DESIGNING YOUR OWN lighting scheme
Many people choose to come up with their own lighting plan rather than use a lighting designer, but it can seem daunting. We show you how to get your lighting design spot on
Whether you’re starting from scratch with your lighting scheme in a new home or extension or are updating an existing design within a renovation project, the impact lighting can have on the way a home feels and works cannot be overemphasised. Using a lighting designer can be really valuable, however, it is not the right route for everyone. For some, the extra expense can’t be justified, while others like the idea of developing their own plan.
We have put together a selection of essential advice that will help anyone coming up with a lighting scheme on a DIY basis.
GET AHEAD OF THE GAME
Whatever you do, don’t leave planning your lighting scheme until the last minute. A good lighting design needs to be considered from the word go in any self-build, renovation or extension. There are several reasons for this. The first is that it is far easier and less disruptive to install the correct electrics early on in a project than it is to do it retrospectively. Having a plan of where light fittings and sockets will be going early on will avoid later disruption.
Secondly, developing your lighting scheme early on means you will be able to get a better idea of what it will likely cost, tweaking your design to suit your budget where necessary — far better than scrabbling funds together towards the end.
Then there is the matter of trades.your electrician will need to know what fittings you are planning on having to be able to give you a realistic quote for their services, a timescale and also to be able to properly liaise with the other trades on site.
And, finally, having a firm lighting plan early on means you will be able to take advantage of any special offers or sales you see on lighting products as soon as you see them, even if that means storing the products safely until you are ready for them. It also avoids delays if products you want are out of stock.
HOW TO CREATE YOUR LIGHTING PLAN
Until you have a firm lighting plan you should hold off on choosing and buying lighting fittings. The lighting plan should contain everything from the obvious elements, such as the location of fittings and switches, to the less often thought-of bits, such as where the wiring will run, what you use the room for and where natural light enters the space.
All plans can be created in a similar way, regardless of your budget and the style and size of your home. Here’s how to start yours:
1. Start by drawing out a plan of the room. Use graph paper to try and keep things to scale. Mark out any fixed items, such as windows and doors as well as fireplaces.
2. Next, add on large items of furniture, such as the sofa or built-in units.
3. Note down any architectural features or artworks that you plan on including — you will probably want to ensure they can be highlighted by a light source.
4. Write down exactly how you want to use each room. Will there be a desk in a corner of the living room that needs to be lit, for example? What time of day are you likely to be in the room most? Where does natural light come in and at what times of day? Who will be using the space the most?
5.You can now mark on the plan the areas where you would ideally like some kind of light source in the room or space (don’t worry too much about the type of light at this point).
6. Consider the direction people are likely to be facing when in the room (for example towards a fireplace in a living room, or when lying in bed in a bedroom) and bear in mind that you will want to avoid having eye-level lights at these points.
7. Finally, make a note of the types of light that would work well in each spot, for example wall lights that can be directed up or down, side or floor lamps or recessed spots.
8. Turn overleaf for more top lighting design tips!
KNOW YOUR LIGHTING
You will probably hear about three different forms of lighting and it helps to know exactly what they are when planning a scheme. Ambient lighting: This is the general, or background, lighting that gives an overall light. It is the kind of light that is commonly provided by a pendant, recessed downlights or sometimes a selection of wall lights.
Task lighting: This is really important as it provides very focused light to certain areas. It is crucial to have good task lighting in kitchens and home offices where lamps, directional spotlights and even under-unit lighting can all become a means of illuminating work areas, such as worktops, desks and the like.
Accent lighting: Sometimes referred to as mood lighting, this is the fun part — the icing on the cake if you will.you can use accent lighting to really bring your spaces to life, highlighting objects, artworks or areas of architectural interest such as decorative mouldings, inglenooks or handrails. Low-level pendants over dining tables, hidden LEDS beneath furniture or within alcoves, track lighting and anglepoise lamps are all good examples.
It can be helpful when developing a scheme to take it in three steps. Begin by planning your background light source, followed by task lighting and finish with a flourish by setting the whole thing off with some accent lighting.
UNDERSTANDING LIGHTING CIRCUITS
While it is always a good idea to speak to a qualified electrician about installing your light fittings, it does help when coming up with a plan to have at least a basic understanding of how lighting circuits work.
Lighting circuits are radial. This simply means that they are linear power circuits where the cable leaves the consumer unit and runs to each outlet (or fitting) on the line before terminating at the last. Most houses will have at least two separate circuits, one for upstairs and one for downstairs, but it is a good idea to have more than this in reality. At the very least you need to ask your electrician to install your lights so that you can operate each type or ‘level’ of lighting separately.
CONSULT AN ELECTRICIAN
Many electricians have a wealth of experience when it comes to lighting design and will happily offer advice on a scheme — your electrician may also have some really useful contacts you can tap into when it comes to buying fittings and fixtures and might be able to get you some considerable savings.
Speak to your electrician about your ideas, show them your plan and ask for their help in order to refine or expand your ideas.
PICK YOUR SUPPLIERS’ BRAINS
If you find a good lighting supplier you are likely to open yourself up to a wealth of knowledge. Obviously your supplier is likely to push their own products, but providing you have chosen a supplier whose products you like, you could find their input invaluable. Show them your ideas and ask for their thoughts on the plan — they could offer improvements or alternatives you hadn’t thought of and help you to make the most of your budget.
LAYER LIGHTING
You are likely to hear a lot about using ‘layers’ of light. All this really means is that the best-lit spaces have several different types of light source that can be used alone or in conjunction to create different effects. For example, a background light such as a pendant, task lighting such as reading lamps and accent lighting such as concealed LEDS.
USE SMART LIGHTING
Smart lighting allows you to control your lights when you are away from home or by voice control. This is a great way to increase your home’s security, and comes in handy when you have your hands full or don’t want to leave your bed or sofa to operate lights. Smart light bulbs are an inexpensive starting point. Pop them into your light fittings and control them using an app on your phone or tablet — most work with home assistants such as Alexa.