during the day – to help you sleep easier and promote wellbeing.
Motion sensors and dimmers that respond to the time of day are particularly useful, too. For example, if it’s the middle of the night and someone enters the driveway or garden, a light might come on to scare them away. Or, if you have to be up in the wee hours for a meeting or to catch a train, a dimmed light in the ensuite that reacts to the fact that it’s 4am means you won’t wake a sleeping partner.
Pre-programmed wall panels can give you amazing control over your lighting scheme, along with the familiar feeling of interacting with something when you enter a room, while apps are great for remote operation. But fuller control is possible, too. “In whole-home solutions, automated lighting can turn all the lights on or off at a specific time each day, or scheduled to sync with sunrise or sunset to promote sleep/ wake rhythms,” says Steve. Plus, an automated system can turn off all your lights overnight or when there’s no one around, saving energy – and money off your bills.
In fact, many systems will have some form of energy management built in. Given modern houses are increasingly thermally efficient, a higher proportion of your energy bills will be spent on lighting. So, a smart home that can reduce your usage by switching off superfluous lights and dimming ones in use to the optimum level will have a significant impact.