A Room-by-Room Guide to Lighting Your Home Right
Lighting is the jewel in your home's crown, and creative lighting has the ability to add sparkle to any space
If you’re building, renovating or looking for an easy home upgrade, creative lighting provides you with the opportunity to elevate the everyday to the extraordinary.
For an aesthetic appeal, mix ambient (or background) lighting with decorative and accent lighting. Then enhance the mood of a space by utilising dimming options while keeping in mind lighting temperature or Kelvin. And note, warm lighting or 3000K (Kelvin) works best to create an inviting, homely atmosphere.
For an aesthetic appeal, mix ambient (or background) lighting with decorative and accent lighting. Then enhance the mood of a space by utilising dimming options while keeping in mind lighting temperature or Kelvin. And note, warm lighting or 3000K (Kelvin) works best to create an inviting, homely atmosphere.
Staircase
Staircases are fantastic spaces to feature statement lighting. An artfully designed fitting creates a dramatic effect in a double-height void as you ascend or descend. Well-lit by natural light by day, this space will be equally dramatic by night with a modern sculptural chandelier. Consider the size and scale of the fitting for the space to achieve the right look.
Tip: A discreet LED strip light can be recessed underneath the handrail for extra night light, to safely light your way.
18 ways lighting can set the right mood
Staircases are fantastic spaces to feature statement lighting. An artfully designed fitting creates a dramatic effect in a double-height void as you ascend or descend. Well-lit by natural light by day, this space will be equally dramatic by night with a modern sculptural chandelier. Consider the size and scale of the fitting for the space to achieve the right look.
Tip: A discreet LED strip light can be recessed underneath the handrail for extra night light, to safely light your way.
18 ways lighting can set the right mood
Powder room
Amp up the glamour in a humble powder room by adding a low- wattage pendant light. Lighting isn’t always about adding bright lights; approach this space by planning for low lighting and areas of shadow.
A dimmer will give you the ability to adjust the right amount of light and ensure your attention is drawn to the focal points of the space. For wet areas, ensure your fitting and installation meets building codes.
Amp up the glamour in a humble powder room by adding a low- wattage pendant light. Lighting isn’t always about adding bright lights; approach this space by planning for low lighting and areas of shadow.
A dimmer will give you the ability to adjust the right amount of light and ensure your attention is drawn to the focal points of the space. For wet areas, ensure your fitting and installation meets building codes.
Kitchen
Kitchens are highly functional areas that require adequate lighting to perform cooking tasks efficiently and safely, while increasingly part of an open-living scheme. Combine beauty with function by mixing stylish pendant lighting over the island bench for your task lighting requirements, then add background ambient lighting from LED overhead down lights, and accent lighting from LED strip lighting (which creates extra glow cleverly concealed under the overhead cabinets).
Kitchens are highly functional areas that require adequate lighting to perform cooking tasks efficiently and safely, while increasingly part of an open-living scheme. Combine beauty with function by mixing stylish pendant lighting over the island bench for your task lighting requirements, then add background ambient lighting from LED overhead down lights, and accent lighting from LED strip lighting (which creates extra glow cleverly concealed under the overhead cabinets).
Wine cellar
Designed as part of the cabinetry concept, concealed warm white LED strip lighting is recessed under shelves and mounted below cornice and skirting to cast a golden glow, ensuring the star attraction is the wine collection. LED strip lighting is an easy way to add accents to joinery design.
Tip: Pay attention to the lighting temperature. 3000K will give you a warm inviting atmosphere, while temperatures above 4000K are more suited to businesslike spaces.
Browse more purpose-built wine cellars
Designed as part of the cabinetry concept, concealed warm white LED strip lighting is recessed under shelves and mounted below cornice and skirting to cast a golden glow, ensuring the star attraction is the wine collection. LED strip lighting is an easy way to add accents to joinery design.
Tip: Pay attention to the lighting temperature. 3000K will give you a warm inviting atmosphere, while temperatures above 4000K are more suited to businesslike spaces.
Browse more purpose-built wine cellars
Dining
Here, a striking wood-veneer light fitting creates a stylish focal point over a dining table, while serving to anchor the dining area in an open-plan living zone.
