DESIGN GUIDE
Henrie e Von Stockhausen of VSP Interiors explains how to use lighting to create relaxed environments, intimate spaces and wow factor
When thinking about lighting for your home you absolutely need three or more levels, meaning ceiling lights, wall lights, and table lamps or !oor lights, and it’s vital that everything is on a dimmer so you can adjust the lighting for di"erent moods.
The function of ceiling lights is for general light during the daytime. If you choose to install spotlights, which I am not keen on in historic interiors, make sure you don’t have huge grids like Heathrow Airport. Only install as many as necessary, and only in areas that need task lighting, such as kitchens.
Wall lights are for atmospheric lighting. Together with picture lights they are very useful. They give a comfortable glow and, in the case of picture lights, light a subject rather than the room.
Table and !oor lamps are the most essential and most !exible form of light as they’re at a level that is most comfortable to the eye, especially when si#ing. Lights like these create a relaxed mood and living rooms should have as many as possible. Make sure you include them on the same circuit so they all come on when you switch on the main light, otherwise you will have to turn on each light individually.
The lampshade you choose is also important. Silk or papyrus give the most !a#ering and comfortable light. Red shades tend to be beautiful in the evenings.
In a bedroom, always have a pair of bedside table lamps. If you have a four-poster bed, put your wall lights or reading lights inside and make sure they can be switched on and o" from either side of the bed. Vaughan makes perfect !exi reading lights. Robert Kime’s Paris light is also a favourite of ours.
Dining room lighting should be extra !exible so it can be combined with candlelight. When entertaining, the right lighting is crucial. Too much light will make guests feel uncomfortable and self-conscious, and it’s simply un!a#ering. Too li#le will hinder everyone from seeing their food!
I adore using antique chandeliers, with a crystal or alabaster
dish, over the centre of a dining table, along with wall lights and picture lights that create a glow. Try Jamb for beautiful reproduction dish lights.
For reading and other tasks, good light is essential, but it needs to be !exible so that it can be switched o" when the task is done. I always add wall lights to either side of the mirror in a bathroom for extra light when doing makeup etc, but I put them on a dimmer so you can create a relaxing atmosphere when having a bath, for example.
Unless for totally utilitarian areas, I’m not a fan of solely using ceiling lights, even in halls and corridors. Instead, think about using ceiling pendants like globe lanterns or lidded urn lanterns. They give the same e"ect without looking too modern, and they di"use the light in a more comfortable way.
Remember too that lighting is decorative! A chandelier or large pendant can look fabulous over a kitchen island or as a statement piece over a special bathtub. vspinteriors.com