Switch on for style

Steve Detmer, residential products manager at Lutron Europe (ra2select.com), reveals how to get the most from lighting

can dimming the lights affect the mood in a room?

Lighting brings the design of a home to life. A luxuriously designed bedroom with the most comfortable bed will never achieve its true purpose without dimmable, warm and calming lighting. And as our moods and tasks vary throughout the day, lighting systems must keep up with the changes. Through the use of scenes, you can fine tune the lights to create the perfect feeling, then easily recall that setting with the push of button. With the right lighting and controls, a single room can serve many purposes

– a real asset in homes where space is limited. A dining room can function as a home office in the day, a place for meals and a relaxed spot for unwinding in the evening

How has dimmable lighting advanced over the years?

Domestic dimmer switches have been around for nearly 60 years, when a single dimmer for a pendant light in the centre of a room was the norm. Today, the latest LED lighting technology offers benefits that couldn’t be imagined back then. Now, lighting can be integrated into a room, complementing the style of a space. For example, LEDS can be seamlessly built into the joinery in the kitchen and strip LEDS hidden within shelving.

has smart tech improved the operation of lighting?

Wireless technology has taken lighting over the last hurdle – ease of installation and use. Wireless lighting is accessible to every space, old home or new, as today’s technology means it can be easily retrofitted. And it’s also more accessible in terms of cost. With a modular approach, homeowners can start with a single room, and build up the smart lighting throughout their home as and when budget allows.