Tip: Consider the Colour Rendering Ability (CRI) of your light source. Colour rendering is the ability of a light source to faithfully reveal the colours of various objects, and it can make furnishings and an interior palette look either wonderful or woeful. Different types of lights vary in their abilities; good options are halogen and some LEDs. Check the specifications of lamps and bulbs and look for ones that are close to 100CRI for the best results.
Here, a striking wood-veneer light fitting creates a stylish focal point over a dining table, while serving to anchor the dining area in an open-plan living zone.
Tip: Consider the Colour Rendering Ability (CRI) of your light source. Colour rendering is the ability of a light source to faithfully reveal the colours of various objects, and it can make furnishings and an interior palette look either wonderful or woeful. Different types of lights vary in their abilities; good options are halogen and some LEDs. Check the specifications of lamps and bulbs and look for ones that are close to 100CRI for the best results.
Clear glass pendant lights are gems in this space, allowing unrestricted views through to the outdoor area. These beauties are blown glass teamed with LED Edison bulbs, which have the romantic look of incandescent bulbs and the efficiency of modern lighting technology.
Bedroom
Simple and beautiful, a glass pendant on either side of the master bed creates a distinctive boutique-hotel vibe. Here, a relaxing mood is created with gentle light coming through the smokey glass shade. Hanging a pendant rather than using a bedside lamp has the bonus of freeing up space on the bedside tables.
Tip: Add a downlight in the ceiling above for stronger light to read in bed.
How to pull off bedside pendant lights
Simple and beautiful, a glass pendant on either side of the master bed creates a distinctive boutique-hotel vibe. Here, a relaxing mood is created with gentle light coming through the smokey glass shade. Hanging a pendant rather than using a bedside lamp has the bonus of freeing up space on the bedside tables.
Tip: Add a downlight in the ceiling above for stronger light to read in bed.
How to pull off bedside pendant lights
Hallway
This asymmetrical hallway called for a different lighting approach, with wall lights used to create a focal point and distract from the architecture. The lighting effect from these LED wall lights is directional, casting a wash of light up and down the wall surface, with a golden glow to create a welcoming impression.
Tip: Wall lights are also a good option where space is at a premium.
This asymmetrical hallway called for a different lighting approach, with wall lights used to create a focal point and distract from the architecture. The lighting effect from these LED wall lights is directional, casting a wash of light up and down the wall surface, with a golden glow to create a welcoming impression.
Tip: Wall lights are also a good option where space is at a premium.
Outdoor room
Last but not least, make your landscaping a fabulous space to enjoy at night, as well as during the day. Choose from a variety of spotlights or concealed up lights, which can be recessed into the landscape’s architectural features.
Choose the placement, amount of light (known as lumens) and how it will be directed to add dimension and interest to your space. Many options are available now for energy-efficient LED fittings with outdoor ratings. Solar-powered LED options are also available for outdoor lighting, with the added benefit of being DIY-friendly with no wiring.
Read more:
Bring in the Playful Charm of Coloured Pendant Lights
5 Tips on Lighting Your House Right
Tell us:
Have you got a favourite pendant light? Upload a photo of it in the Comments, and tell us why it works so well.
Last but not least, make your landscaping a fabulous space to enjoy at night, as well as during the day. Choose from a variety of spotlights or concealed up lights, which can be recessed into the landscape’s architectural features.
Choose the placement, amount of light (known as lumens) and how it will be directed to add dimension and interest to your space. Many options are available now for energy-efficient LED fittings with outdoor ratings. Solar-powered LED options are also available for outdoor lighting, with the added benefit of being DIY-friendly with no wiring.
Read more:
Bring in the Playful Charm of Coloured Pendant Lights
5 Tips on Lighting Your House Right
Tell us:
Have you got a favourite pendant light? Upload a photo of it in the Comments, and tell us why it works so well.
Add impact in the entry of your home with a statement feature light. Go for a single dramatic pendant or chandelier that reflects the style of your home. This crystal and gunmetal chandelier is the right scale to make a grand entrance to this modern French provincial home. A line of down lights beyond leads you further into the heart of the home, while a cluster of smaller lights also work well as a welcoming entrance feature. Be sure to choose designs that echo the architectural style of your home.
Tip: To get the right length for your light fixture, measure ceiling height remembering to allow a minimum 2.1 metres from the bottom of the fixture to the floor. If your ceilings are extra high, the fixture can go a bit higher to suit the proportions of the space. A rough sketch will help you visualise.