See the light!
There’s a lot to consider when it comes to lighting your home. Each room has it’s own different lighting requirements and a range of options on how to meet them. Here’s a guide to lighting for every room in the house.
Kitchen
Good general lighting is best achieved with downlights. As well as lighting up the room, you can position them over benchtops so there’s less shadows being cast on them while you work. You can improve this even more by installing lighting under the cabinets. Thin LED strip lights are perfect for this. They provide a crisp, clean light without being too visible. The latest trend is to install designer pendant lights over a breakfast bar or island, combining style with function.
Living Rooms
Because they’re used in so many different ways, living areas need the greatest range of lighting types. Downlights are good for lighting up the whole room but put them on a dimmer so you can tone it down when you want things a bit more intimate. Floor or table lamps around lounges provide good task lighting for reading and also soft ambient light if you’re watching TV. A striking pendant light over a dining table adds an interesting feature and casts a pool of light making it feel welcoming and inviting.
Bedrooms
A pendant light is best for room lighting. It can add character to the room along with light. Putting it on a dimmer switch will allow you to control the mood of the room through lighting. Bedside lamps provide good task lighting for reading while a desk lamp is essential for study desks or offices.
Bathrooms
Light and bright is the order of the day here. As they’re usually quite small, a central oyster or batten fitting light will provide sufficient light, although downlights are probably a better option. One area that needs task lighting is near the mirror and vanity. This is so there’s no shadowing while you’re doing make-up or shaving. Install a downlight over the vanity or if you’ve got a central fitting, consider sticking a light on the wall above the mirror.
