When building your new home, remember lighting plan should not be an after thought!
When designing your new home, it is easy to get caught up in the common big ticket interior selections, like tiles, bench tops, cabinetry and we often see lighting become an afterthought or an area where clients try to cut costs.
However, a well-planned lighting design for your home can transform your space, not just by simply illuminating you home but by creating the perfect ambience and affecting your emotions.
But where to start? Lighting design can be complex, especially when looking at an entire home. Below are some tips to get you started!
Functionality versus Design
When designing your home, you must consider the lighting for each space and what you want it to achieve.
Functionality always come first! Your lighting must be practical for your everyday activities. Whilst design can allow you to create the right mood and ambience of your space.
When creating your lighting plan, it comes back to the 3 types of lighting which are ambient, task and accent.
Ambient lighting is the first layer of lighting, providing the overall illumination for the space.
Task lighting is intense illumination for an area within the space, and brighter then ambient lighting.
Accent lighting is used to highlight a specific area or object with the space.
Also, when thinking of your design, consider what light temperature should be selected to work with the overall feel you are aiming on creating; warm, cool or white light.
Internal Lights
First impressions matter when it comes to internal lighting. So always consider how inviting your entrance lighting is to your guests.
Internal lighting when designed correctly will make your room appear larger and can light the way during the night, especially on staircases and access to toilets.
Bathroom lighting should reduce shadows on your face when looking in the mirror.
Our number one rule is every room should have DIMMERS – allowing you to control the light.
Feature Lights
One or more decorative light fixtures are the perfect way to make a statement in your home.
When considering pendants or ornate chandeliers, make sure you don’t block your line of vision.
LED strip lighting is a brilliant way to make your interiors pop, especially in the kitchen and open living areas.
Don’t forget feature lighting on artwork or display items is important.
A well-placed lamp can be both functional and a great feature to any room.
External Lights
Let’s start at the front of the home, an area which can be overlooked when it comes to lighting. External lights on a front elevation can really make your house stand out, we are seeing a big trend moving towards letter box lighting as an external design detail.
Sensor lights are more commonly used for task lighting when needed at night and as a security feature.
Step and path lights are another functional and safe source of lighting for the front and back.
Outdoor entertaining is a big part of Australian living, so designing your home to illuminate at night is essential allowing you to maximise the use of your outdoor space during the warmer months.
Pool lighting is practical for that night time dip as well as showcasing the pool design at night.
When designing your landscaping you should also consider how you intend to highlight your gardens best features with lighting.
Finally, you should always look to IP65 rated lights for all external lighting selections.
Remember the goal with lighting, whether it internal, external or a feature light, is to not only illuminate the area but create a mood within the space.
So if you’re building and haven’t started thinking about your lighting plan, remember there is more than just deciding how many downlights to put in each room.
